FASHION ALERT: Whom You Know Continues Coverage of Barbie with Her Influence on Pop Culture Including Celebrities, Entertainment and Collecting
Celebrities
No matter where you go, the mere mention of Barbie elicits a reaction. People are passionate, persuasive and just plain get personal about their Barbie story. How could a doll get so much air time? Barbie is more than a doll. She is a major part of pop culture. Several times, her Dream House and dreamy life have been a storyline for skits on NBC's “Saturday Night Live.”
Barbie has gone head-to-head with Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson– Hollywood’s hottest starlets– in People magazine’s “Who Wore It Best?” section. She’s also been a “Project Runway” challenge and even a commentary topic for Dan Rather on “CBS Evening News."
You know you’ve made it onto the cultural map when you’re a staple storyline on “Saturday Night Live.” Barbie has also been parodied by her fair share of TV commercials, primetime cartoons, late night talk shows and celebrity gossip magazines.
A celebrity in her own right, Barbie has inspired Tinseltown, with several A-list celebrities immortalized in Barbie doll’s sculpt and name. Supermodel Twiggy was the first celebrity to join Barbie® doll’s extended family in 1967. Since then the list has grown to include famous faces including Barbara Streisand, Heidi Klum, and Jennifer Lopez (shown here), just to name a few! Barbie® doll has also appeared as more than 80 famous movie characters from Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz to Katniss from the Hunger Games.
In 2014, Barbie® debuted a brand new anthem entitled “Anything is Possible” to empower girls to believe that anything is possible, with a version performed by music sensation Fifth Harmony
Many of today’s well known celebrities got their start in a Barbie® commercial including – Mila Kunas, Christina Applegate, and Maureen McCormick
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Entertainment
For most blondes in L.A., it can take years to “make it” in Hollywood. But Barbie has done it with ease, starring in numerous chart-topping direct-to-DVDs, touting a resume full of cameo appearances in dozens of theatrical movies, headlining a major live musical tour, as well as starring in symphony performances, TV commercials and more.
Barbie® is an entertainment powerhouse – Barbie® doll’s 30th DVD launches in spring 2015.
150 million+ Barbie™ DVD’s have been purchased since 2001.
A girl watches her favorite Barbie™ movie an average of 10 times.
In 2012, Barbie® launched her own animated reality series called ‘Barbie™ Life in the Dreamhouse.’ Since the series launched there have been over 1 billion views worldwide.
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Collecting
Collecting Barbie dolls is no longer the exclusive realm of little girls. “Big kids” have gotten into the act, big time.
United by clubs, conventions, magazines, newsletters and the Internet, Barbie collectors demonstrate a devotion to Barbie with no bounds! Some people collect Barbie dolls that are vintage and NIB (New in box), others are drawn to the dolls they played with as a child, yet others just collect Barbie accessories.
The Barbie-collecting craze was in full swing during the 1990s, thanks to the advent of eBay and the introduction of designer Barbie dolls, including the Bob Mackie Gold Barbie which featured 5,000 hand-sewn golden sequin accents.
Today, a mint condition “#1” (1959 Barbie doll) can fetch as much as $27,450. An extremely rare #1 blonde doll sold in a May 2006 auction held by Sandi’s Doll Attic. Prior to that, the second most expensive doll sold in 2003 for $25,527.
With Pink Label, Black Label, Gold Label and Platinum Label tiers, Barbie Collector dolls have broadened the appeal and allure of Barbie for girls of all ages. From tributes to pop culture classics like Sandy in the film Grease and Samantha from Bewitched to gorgeous designer dolls, there is truly a Barbie doll for everyone.
The Barbie Fashion Model Collection designed by Robert Best celebrates the rich historical origin of dolls in exquisite style featuring delicate, finely detailed fashions and an exclusive Silkstone body designed with the look and weight of porcelain.
