March 9 is Barbie Day. Here are eight things you may not have known about America's most (in)famous doll.
Wait, Barbie had a last name all this time? Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Barbie is named after creator Ruth Handler's own daughter Barbara (Ken — whose last name is apparently Carson — is named after her son).
She doesn't look a day over 25. Barbie's birthday is March 9, 1959. Handler debuted Barbie at the American International Toy Fair in New York in 1959. She based the doll on the German Bild-Lilli fashion dolls created after a comic strip character.
There's a reason Barbie looks like a porn star. Barbie's German inspo Lilli was a decidely grown up toy. Lilli was a call girl in the comics and her plastic counterpart was often given as gag gifts between adults.
Hips don't lie. The company behind the Lilli dolls even sued Mattel for the likeness to their own dolls in 1963, particularly Barbie's infamous hip joint. The case settled out of court and a year later, Mattel bought the copyright and patent to the Bild-Lilli dolls.
But please don't go on a Barbie diet! Barbie's proportions are often cited as impossible and unrealistic. A real live woman with Barbie's height of 5'9" would have to be 39"-18"-33" bust-waist-hips. Barbie's shoe size would be a size 3! The 2015 and beyond Fashionistas Barbie line was launched to create a more inclusive doll lineup, including varying skin tones, body and hair types.
Barbie is very accomplished. Barbie has had nearly every job under the sun, from lifeguard to veterinarian, teacher to astronaut. She's no computer engineer, however. A 2013 Barbie book, "I Can Be A Computer Engineer," made Barbie rely on the boys for tech help. Mattel later discontinued the book.
Love has not always been kind to Barbie. Back in 2004, Barbie split up from Ken, saying they'd grown apart. In 2006, Mattel announced they were dating again, after a brief rebound and Ken's makeover — and a wedding set featuring the two came out in 2011. However, unlike Kermit and Miss Piggy, they have never been married.
The future is looking ... future-y. Mattel just announced a Barbie hologram to debut during summer of 2017.