Barbie dolls are displayed during the exhibition "Barbie, life of an icon" at the Museum of Decorative Arts as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2016/2017 on March 9, 2016 in Paris, France. More than 700 Barbie dolls are displayed during the exhibition which takes place from March 10 to September 18, 2016.
With a Barbie doll by your side, you can relive some of your happiest childhood memories.
Barbie has been a cultural symbol in the U.S. and throughout the world since her introduction by Mattel in 1959. Barbie's commercial success has helped Mattel establish itself as one of the world's most valuable toy brands.
While Mental Floss and Reader's Digest have listed information about the most popular doll in the world, we have handpicked out the 10 best "fun facts" for Barbie enthusiasts out there.
Check them out below!
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A German doll from the 1950s and 1960s called Bild Lilli served as inspiration for Ruth Handler, the designer of the Barbie doll. After Mattel eventually obtained the rights to Bild Lilli, Barbies became what we have today.
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Engineer and expert missile designer Jack Ryan helped on the creation of Barbie.
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The children of Ruth, Barbara and Kenneth Handler, served as the inspiration for Barbie and Ken's names. However, only her close friends refer to her as "Barbie"; on her tax returns, her actual name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
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The breakup of Barbie and Ken was announced in 2004. Then, Barbie began dating an Australian surfer named Blaine. She later rekindled her relationship with Ken in 2011, but only after he underwent a muscle-building makeover.
- Do you ever wonder just how well-known Barbie is? According to Mental Floss, the number of babies born in the U.S. each year is outnumbered by Barbie by a ratio of 2.5. A Barbie is actually sold every three seconds. In the U.S., it is estimated that 99% of girls between the ages of 3 and 10 own at least one Barbie, with girls between the ages of 3 and 6 owning an average of 12 Barbies.
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Barbie clothing is produced in large quantities each year. In reality, Mattel is among the largest clothing manufacturers in the world. More than one billion pairs of shoes have been created for Barbie.
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She holds one of the most remarkable resumes in history. More than 200 jobs have been held by Barbie, including those as a zoo doctor, Canadian Mountie, paleontologist, secretary, and Catwoman. She has made six presidential bids. Unfortunately, Barbie has never been nominated for office after running her first candidacy in 1992. Teen model was her first occupation.
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She had three visits to space. Astronaut Barbie made her debut in 1965, four years before the first lunar landing, and made two further appearances in 1986 and 1994.
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Barbie is an animal lover. Barbie has owned more than 40 animals, including a parrot, a chimpanzee, a panda, and a zebra, in addition to 21 dogs, 14 horses, three ponies, six cats, and more.
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Barbie would have an astonishing bust, waist, and hip measurement of 36-18-33 if she were a grown woman.
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Bonus Info: Although talking Barbies may seem more modern, the first talking Barbie was introduced in 1968.
What on our list of facts about Barbie is your favorite?
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