Barbara Millicent Robert's Journey

Barbie is Born

Mar 9, 1959

[Ponytail Barbie] The first Barbie ever is made and named Barbara Millicent Roberts. Her clothes are hand-stitched by Japanese homeworkers. The blonde Barbie outsold brunettes 3:1 ("Barbie Vintage Dolls").

Barbie's First Makeover

Jan 1, 1960

[PonyTail Barbie] Barbie sports a new face featuring blue eyeshadow, less eyeliner, and softer lips. The dolls were also produced with a finer quality plastic that retained flesh color better ("Barbie Vintage Dolls").

Barbie's First Haircut

Jan 1, 1961

[Bubble Cut Barbie] Barbie gets a haircut and new hair colors as well. This doll came with red, brown, black, or blonde hair. The brown haired Barbie is the most rare of all four varieties ("Barbie Vintage Dolls").

Barbie's First Molded Head

Jan 1, 1963

[Fashion Queen Barbie] Barbie's hair is brown and painted on her head. Her smooth dome is molded for 3 different colored wigs, which the doll came with. This was the first doll with a molded head instead of rooted hair ("Barbie Vintage Dolls").

Barbie's Eyes Open & Close

Jan 1, 1964

[Miss Barbie Doll] This was the first, and only, Barbie featured with eyes that open and shut. The doll scared children and did not sell well ("Barbie Vintage Dolls").

Barbie's First Magical Hair

Jan 1, 1966

[Color Magic Barbie] Barbie's hair changes color! This doll is also known for her intense, high-contrast makeup. The platinum haired Color Magic Barbie is the most rare; scammers will dye the doll's hair to get a higher bid ("Color Magic Barbie").

Barbie's Bendable Body

Jan 1, 1967

[Twist N Turn Barbie] Barbie has rooted (3D) eyelashes! Barbie no longer sports only curly hair; she has sleek hair. First Barbie to have a bendable body as well, instead of hard plastic.

First Black Barbie

Jan 1, 1967

[Francie] The first black Barbie is introduced to the market. The "Francie" doll was not considered to don stereotypical African American features and is, therefore, overlooked as the first "true" black Barbie ("1966 – 2016 Francie Fairchild").

Barbie Speaks

Jan 1, 1968

[Talking Barbie] If you pull a string on the back of Barbie's neck, she'll talk to you! This was the first Barbie to have separated fingers ("Talking Barbie").

Barbie Looks Ahead

Jan 1, 1971

[TnT Barbie] Twist 'n' Turn Barbie got a makeover - her eyes face forward! The forward facing eyes came during this time after a rise in the feminist movement encouraging female empowerment ("Barbie").

Barbie Holds Items

Jan 1, 1972

[Talking Busy Barbie] Barbie's hands are now capaable of holding things! A special "German" version of the doll, complete with a different face, was sold exclusively in Europe ("Busy Barbie").

Barbie's First Steps

Jan 1, 1973

[Walk Lively Barbie] Barbie can now walk and talk! Her arms were fixed to her legs in such a way so that when her arms moved, so did her legs (thus, the apperance of walking). This doll was only available with long, blonde hair ("Walk Lively Barbie").

Barbie's Most Popular Face

Jan 1, 1977

[Superstar Barbie] Barbie releases a brand new face mold! The new face mold was extremely popular and launced a bright-eyed epidemic that lasted well in the 90's ("Barbie Doll History").

Barbie's Wheelchair

Jan 1, 1997

[Share a Smile Becky] Becky is the first, and only, Barbie to ever be featured in a wheelchair. The doll sold popularly, but wasn't adapted to Mattel's extensive line of accessories, and production stopped ("Blue Badge Style").

Barbie Gets Locs

Sep 28, 2015

[Zendaya Barbie] First black Barbie, or otherwise, to sport the "locs" hairstyle instead of straight, sleek, or curly hair. The doll was realeased after the actress Zandaya was publically criticized for her hair (Spector).

Barbie Gets New Bodies

Feb 1, 2016

Barbie is now available in four different body types. The company responded, showing support, to a public upswing in a body appreciation movement (Brake).