The Barbie concept was inspired by Lilli dolls from Europe in 1957. These dolls were created by German cartoonist Reinhard Beuthien for the newspaper Bild-Zeitung in Hamburg, Germany.

Lilli wasn't an average babydoll. She was a well developed and curvaceous doll. This character, known for her large breasts and sexy clothing, and was created for adult entertainment "a symbol of sex and pornography for the men of Germany. She also sported an abnormally small waistline wear tiny, tight clothing. Barbie was born 11.5 inches tall and weighing 11 ounces. She debuted as a teenage model in a black and white striped swimsuit that came with sunglasses, high-heeled shoes, and gold-colored hoop earrings. Her body was shapely with movable head, arms, and legs. Barbie was the first doll in America with an adult body. If Barbie were in fact a real woman her body's measurements would have been 39" 18" 33", 5"9" tall and weighing a whopping 110lbs. Stemming from this, Barbie's extremely curvaceous body type and lack realism set the critics on a tangent. Barbie Controversy didn't just stop there.

Barbie debuted in 1959 at the American Toy Fair in New York. Named after the inventor and co-founder of Mattel, Ruth Handler’s, daughter Barbara. Barbie' s full name is "Barbie Millicent Roberts”, Barbie made record sales for Mattel in her first year. Mattel sold 351'000 Barbie dolls at just $3 a pop in 1959. Doing the math on that they raked in $1,053,000 off Barbie alone that year.

In the way of natural progression, why not bring in Black Barbie Dolls. Black Barbie Dolls didn't follow imediatiley. It took some years to warm up to the idea. As a matter of fact. The first black barbie came after Barbie's black friend Christie in 1968. To keep Ken company. Christie had a boyfriend, Steven who came out in 1988. The first black Barbie was spin off of a doll called Francie. Francie was for the most part just a shorter Barbie. Only Francie has far out colorful wardrovbe. Barbie  was introduced in Europe in 1961. Fracine cam into play in 1966. Francie was suppose to be Barbie's european cousin. It wasn't the doll Francie alone that spawn the first black barbie. It was "colored Fracie" who debued in 1967! Colored Francie was made from the same mold as her counterpart. She bared the same eyes, nose, chin, etc. Meaning she was a Barbie dipped in chocolate.As you can imagine it hit the fan in the African American community and the doll was pulled in 1976. Now, if "colored Francie" was suppose to be Babie's chocolate cousin it still left up to debate.

The first Black Barbie debuted in 1980 though some say it was 1979.

She word a red two piece the quickly transformed from a fashion savvy office woman to bathing suit. We can't over look the uncanny resemblance of the doll to Felicia Rashad. The Cosby Show was doing wonderful things in the 80's. It's would be suspecting to model the first Black Barbie after a women every little African American girl wanted to be when she grew up, "Claire Huxstable". The Black Barbie has had many facial, skin tone, and hair changes. The colors of the Black Barbies now cover the entire spectrum of African American women, not to mention ethnic women world wide.   The beauty in the change of they eye color, lip shape, cheekbones, chins, short hair, long hair dreadlocks and so much more. Each doll is beautiful in her own way, just like the beautiful women of color.

The first nationality Barbie represented in the Dolls of the World Collection was Italian.  The Quinceanera Teresa Barbie was released in Mexico in 1994 to celebrate Girls Day.  The first Black/African American and Hispanic Barbies were introduced in 1980.  One of the latest nationality Barbie is Spanish Barbie, released in 2000 wearing an ensemble inspired by the "traje de luces" (suit of lights) worn by toreadors.

The Barbie is currently marketed in more than 150 nations around the world.  She has represented 45 different nationalities.  Barbie has come a long way baby!

Barbie is a Registered Trademark of Mattel