Barbie is the world's most famous and best-selling fashion doll brand, created by Ruth Handler and introduced by Mattel on March 9, 1959, at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. Named after Handler's daughter Barbara, Barbie was revolutionary for giving girls a doll that represented an adult woman with career aspirations rather than just a baby to nurture. Over more than six decades, Barbie has held over 250 careers ranging from astronaut and president to veterinarian and computer engineer, inspiring generations of children to imagine themselves in diverse roles. The brand's product line has expanded far beyond the original doll to include a vast universe of friends, family members, playsets, vehicles, dreamhouses, fashion accessories, and licensed products. In recent years, Mattel has transformed Barbie to be more inclusive and diverse, introducing dolls with different body types, skin tones, hair textures, and abilities, including dolls with prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, wheelchairs, and vitiligo. The 2023 Barbie movie directed by Greta Gerwig became a global cultural phenomenon, grossing over $1.4 billion at the box office and reigniting worldwide interest in the brand. Barbie remains one of the most valuable and recognizable toy brands in the world, with products sold in more than 150 countries and billions of dolls sold since its inception.
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