The girl who has done it all, from dancer to doctor, filmmaker to fashion designer, astronaut to rockstar, and so many more careers, Barbie is proof that, even at only 11.5 inches tall, girls really can do it all. Barbie You Can Be Anything is a campaign created by Mattel to encourage girls to be ambitious and inspire limitless potential.
“Love and imagination can change the world.”
Barbie as Rapunzel
Barbie’s more than 200 careers are a remarkable part of her story. Businesswoman Ruth Handler created Barbie in 1959, and the original Barbie Doll was officially released by Mattel to the toy industry during a New York City toy fair. More than 60 years later, I stepped into Barbie’s Dreamhouse during the premiere week of the World of Barbie Exhibit in Los Angeles, a pink wonderland of fun, featuring Barbie fashion, history, early dolls, and careers to discover.
Barbie has always been an inspiration through her imaginative world and glittery perspective. Barbie sets an example to be kind, fearless, bold, and to go after all of your dreams. As the icon herself says, “Get your sparkle on. Show the world where you belong.” Walking through the museum, I’m reminded of the Barbie fabulously inspires me now and the sweet memories of Barbie’s role in my childhood. Playing Barbie with my sisters when we were young allowed us to be early fashion designers, putting together new outfits for our dolls, crafting stories, letting our imaginations fly, and dreaming up possibilities of what we could be when we grew up.
“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.”
Coco Chanel
This is part of the Barbie dream Ruth Handler wanted to put into the world. “My whole philosophy of Barbie was that, through the doll,” she said, “the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices. No one knew the impression Barbie would have when the very first Barbie Doll with her striped outfit and high ponytail was released in the 50s. Now, Barbie is sold worldwide in 150 countries.
Girl boss alert! Working at Mattel sine 1999, Kim Culmone is the current Senior Vice President and Global Head of Design for Barbie as well as a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Textile Design Program. The direction of transformation she’s leading for Barbie is growing. In an interview with Vogue Australia, Kim said of Barbie’s evolution, “Barbie is most successful when she is reflective of the world around her.” This can be seen in Mattel’s collection of Barbies that pay tribute to “…courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before.” This Barbie Inspiring Woman Series features remarkable dolls such as jazz singer, “The First Lady of Song,” Ella Fitzgerald and ethologist and conservationist Jane Goodall (made from recycled materials).
“You’re braver than you think.”
Barbie
The series of dolls celebrates role models and shines a light on real, empowering, and aspirational female success stories from all over the world. Dancing across the World of Barbie exhibit, I discovered the 2023 Ballerina Barbie Doll. Over the years, Barbie has ventured into the dance world with the release of movies like Barbie of Swan Lake, Barbie in the Nutcracker, and Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses. These movies feature real choreography and ballet technique. New York City Ballet Principal Ballerina Maria Kowroski was the dancer whose moves were recreated in the film. The Barbie films also feature beautiful music to accompany each ballet. Seeing Barbie en pointe on the big screen is an inspiration in animation!
Barbie is more than just a doll. She is a source of inspiration to pursue any dream you may have. Just like Barbie, you can be anything! The sparkling possibilities are endless.
