Showing that art imitates life, Barbie and Ken are inspired by real people; find out which ones!
One of the main topics of 2023 could not be another: Barbie! The most famous doll in the world is now on the big screen in its first live-action version, which debuted on July 20, where the actress Margot Robbie became responsible for bringing the real version of the character to life.
But before becoming the protagonist of the film Greta GerwingBarbie already starred in animated films, appeared in games, was part of collectible items and mainly in children’s games, after all, she was launched as a toy in 1959, after Ruth It is Elliot Handler— double that next to Harold Matsonfounded the toy factory called Mattel—, create the doll.
The idea of developing a doll with an adult appearance that allowed multiple outfit changes was innovative at the time and came about after Ruth watching her daughter play with paper dolls — with this the result could not be different: the girl was honored by serving as the name for the toy, since Barbie is the nickname of Barbara Handler.
In addition to Barbie, another person who bears the surname Handler received this type of demonstration of admiration for businesspeople. This is because the son of Ruth It is Elliotthe young Kennethhad his name used for the creation of Ken in 1962. Thus, Despite being a couple in Barbieland, real-life Ken and Barbie are actually siblings.
It is worth remembering that despite having inspired the dolls’ names, the similarity between real Ken and Barbie with the toys is completed by their nicknames, as revealed by the family’s children. Handler in a rare interview given to the Los Angeles Times in 1989.
In the conversation, Barbarianwho was 47 years old at the time, said that, despite enjoying going to the beach with her friends as a teenager, if the doll looks like her “it’s totally coincidental”, as it is a characteristic that can be applied to many people around the world. around the globe.
Barbarian she also claims to be “tired of being a Barbie doll”. She explains that she was 16 years old when her mother created Barbie, and as a teenager she never played with the doll, in addition to not having the same desires as the toy, that is, she never dreamed of having “the best clothes or driving the best cars”. cars.”
Similar to Barbarian, Kenneth revealed that he and the doll that bears his name are opposites, stating that, while the toy goes “to the beach and surfs”, he “played the piano and went to the movies with subtitles”.
“I was a nerd — a real nerd. All the girls thought I was an idiot.”
But even though Barbie and Ken have been loved for over 60 years by children, fans and collectors, their royal namesakes don’t seem to share the same admiration for the toys created by their parents. “It’s like she sits on the beach and doesn’t have a brain in her head, that bothers me. I really don’t like her,” he said. Kenneth about the doll.
Before the declaration of Kenneth, her sister had highlighted that despite being grateful for the fortune that the doll brought to her family, she is tired of being labeled as the “real” Barbie doll, something that bothered her to the point of making her leave the places where she was. identified as Mattel’s toy. “I used to leave,” she said.
Source: Recreio
