In 2019, Barbie turned 60 – and her creators, toy company Mattel, marked the milestone with more than cake and balloons. They gave the world’s most famous doll a real makeover, shifting the focus from how Barbie looks to what she represents.
As someone who had Barbie dolls as a child, it’s always been interesting to think about Barbie’s slightly traditional image and whether it shaped how I see the world. I can report that, despite owning Barbies, I grew up believing women could do and be anything (except men!).
My own two daughters also played with Barbie dolls. By the time they had them, Barbie was even a vet with her own practice – or at least that’s what the set we bought for our youngest seemed to be implying.
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Barbie’s ‘Shero’ Campaign
Empowering girls became a key focus for Mattel around Barbie’s 60th birthday. The brand marked the anniversary with its largest ever ‘Shero’ campaign, celebrating real women who had broken new ground in their fields.
The ‘Shero’ dolls highlighted inspiring women, including:
- iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo
- fencing champion Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first Muslim-American athlete to wear a hijab while competing
- Ava DuVernay, director of “Selma”
- aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart
- Katherine Johnson, mathematician and physicist at NASA
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Mattel’s then chief operating officer, Richard Dickson, described the anniversary as “a bigger loudspeaker to celebrate who we are and what we’ve achieved and hopefully create a movement where people become even more inspired by the brand.”
One change that stood out for many parents came a little earlier, in 2016, when Mattel updated Barbie’s body shape so girls had the option of tall, petite and curvy dolls. Mattel also widened the range of ethnicities on offer, releasing dolls with more diverse features and textured hair.
The idea behind all of it was simple: move the conversation on from what Barbie looks like to what she stands for.
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Did you have a Barbie doll as a child? What do you think of the changes Barbie has been through over the years? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!
FAQs
When did Barbie turn 60?
Barbie celebrated her 60th birthday in 2019, marking six decades since Mattel launched the doll.
What was the ‘Shero’ campaign?
It was Mattel’s tribute to real-life inspiring women, released as special edition dolls modelled on figures such as Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson.
Did Barbie’s body shape change?
Yes. In 2016, Mattel introduced tall, petite and curvy body types for Barbie, alongside a wider range of skin tones, face shapes and hair textures.
Is Barbie still being updated today?
Mattel has continued to expand the range of Barbie dolls since 2019, though this article focuses on the milestone changes made around her 60th birthday.
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Looking for more fun ideas for playtime and parties? Have a browse of our things-to-do section, or save this article to come back to later.
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