Since Barbie's introduction as a teenage fashion model in 1959, the doll has been portrayed with many careers. [1] Dolls are sold with sets of clothes and accessories that fit the career being portrayed. For example, the Lifeguard Barbie playset includes a Barbie, an outfit with shoes, a lifeguard chair, a dolphin, and a life preserver, while the Spanish Teacher Barbie includes a Barbie, an outfit with shoes, flashcards, a Spanish quiz, an easel, a notebook, a key chain, and a hairbrush. [2]
According to Mattel, Barbie has had over 200 careers, recently including more STEM fields. [3] [4]
Year | # | Careers |
---|---|---|
1959 | 1 | Fashion model |
1960 | 2 | Fashion designer, singer |
1961 | 3 | Ballerina, flight attendant, nurse |
1962 | 0 | |
1963 | 3 | Babysitter (accessories only), business executive, cheerleader |
1964 | 3 | Cheerleader (clothing pack only), candy striper (clothing pack only), drum majorette |
1965 | 3 | Astronaut, fashion editor, student teacher |
1966 | 1 | Flight attendant |
1967 | 0 | |
1968 | 0 | |
1969 | 0 | |
1970 | 0 | |
1971 | 0 | |
1972 | 0 | |
1973 | 2 | Flight attendant (clothing pack only), surgeon |
1974 | 1 | Olympic gymnast |
1975 | 3 | Olympic figure skater, Olympic skier, Olympic swimmer |
1976 | 3 | Ballerina, babysitter (accessories only), equestrian |
1977 | 2 | Actress, Olympic swimmer |
1978 | 0 | |
1979 | 1 | Tennis player |
1980 | 1 | Actress |
1981 | 0 | |
1982 | 3 | McDonald's cashier (playset), makeup department worker (playset), fashion department worker (playset) |
1983 | 0 | |
1984 | 2 | Aerobics instructor, ballerina |
1985 | 3 | Astronaut, business executive, veterinarian |
1986 | 3 | Rock star, singer, travel agent (playset) |
1987 | 6 | Canadian Mountie, crepe shop worker, game show host (playset), ice cream cart owner, maid, singer |
1988 | 5 | Actress, candy and ice cream parlor worker, doctor, Olympic figure skater, singer |
1989 | 6 | Ice cream shop worker, pianist, pilot, rock star, United States Army officer, UNICEF Ambassador |
1990 | 3 | Figure skater, restaurant owner, singer |
1991 | 6 | Ballroom dancer, chef (clothing pack only), school teacher, United States Air Force pilot, United States Marine Corps sergeant, United States Navy petty officer QM1 |
1992 | 10 | Beach snack stand worker (playset), business executive, cheerleader, fashion designer (clothing pack only), rapper, Rockette, supermarket cashier (playset), United States Army officer, United States presidential candidate, veterinarian |
1993 | 10 | Army medic, baseball player, doctor, firefighter (clothing pack only), gymnast, jillaroo, police officer, school teacher (clothing pack only), United States Air Force Thunderbirds pilot, veterinarian (clothing pack only) |
1994 | 7 | Actress, astronaut, Country Western singer, lifeguard, McDonald's cashier (playset), pet groomer (playset), scuba diver |
1995 | 14 | African safari guide (clothing pack only), ballerina (clothing pack only), chef (clothing pack only), circus performer, doctor, elementary school teacher, fashion designer, firefighter, nurse, Olympic gymnast, pediatrician, pilot, singer, superhero |
1996 | 9 | Chef (clothing pack only), doctor, figure skater, paleontologist, Palmer's clothing store employee, pediatrician (playset), shopkeeper, singer, Starfleet security officer |
1997 | 10 | Astronaut (clothing pack only), Country Western singer, cowgirl, dentist, elementary school teacher, Japan Airlines flight attendant, Olympic figure skater, pilot, preschool teacher (playset), tennis player (clothing pack only) |
1998 | 11 | Bake shop worker, carriage driver, Country Western singer, ice cream shop worker (playset), MLB player, NASCAR driver, NBA player, rock star, soccer player, soda fountain waitress, WNBA player |
1999 | 16 | Actress, Avon representative, business executive, Country Western singer, detective, fashion trend forecaster, florist, matador, NASCAR driver, outdoor beauty store worker, pilot, rock star, See's Candies cashier, sign language teacher, soccer player, tour guide |
2000 | 13 | Actress, bowler, cheerleader, elementary school teacher, fashion editor, fashion model, figure skater, Formula One driver, lute player, Olympic swimmer, pediatrician, Spanish language teacher, United States presidential candidate |
2001 | 9 | Actress, fashion designer, fashion model, McDonald's cashier, pediatrician, Pizza Hut cashier (playset), train conductor, train hostess, United States Air Force pilot |
2002 | 10 | Actress, art teacher, drum majorette, fashion designer, fashion model, Olympic figure skater, outdoor beauty store worker, pop singer, singer, spy |
