This summer's must-see movie, 'Barbie,' has significantly boosted the prominence of our blonde protagonist, Barbie. Despite her 60-year existence, she's still connecting with a new generation. However, the film's tagline interestingly frames Barbie's boyfriend, Ken, as a secondary plastic figure: 'She is everything, and he is just Ken.' Let's delve into the historical narrative of Barbie's partner, Ken, and uncover his journey over the past six decades! (Spoiler-free; highly recommended to read before watching the movie!)"
On March 11, 1961: Ken meets Barbie
Two years after Barbie's debut in 1959, Ken (full name Kenneth Carson) entered the toy world as Barbie's boyfriend. Available with either blonde or brunette hair, both versions made of hard plastic, he wore extremely short red swim trunks. His price was $3.50, sharing the name with the son of Ruth Handler, Barbie's creator.
The plastic couple met for the first time while filming their debut commercial that same year, according to Mattel. In this black-and-white advertisement, Barbie, the renowned teenage fashion model doll, attended a dance wearing a stylish gown and fur shawl with her hair tied in her signature high ponytail. Ken, on the other hand, stood watching her from afar in a tuxedo. (The dance appeared to be set in their hometown of Willows, Wisconsin.)
"It was love at first sight. Somehow, (Barbie) knew she and Ken would be together," the voiceover in the original 1961 commercial described their meeting. They would attend fraternity parties (Barbie was a college girl), picnics, and countless beach trips together. The voiceover even teased a potential wedding between the two.
However, Ken was not warmly received by die-hard Barbie collectors and was even considered insignificant. In the book "Forever Barbie: An Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll," M.G. Lord wrote that Ken is a gloomy and severely unmasculine guy who is unimportant in (Barbie's) life. He had to work hard to prove his worth to consumers—and to his Barbie doll girlfriend.
From the 1970s to the 1990s: Ken's struggle to stay fashionable
Despite having a companion like Barbie who is always at the forefront of fashion, Ken had always struggled with personal style. Even after numerous attempts to adopt popular looks from specific eras, he failed to make them work.
Mod Hair Ken: An iconic doll from the 70s, with dense hair, an extra-long stubble, and additional facial hair for matching. He wore a white turtleneck shirt and a brown and white checkered casual coat.
Dream Date Ken: This 1982 doll is a variant of Ken's 1961 tuxedo dance image, with black-haired Ken dressed in a gauze shirt and a light pink belt. His coat is a black tuxedo jacket, with a pink rose pinned to his chest. He dressed up to impress Dream Date Barbie, who wore a complicated ruffle-decorated dress on their date—a rare moment when Ken outdid Barbie in clothing.
Totally Hair Ken: This Ken doll from the 90s had a long and unruly mane, with real hair gel and a small comb so that players can style him according to their liking. His Barbie companion had a more successful perm. Of course, his outfit was equally ludicrous, with fluffy purple pants and a colorful collared shirt with a turned-up collar.
On February 13, 1993: Earring Magic Ken unexpectedly becomes an LGBTQ representative
The Ken doll has long been a subject of mockery, with people making various assumptions about his sexuality or manhood based on his attire and his relationship with Barbie. In 1993, the Ken doll made a comeback with an updated, trendier image—Earring Magic Ken.
In this version, Ken wore a mesh shirt that revealed his abs, a lavender-colored sleeveless vest, a ring pendant around his neck, and an earring in his left ear. (According to the New York Historical Society, this doll was introduced when "men wearing earrings were considered non-traditional gender switches.")
Mattel may not have expected this Ken doll to become so popular among LGBTQ consumers. Dan Savage, an LGBTQ sex columnist, pointed out that Magic Ken's outfit was similar to what he had seen at gay pride parties a few years ago (only Ken could always be slightly behind the times, always slightly out of touch).
Mattel hurriedly withdrew this doll from stores, and although Mattel denied that he was designed with gay men in mind, he was one of the few mainstream toys at the time that could resonate with LGBTQ consumers. In the following decade, Ken chose to play it safe.
