At the age of 65, Barbie she shows no intention of retiring from her 250 different jobs as a plastic and imaginary doll, who left a huge cultural mark on the human world with her little feet.

The original Mattel Barbie with her iconic blonde hair and black and white one-piece swimsuit was inspired by creator Ruth Handler’s daughter, Barbara, in 1959.

However, in 2024, as well Barbie celebrates her 65th birthdaydolls are made in a variety of colors, hair, body types and other criteria.

“Barbie used to be a more distinct reflection of beauty, more one-dimensional. Today, there are many Barbies and we have numerous faces of herMattel executive vice president Lisa McKnight told Reuters from Mattel’s Design Center in Los Angeles.

Barbie comes in 35 skin tones, 97 hair styles and nine body types, including wheelchair, Down syndrome, vitiligo and plus-size dolls, as well as gender-neutral dolls.

The doll has recently become a fashion icon, having inspired the Barbiecore style and helping many established hair and clothing designers, such as Karl Lagerfeld, start their careers.

Giving another boost to the brand’s evolution, the 2023 blockbuster, the 8-Oscar-nominated movie “Barbie” by Greta Gerwig, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, added a new emotional depth to the doll.

However, any gains did not come overnight.

“I’m so thankful I didn’t grow up with Barbie,” said women’s rights activist Gloria Steinem in her 2018 documentary on Barbie “Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie».

“Barbie was everything we didn’t want to be and were told to be“, she added.

To this day, the doll is still associated by some with unrealistic body proportions, gender roles, and Eurocentric beauty standards.

While taking these concerns into account, Mattel continues to add multifaceted dolls.

The company is open to diverse voices that go beyond those of its designers.

“What’s most important to us is that we take into account advice from all kinds of communities when we designsaid Kim Calmon, vice president of planning.

Created for Barbie’s 65th birthday by Filipino Barbie Signature designer Carlyle Nuera, the dolls are a modern take on the original Swimsuit Barbie, this time in a black and white gown paired with white sunglasses.