The inspiration for Barbie came from a German doll called Bild Lilli who was a popular comic strip character created by Reinhard Beuthien, appearing in the German tabloid newspaper "Bild" from 1952 to 1961.
Lilli was a high-end call girl who used her charm and wit to seduce wealthy men. She was also known to rally against male authority. In one particular comic, a policeman warns Lilli about public indecency for wearing her bikini on the sidewalk to which she replies, “Oh, and in your opinion, what part should I take off?”
Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel, discovered Bild Lilli during a trip to Europe in 1956. She purchased a few Lilli dolls as souvenirs and noticed that her daughter Barbara enjoyed playing with them. Ruth Handler saw potential in the adult-like, fashion-forward doll and got the idea to create a similar doll line that would appeal to young girls.
Thus, the concept for Barbie was born. Her son, whose name was Kenneth, would later go on to inspire the Ken doll. Mattel officially introduced Barbie at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959. Barbie was marketed as a teenage fashion model, different from the traditional baby dolls prevalent at the time. In 1964, Mattel bought the rights to Bild Lilli and the production of the German doll was put to an end.
The Barbie doll quickly gained popularity and went on to become an iconic and enduring toy, inspiring generations of children around the world. Currently, Barbie has had more than 200 careers, including many in STEM.