Earring Magic Ken Wiki: Link
On February 13, 2004: Barbie and Ken break up
It was an unexpected celebrity split! After all, Barbie and Ken had been together for more than 40 years—they had moved in and out of dream houses, driven numerous convertibles, changed jobs countless times, and they were still in love.
However, by 2004, Barbie's sales began to decline—this was the period when the pouting, sexy Bratz dolls were in vogue—seemingly affecting the central couple's relationship at Mattel.
Just a few days before Valentine's Day, Mattel spokesperson Russell Arons announced that Barbie and her boyfriend had decided to "spend some time—apart." This shocking statement came at this time because Barbie "didn't want to spend such a romantic holiday under the pretense of a false illusion," (The New York Times reported that the breakup was Barbie's idea.)
On the same day of announcing this dramatic shift, Mattel also revealed that they would produce a series of Cali Girl Barbies, all of whom were single. (Mattel also announced a new love interest for the newly single Barbie—Blaine, a hunky blonde surfer.) Ken was officially friend-zoned.
February 9, 2006: Ken undergoes plastic surgery
To win Barbie back, Ken started to reflect on himself. According to The New York Times, Ken traveled all over Europe and the Middle East, exploring Buddhism and Catholicism, to reinvent himself. After returning to the United States, he let go of his spiritual pursuits and refocused on fashion, seeking style guidance from celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch.
Two years after Ken and Barbie's breakup, on the same day, Mattel launched a newly improved Ken doll. It was again offered in both blonde and brunette styles, complete with work pants, leather jackets, and chunky chain necklaces (and of course, beach-appropriate outfits). His chin was notably more chiseled, and his gaze became gentler. Bloch said the goal was to make sure Ken looked "hot," drawing inspiration from Matthew McConaughey and Orlando Bloom.
June 18, 2010: Barbie and Ken reunite in "Toy Story 3"
The dolls starring alongside Woody and Buzz Lightyear appeared in Pixar's best sequel, nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Animated Barbie and Ken, donned in outfits straight out of the 70s and 80s, Barbie in her aerobics leotard and leg warmers, and Ken in a scarf (voiced by Michael Keaton).
In the film, although their characters had not reconciled yet, they instantly fell for each other. Making the movie brought Ken and Barbie closer than they were before their breakup. Ken also regained his charm—Mattel said that appearing in this movie helped him "find his voice in pop culture," with his accidentally cultivated quirky cute image.
February 14, 2011: Ken wins Barbie back
Shortly before Valentine's Day, billboards started to appear in New York and Los Angeles, clearly commissioned by Ken, pleading for Barbie to come back to him, with romantic cries like "Barbie, we may be made of plastic, but our love is real."
This pursuit miraculously succeeded, and Barbie accepted Ken on Valentine's Day in 2011. CNN reported at the time that the couple announced the news by changing their Facebook status to "in a relationship." To capitalize on their reunion, Mattel launched a "Back Together" Barbie and Ken set, Barbie in an updated version of her iconic black and white swimsuit, and Ken in a casual short version of red swimming trunks.
June 20, 2017: Ken becomes all-inclusive
In 2017, Ken's days as a white, stereotypical blonde doll ended when Mattel finally launched a range of Ken dolls with various skin tones, hairstyles, and body types. Two of them even had man-buns! Including dolls with dark skin and natural hairstyles, and some in wheelchairs.
June 15, 2022: Ken's revival
Ken's fame reached new heights when Warner Brothers' Twitter shared the first photo of Ryan Gosling dyed blond, spray-tanned, wearing a sleeveless denim vest. Gosling was chosen to play the toy hunk in the "Barbie" movie.
Those who've seen Barbie know how Ken's story in the movie ends - or rather, where his story ends when we leave him.
Let's continue to look forward to Ken's story!
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Barbie Wiki: Link
