Barbies official birthday is March 9, 1959—the day she was officially introduced to the world. Handler always saw Barbie as a reflection of the times, with the first doll mimicking the glamour of 1950s stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe.

When was the first Barbie doll made?

1959 On March 9, 1959, the first Barbie doll goes on display at the American Toy Fair in New York City. Eleven inches tall, with a waterfall of blond hair, Barbie was the first mass-produced toy doll in the United States with adult features. The woman behind Barbie was Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel, Inc.

Who invented the Barbie doll in 1959?

Ruth Handler Barbie, in full Barbara Millicent Roberts, an 11-inch- (29-cm-) tall plastic doll with the figure of an adult woman that was introduced on March 9, 1959, by Mattel, Inc., a southern California toy company. Ruth Handler, who cofounded Mattel with her husband, Elliot, spearheaded the introduction of the doll.

When was the first black Barbie released?

About 10 years later in 1968, the first black doll, “Christie” made her appearance. Though there was “Francie” who was released the year before as the first dark completion in the Mattel line, Christie was the first Barbie with “black” features.

How old is Barbie today?

62 years old Best known as Barbie, Barbara Millicent Roberts turns 62 years old on March 9. Since her 1959 debut in a now-iconic black-and-white swimsuit, shes become a worldwide sensation.