Have a magical day with Barbie as she celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Walt Disney World! "Barbie" is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy is the figurehead of an eponymous brand for over six decades, that includes a range of fashion dolls and accessories. Barbie and her male counterpart, Ken, have been described as the two most popular dolls in the world. Handler watched her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls, and noticed that she often enjoyed giving them adult roles. At the time, most children's toy dolls were representations of infants. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, Handler suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her unenthusiastic husband Elliot, a co-founder of the Mattel toy company. During a trip to Europe in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler came across a German toy doll called "Bild Lilli"; based on a popular character appearing in a satirical comic strip drawn by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Bild. The adult-figured doll was exactly what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. Upon her return to the United States, Handler redesigned the doll (with help from local inventor-designer Jack Ryan) and the doll was given a new name, Barbie, after Handler's daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut (in both blonde and brunette) on March 9, 1959. at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959. This date is also used as Barbie's official birthday. The package will be sent by registered mail and with insurance.