09-03-2025
Happy birthday, Barbie!
NEW YORK, N.Y. (WSAV) — Iconic doll Barbie is celebrating a milestone. She's turning 66 years old.
According to NBC News, the first Barbie went on display on this date in 1959 at the American Toy Fair in New York City. Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel with her husband in 1945, was inspired by a doll named Lilli which was based on a German comic strip character, when she designed the original 11-inch-tall Barbie.
The iconic toy exploded in popularity over the years, topping one billion dollars in sales annually by 1993 and eventually inspiring the 'Barbie' movie in 2023 that brought in over a billion dollars worldwide in ticket sales.
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