2003 | 4 | Actress, dentist, fashion model, pediatrician |
2004 | 5 | Actress, bard, cowgirl, fashion model, United States presidential candidate |
2005 | 3 | Fashion model, film producer, veterinarian |
2006 | 13 | Ballerina, bake shop worker, business executive, cheerleader, fashion model, flight attendant, lounge singer, maid, nurse, pediatrician, school teacher, veterinarian, waitress |
2007 | 10 | Art teacher, ballet teacher, cabaret dancer, cheerleader, elementary school teacher, fashion model, jazz singer, make-up artist, secretary, usher |
2008 | 11 | Actress, artist, baby photographer, elementary school teacher, fashion model, pediatrician, pet boutique owner, showgirl, swim teacher, United States presidential candidate, veterinarian |
2009 | 12 | Actress, ballerina, can-can dancer, cat burglar, fashion model, gymnastics coach, nurse, pizza chef, preschool teacher, SeaWorld trainer, student teacher, TV chef |
2010 | 26 | Actress, architect, astronaut, babysitter, ballerina, ballet teacher, cheerleader, chef, circus performer, computer engineer, cooking teacher, dentist, doctor, elementary school teacher, equestrian (clothing pack only), fashion model, flight attendant, pediatrician, pop singer, news anchor, nurse, race car driver, rock star, school teacher, veterinarian, wild animal trainer (clothing pack only) |
2011 | 17 | Art teacher, can-can dancer, cheerleader (clothing pack only), dancer, elementary school teacher, fashion model, figure skater (clothing pack only), firefighter (clothing pack only), flight attendant (clothing pack only), gymnast (clothing pack only), lifeguard, nurse, pediatrician, pilot (clothing pack only), police officer (clothing pack only), skier, soccer player |
2012 | 31 | Actress, arctic animal rescuer, artist, astronaut (clothing pack only), ballerina, doctor, equestrienne, fashion designer, fashion model, fashion photographer, figure skater, flight attendant, floral designer, gymnast, marine biologist (clothing pack only), martial artist (clothing pack only), music teacher (clothing pack only), nurse, paleontologist, pancake chef, pilot, preschool teacher, skier, snowboarder, swimmer, tennis player, track-and-field runner, United States presidential candidate, veterinarian, waiter (clothing pack only), yoga teacher |
2013 | 22 | Actress, art teacher (clothing pack only), astronaut, babysitter, Canadian Mountie, cheerleader, dessert chef, doctor, dolphin trainer, elementary school teacher, SeaWorld trainer, fashion model, gymnastics coach, make-up artist, marine wildlife rescuer, pediatrician, pet groomer, rock star, singer, soccer player, sweet chef, violinist |
2014 | 20 | Astronaut (clothing pack only), babysitter, ballerina, ballroom dancer, cake baker, cheerleader, cookie chef, detective, entrepreneur, fashion model, figure skater (clothing pack only), hair stylist, lifeguard (clothing pack only), music teacher, nurse, pastry chef (clothing pack only), pilot, soccer player, tennis player, veterinarian |
2015 | 22 | Babysitter, ballerina, cupcake chef, dentist, doctor, eye doctor, elementary school teacher, fashion designer (clothing pack only), fashion model, figure skater, film director, firefighter, gymnast, hair stylist, lifeguard, nurse (clothing pack only), pediatrician, pilot, rock star, soccer player, spy, veterinarian |
2016 | 9 | Animal rescuer, fashion model, game developer, gymnastics coach, pediatrician, smoothie chef, United States presidential candidate, United States vice presidential candidate, veterinarian |
2017 | 14 | Astronaut, ballet teacher, English language teacher, eye doctor, fashion model, martial artist, musician, nurse, rhythmic gymnast, skateboarder, space scientist, spaghetti chef, tennis coach, waiter |
2018 | 15 | Artist, bakery chef, baseball player, basketball player, bee keeper, business executive, chemist, elementary school teacher, farmer, fashion model, golfer (clothing pack only), grocery store worker, robotics engineer, saxophonist (clothing pack only), TV news camerawoman |
2019 | 25 | Aircraft engineer, astrophysicist, cake baker, chef, chicken farmer, dentist, doctor, dog daycare owner, entomologist, fashion model, figure skating coach, flight attendant, gymnastics coach, musician, music teacher, judge, news anchor, photojournalist, pilot, pizza chef, polar marine biologist, pop singer, school teacher, soccer coach, swimmer, wildlife conservationist |
2020 | 26 | Art teacher, boxer, business executive (clothing pack only), campaign manager, campaign fundraiser, chef, coffee shop worker, construction worker (clothing pack only), doctor, farmer (playset), fashion model, food truck operator, gymnast, hockey player, musician (clothing pack only), noodle bar worker, Olympic climber, Olympic karate, Olympic skateboarder, Olympic softball player, Olympic surfer, park ranger, pediatrician, pet groomer (clothing pack only), tennis player, volleyball player |
