She took the world by storm, surprising skeptical toy critics at New York's Toy Fair in 1959. With her good looks, charm, and charisma, she won audiences over in record time. Soon, little girls across America, and later, the world, were singing her praises. In the coming years, both adults and children would collect her in record numbers. Today she remains one of the hottest selling toys in the world. Her name is Barbie. This is her story.

She began like any other great invention does - as an idea in a visionary's head. Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel Toys, was watching her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls and imagine them in grown-up roles when the idea hit her - why not make a teenage doll that little girls could play and dream about the future with? Ruth recognized the value of helping children realize their dreams and goals through play. After researching the current doll market, Ruth confirmed that while there were plenty of baby dolls available, there were no three-dimensional teenage dolls. She then resolved to create such a doll through her own company, which she co-founded with her husband Elliott Handler.

Ruth and Elliott unveiled Barbie® doll, the teenage fashion model, at New York's annual Toy Fair in 1959. Initially, toy buyers were skeptical. Never before had anyone seen a doll so small, yet so sophisticated. As a teenager, Barbie was completely unlike any of the baby or toddler dolls popular at the time. Critics posed the question - Would anyone buy her?

Undaunted by skepticism, Mattel stood firmly behind the first Barbie doll, launching an innovative television ad campaign. Barbie quickly caught the attention of little girls across the country. She soon became a worldwide sensation, and remains as popular as ever today.

As a teenage fashion model, Barbie has worn many fabulous fashions. Beginning with her trademark black and white striped swimsuit and swirled ponytail, Barbie has followed style trends as well as blazed her own fashion trail. Over the years, as fashion and teenage lifestyle trends have shifted, so has Barbie. In the early 1960s, she began wearing designer outfits such as Gay Parisienne™, and "Easter Parade," both modeled after Parisian couture fashions. Along with these stylish ensembles came a brand new hairstyle, the famous bubble cut - still a favorite among many collectors.

As the 1960s progressed, Barbie took on the style and sophistication of the decade's most famous trendsetter - Jackie Kennedy, wearing such stunning fashions as Silken Flame®, and Fashion Luncheon®. Another popular look for the late 60s was that of the American Girl - a chin-length Dutch-boy hairstyle available in many colors. In addition to the new fashion and hairstyle, American Girl dolls were the first Barbie dolls to have bendable legs.

As the 1960s gave way to the "British Invasion", Barbie again became a trendsetter. Not only did she get a fashion makeover, but her body style, hair, face sculpting and makeup changed as well. In addition to wearing the popular mod fashions, Barbie doll's body underwent dramatic changes including a new Twist 'N Turn® waist, and a more youthful face with rooted eyelashes. As hair play became an important aspect of the Barbie doll experience, Barbie began wearing her hair long and straight, and in varying colors - perfect for little girls to brush and style!

In the early 1970s, Barbie became more poseable than ever before, with bendable wrists, elbows, and ankles. This allowed Barbie to participate in all kinds of new activities, including gymnastics, horseback riding, and ballet. And like the previous decade, Barbie embodied the fashion and lifestyle trends of the world around her. During the 1970s, her fashions included the "prairie" look, the "granny" dress, the "California Girl" suntan, and the zany glitz of the "disco" era.