> Whose real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts?And the answer: Barbie. Photo credit: Barbie.comIn the 1950s, the co-founder of the Mattel toy company,Ruth Handler, envisioned a 3-D doll that would inspire girls. Handler had tworeal-life children named Barbara and Ken, who inspired the names of the dolls.Barbie came to life (so to speak) after Handler realized that paper dolls andbaby dolls were not sufficient for her children to enjoy. Beyond that, shewanted a doll that her daughter could see herself in and aspire to. Thus, Barbiewas born. In its first year of sales, Barbie became the biggest selling fashiondoll of all time. With each rerelease and new outfit, sales surged again. Inresponse to demand, Ken was released as Barbie's boyfriend. Barbie has also received significant criticism. Many were concerned thatBarbie's figure was too suggestive, her aspirations too materialistic, and hermessage not wholly positive. In response, Mattel developed a commitment toboosting girls' self-esteem and gave Barbie a cosmopolitan sense and expandedcareer options. Barbie's resumé now includes (but is not limited to) a dentist,a paleontologist, an Air Force fighter pilot, a World Cup soccer competitor, afirefighter, and a candidate for President. Her complete list of occupationsclocks in at around 100 jobs, respectively (all the while in good taste, ofcourse). > "My whole philosophy of Barbie was that, through the doll, the little girl couldbe anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a womanhas choices." - Ruth Handler Throughout her many job choices, Barbie is nothing if not fashionable. Check outthe video below to watch Barbie's evolution throughout history.