Think of an iconic figure with killer curves and a wardrobe most women would die for? Many names might come to mind. Kate Moss? Gisele? Naomi Campbell? Now let's narrow the field a little further. How about a woman who was also a former news anchor, UNICEF summit diplomat, presidential candidate and astronaut? The one girl who fits all these descriptions is Barbie Millicent Roberts, a light-skinned blonde who stands 11 and a half inches tall. Since Barbie's debut, billions have been reproduced to satisfy endless demand. Even after 50 years it continues to fly on the shelves of toy stores. Two Barbie dolls are sold every second, and global sales of Mattel's Barbie dolls exceed $1.5 billion annually. The company estimates that 90 percent of American girls ages 3 to 10 own at least one doll. These numbers mean that Barbie is still an important part of our culture and our lives, and although controversy surrounds her at every turn, she still manages to be a well-known and sought-after woman. Let's delve into the story of how this woman was born. Barbie was created by Ruth Handler, whose husband co-founded Mattel, the largest toy company in the world. She noticed a gap in the market when she saw her daughter Barbra playing with adult paper dolls. At the time, the market for girls was centered on dolls, but Barbra and her friends preferred to play with adult versions, dressing them in dresses and pretending they were the adult women they were playing with. Ruth then thought about creating a three-dimensional fashion doll that she would name Barbie in honor of her daughter Barbra. When he presented the idea to Mattel executives, he was stunned, being told they were too expensive to make for the amount of detail Ruth... at half the paper... and at 110 pounds with a book titled "How to Lose Weight" with the signs inside simply saying "Do not eat". Many have said that these dolls are what encourages young women to take drastic measures to achieve the body figure that seems to be prized in our society. But it's not Barbie's fault. Eating disorders were recognized in the 1800s, long before Barbie. And with today's "skinny culture", Barbie is simply a reflection of our society. If size 12 women were viewed in the same light by the media as size 0 women are today, Barbie would be made to reflect this. It could be a piece of the puzzle, but a tiny one. To conclude, I think Barbie was and is a historical piece in our society. From her dramatic revelation to the controversy plaguing her image, Barbie has held her head high, doing her best to be adorned and recognized by girls everywhere.