Happy Birthday, Barbie

March 9th is National Barbie Day because the doll made her debut on that day in 1959. Mattel introduced the Barbie doll at a toy fair in New York, and the day is considered her official birthday. Ruth Handler, inspired by a German doll, came up with the idea. She's named after Ruth's daughter, Barbara. Over the years, Barbie's friends and family have grown, and so have her clothes, accessories, and related items.

Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. From a series of novels about her published by Random House, we know her parents are George and Margaret Roberts from the fictitious town of Willows, Wisconsin. In these books, Barbie attends Willows High School. However, in the Golden Books about her, she attends another fictitious school, Manhattan International High School.

The doll's boyfriend is Ken Carson, although they did break up for a time in 2004, and she became friendly with Blaine from Australia. Barbie has had 40 pets and owns a range of vehicles. She's had many careers, including pilot, flight attendant, doctor, and astronaut, as well as many different looks. Her friends, include Midge, Hispanic Teresa, and African American Christie. In addition, there are siblings and cousins.

At first, there was some controversy over a doll with a woman's figure. But Barbie survived those questions quite well and has gathered a large number of collectors over the years. For a sixty-one-year-old woman, Barbie has held her youth quite well for she looks as young today as she did when she first came out.

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