Barbie doll is Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel. She named the doll after her daughter, Barbara. Barbie doll's first career was a teenage fashion model. Elliot Handler originally began as a doll furniture manufacturer. Ken doll was named after the son of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler. Ken doll made his official debut in 1961, as the Barbie doll's boyfriend doll. The Midnight black hair color was not seen on any Swirl ponytail Barbie dolls. In 1965, the Girl Scouts of America membership exceeded Mattel's Barbie fan club. The Mickey Mouse Club was the first television show to run commercials advertising the original 1959 Barbie doll. Barbie Goes to College was introduced in 1964.  The red bathing suit was first seen on the number 5 Barbie doll. 

Barbie has had more than 80 careers. Barbie was introduced in Europe in 1961. In 1997, Share A Smile Becky, was the first Mattel doll introduced with a wheelchair. Italian was the first nationality Barbie doll represented in the Dolls of the World Collection. The Steffie face mold was used on the first Black Barbie doll.

 The first Olympic athlete Barbie was introduced in 1975; and competing again in 2000, as an Olympic swimmer. Summit Barbie dolls were introduced in the 1980's to commemorate the end of the cold war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Army Barbie, introduced in 1992, represented a medic Sergeant enlisted in Desert Storm.

The military Barbie series dolls, Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps went through approvals by the Pentagon to ensure the most realistic costumes. Barbie represented an astronaut in 1965, 1986 and 1994

The first black and Hispanic Barbie dolls were introduced in 1980 and in 2002 marks the debut of Kayla, Barbie doll's new multi-cultural friend.

Barbie doll's first pet was a a horse named Dancer. The first celebrity to join the Barbie doll family was fashion model Twiggy in 1967.

The sun streaked hair doll with a wide, white smile describes the Superstar Barbie from the 1970's. The Blue Rhapsody Barbie was the first limited edition collector doll made as porcelain.

Over 1 billion fashions have been produced since 1959 for Barbie and her friends. More than 105 million yards of fabric have gone into making Barbie doll and her friends' fashions, making Mattel one of the largest apparel manufacturers in the world.

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ENCYCLOPEDIA: DOLL- Read the history of dolls & learn  about Barbie

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