Many adults today consume products that appeal to nostalgia, and that's because of the great toy brands like Mattel that have been present in the childhoods of many.
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The first model of what would become the best-selling doll in history was introduced in 1959 by founder Ruth Handler.
The company has implemented various campaigns to maintain the interest of the children's market. In this way, Barbie has had 135 professions, has modeled designs of the greatest artists in the world of fashion, and has included sisters like Stacie.
One of the most curious chapters of the doll, which has more than 100,000 registered collectors, occurred in the 90s when Baribe's long-suffering boyfriend, Ken, was involved in a controversy that led him to be one of the best-selling models in the history of the doll
The Earring Magic Barbie line sought to show Barbie and her friends with a more avant-garde look with fashionable clothes and more stylized hair.
Ken had blonde highlights in his hair, a purple shirt with a lavender vest, an earring in his left ear and a golden circular earring. In different markets, this detail would cause controversy.
According to Matt Haig's book Brand Failures: The Truth about the 100 Biggest Branding Mistakes of All Time, a survey was conducted to see if girls believed Ken was modern enough to be Barbie's boyfriend. Consumers loved Ken but wanted him to be cooler.
It was then that Ken was re-designed based on the artists of the videos that the girls started on MTV with: tight pants, a Maya shirt and a leather vest.
Ken's new image fell in love with an audience.
The image is of eBay.
The standard bearer of the LGBT community was Ken.
The Earring Magic Barbie line was released with the full support of the marketing company, but soon several parenting groups in America began to complain that this "coolest" Ken was actually a "stereotypical gay in disguise."
Gay men of the 90s were attracted to the Earring Magic Ken model because of its clothes, design and ring around the doll's neck. According to some sources, Ken is the best-selling Ken in the history of the company.
The doll's popularity within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer community prompted Dan Savage to make a powerful essay promoting the toy.
It is not known for sure if this model is the best-selling Ken in the history of the brand, but what did happen is that the doll was taken off the market and he apologized for the mistake. It is well known that the doll that Ruth Handler relied on to make Barbie was an adult toy in Germany.
The Earring Magic Ken is a collector's item that sells for high prices at online auctions.
It's easy to laugh at a mistake when it's 25 years ago, but it's important to remember that at that time pop culture was flooded with stars like Prince and Right Said Fred.
