Buyers were angry: how Ken appeared in the life of Barbie – unknown pages of the cult love story of the Star

It seems to us that Ken has always been Barbie’s companion, but in reality this is not entirely true. The dolls did not appear on the market at the same time. In 1959, the first Barbie was released, but her boyfriend did not appear until two years later. And it happened under public pressure. Buyers bombarded the manufacturer with letters. “Why is Barbie single?” they were angry. Doll inventor Ruth Handler recalled that Mattel began receiving “hundreds of letters from little girls begging for a Barbie boyfriend”.

The image of an unmarried woman in the public eye really looked like a challenge back then. In the 1950s, society was extremely conservative and patriarchal, so even toys had to take into account the image of the family. And even the doll had to have a man nearby. This emphasized that the main purpose of a girl is to grow up and become a good wife.

As of today, the situation looks twofold: on the one hand, it is a consequence of the patriarchy deciding how a woman’s life should develop, on the other hand, Ken exists only because Barbie exists.

“Barbie was invented first. Ken was invented after Barbie to improve her position in our eyes. This creation myth is the opposite of the creation myth in Genesis,” commented Barbie director Greta Gerwig on this paradox.

So how did the relationship of the most famous dolls in the world develop?

Before her boyfriend appeared in Barbie’s life, she was already a perfect person. So, in 1960, a year before Ken appeared, the first “working” Barbie appeared on the market – she was a fashion designer.

The official birthday of the doll is March 9, 1959. The exact date of Ken’s appearance is also known – March 11, 1961. The friend doll was named in honor of the son of the inventor of Barbie Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot. Barbie herself, as you know, was named after their daughter.

According to Mattel’s official story, Ken Carson met Barbie on the set of their first TV commercial together, and it was love at first sight. Ken completed Barbie’s beach bow (recall that the first doll was released in a swimsuit) and appeared before the public in some red swimsuits. By the way, then two versions entered the market at once – a brunette and a blonde, both were blue-eyed.

In the early years of the relationship, Barbie continued to successfully combine her personal life with her career: she was a professional ballerina, flight attendant, registered nurse and singer.

The candy period in the couple’s life lasted quite a long time. Ken and Barbie only got together in 1974. That’s when the first Mattel dollhouse appeared on the market. Barbie and Ken’s first home together was a three-story townhouse with bright decor, an elevator, and a jacuzzi. A large number of accessories had not yet been secured, and the whole situation was painted on the walls of the house. But here the elevator was real and could move – such a feature, of course, overshadowed the “flaws” of the design.

But in 1998, Barbie and Ken got a more luxurious house, already similar to a princess’s palace. Victorian style, turrets, a balcony and, of course, pink furniture – you can live your best life on these square meters.

Although Barbie and Ken repeatedly appeared in pictures of the bride and groom, they were not officially married. Since Barbie was originally a model, her job was to try on different outfits. Mattel has given its customers the right to create the play scenarios they want.

The officially married couple in the Mattel universe was Midge, Barbie’s best friend who appeared in 1963, and her chosen one Alan, who is in turn Ken’s best friend.

Barbie and Ken lived together for more than 40 years and seemed like the perfect couple, but on Valentine’s Day 2004, Mattel made an unexpected announcement: the public’s favorites were no longer together.

Russell Arons, Mattel’s vice president of marketing, said that Barbie and Ken “feel like it’s time to spend some time apart.”

“Like other famous couples, their Hollywood romance is over,” Arons said, adding that the duo “will remain friends.”

A spokesperson for the company also suggested that the split may be partly due to Ken’s reluctance to marry.

It was seen in the press as an attempt to revive Barbie’s image and make her attractive again against the background of the extravagant Bratz dolls gaining popularity, but the news was not received enthusiastically by the public. However, in the life of Barbie herself, there was another big event that year that drowned out the heartache – she became a presidential candidate for the first time.

After breaking up with Ken, Barbie started dating Australian surfer Blaine. Then the California version of the doll just came out. To better reflect her new single status, Barbie dressed in shorts and a bikini top, completing the look with hoop earrings and a tan. So she and Blaine formed a harmonious couple, though not for long.

It took Ken seven years to get Barbie back. On Valentine’s Day 2011, the legendary couple reunited. How much it cost Barbie’s boyfriend is anyone’s guess, but according to Mattel, the seduction strategy included cupcake sets from Magnolia Bakery and billboards where Ken left Barbie love messages.

In general, Barbie eventually forgave him and they remained a loving couple ever since. Perhaps feelings rekindled between them on the set: in 2010, Barbie and Ken appeared in the animated film Toy Story 3.

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