2021 | 27 | Astronaut, bakery chef, beach snack stand worker, business executive, doctor, figure skater (clothing pack only), firefighter, florist, hair stylist, hockey player, keyboardist, lifeguard, music producer, Olympic swimmer, paramedic, pasta chef, pilot (clothing pack only), restaurant owner, rhythmic gymnast, rock star, school teacher (clothing pack only), science teacher, smoothie bar worker, veterinarian, violinist (clothing pack only), wilderness guide, zoologist |
2022 | 24 | Actress, artist, chef (clothing pack only), Chief Sustainability Officer, conservation scientist, elementary school teacher, farmer, farmer's market stall owner, fashion designer, fashion model, figure skater, interior designer, make-up artist, marine biologist, microbiologist, musician, para alpine skier, pet photographer, pilot, renewable energy engineer, snowboarder, soccer player, tennis player, tooth fairy |
2023 | 24 | Astronaut, coach, dentist, fashion boutique owner, figure skater, general manager, gymnast, lifeguard, livestock veterinarian, math teacher, panda rescuer, pastry chef, pop star, referee, singer, soccer player, sports reporter, stylist, swimmer, tennis player, United States President, violinist, volleyball player, wardrobe stylist |
2024 | 14 | Actor, animal rescuer, art therapist, basketball player, boxer, cinematographer, coffee shop worker, farmer, film director, film studio executive, firefighter, pediatrician, preschool teacher, United States Presidential candidate |
Mattel, Inc. is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in Los Angeles by Harold Matson and the husband-and-wife duo of Ruth and Elliot Handler in January 1945 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. Mattel has a presence in 35 countries and territories; its products are sold in more than 150 countries. Mattel consists of three business segments: North America, International and American Girl.
Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll which Handler had purchased while in Europe. The figurehead of an eponymous brand that includes a range of fashion dolls and accessories, Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for over six decades. Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls, making it the company's largest and most profitable line. The brand has expanded into a multimedia franchise since 1984, including video games, animated films, television/web series, and a live-action film.
Kenneth Sean "Ken" Carson Jr. is a fashion doll introduced by American toy company Mattel in 1961 as the counterpart of Barbie, who had been introduced two years earlier.
Ruth Marianna Handler was an American business magnate and inventor. She is best known for inventing the Barbie doll in 1959, and being co-founder of toy manufacturer Mattel with her husband Elliot, as well as serving as the company's first president from 1945 to 1975.
Bratz is an American fashion doll and media franchise created by former Mattel employee Carter Bryant for MGA Entertainment, which debuted in 2001.
Polly Pocket is a toy line of dolls and accessories first founded and designed by Chris Wiggs in 1983 and licensed by Bluebird Toys from 1989 until both entities/properties were acquired by Mattel in 1998.
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What's Her Face! was a line of customizable dolls that straddled the line between traditional fashion dolls and creative activity toys. Made by Mattel, the line ran from 2001–2003, and enjoyed only a modest success in a market dominated by Mattel's iconic Barbie and MGA Entertainment's Bratz dolls. Following the discontinuation of the What's Her Face! line, their body molds were used for the Wee 3 Friends line of Barbie-related dolls. Several fashion, wig, and activity packs were also released for the What's Her Face line.
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Beginning with the release of an eponymous video game in 1984, Barbie, a fashion doll manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and debuted on March 9, 1959, has been featured in a media franchise predominantly consisting of a film series and media formats across technologies like television and the Internet. Since then, it has become one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time and has been referred to among fans as the "Barbie Cinematic Universe".
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