With hundreds of professions spanning decades, Barbie is a true celebration of the catchphrase “you can be anything.” Ruth Handler saw a vision for the doll to embody any career a girl could dream of and since her 1959 debut, there has been an abundance of boundary pushing careers present in both the collector and younger-aimed play ranges.
Starting out as a teenage fashion model, and modeling a ton of different fashions throughout the decades, she has also tackled over 200 different careers. With the release of the much anticipated Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie, upon us, here’s a look back at 20 of Barbie’s most eccentric and notable professions. Who knows what job she’ll have next?
Canadian Mountie
Different from many of the classic Dolls of The World ensembles, the 2013 Canada Barbie doll was suited up as a Canadian Mountie to guard Canada’s picturesque mountains and forestry in a Red Serge inspired outfit, referencing that worn by the Canadian Mounted Police. Barbie was well trained for this having worked as a US police officer in 1993. No stranger to the great outdoors, Park Ranger and Wilderness Guide dolls followed much later in the 2020s.
Arctic Rescuer
Having taken on everything from pet grooming to dolphin training, this was one of the more obscure animal centered careers Barbie has had. First visiting the Arctic back in 1997, Barbie returned as an Arctic Rescuer in 2012, equipped with a pink snowmobile, stethoscope and thermometer. Barbie was also a Panda Caretaker and rescuer in 2014 and 2022. This makes her stint as a beekeeper a walk in the park!
CONSERVATION SCIENTIST
As part of the Barbie Eco-Leadership Team in 2022, Mattel released an Ecocentric set consisting of a Chief Sustainability Officer, a Renewable Energy Engineer, an Environmental Advocate and a Conservation Scientist. All of the dolls released in this set were made from recycled plastic and fabric in line with the message. Yes, Barbie is at the forefront of leading the battle against the climate change crisis, in order to save the planet.
Presidential Candidate
Barbie started her political career in 1989 as a UNICEF Ambassador while we haven’t had a female president of the United States as yet, Barbie has run as a candidate 7 times, firstly in 1992. The 2016 set saw an “all female ticket”, featuring a female Vice Presidential running mate. The 2020 campaign set also included an all-female team consisting of an African American presidential nominee, alongside a vice presidential nominee, campaign manager and fundraiser to complete the set. This Presidential Persona is portrayed by Issa Rae in the upcoming movie, with a new doll released to celebrate.
Race Car Driver
Despite a female Formula 1 Driver not competing on the grid since 1971, Barbie is continuously pushing boundaries and has been a race car driver herself. Ready to navigate the streets of Monaco, she donned a Ferrari F1 racing suit in 2000, and was a more generic racing car driver in 2009. Barbie was also sold as a NASCAR driver to mark their 50th anniversary in 1998.
Aerobics instructor
Move over, Jane Fonda! Barbie got into the 80s fitness trend by becoming an aerobics instructor in 1984. A loose tribute to this original outfit was featured when Barbie appeared in Toy Story 3, with a new companion doll released. This particular career even expanded into the real world – or real world video at least – with a VHS “Workout with Barbie” tape for girls released in 1992. A young Jennifer Love Hewitt can be spotted in the background of this very video. A modern style reproduction featuring an African American doll was released as part of the Barbie Rewind collection in 2021.
Showgirl
The Barbie Fashion Model Collection welcomed a Moulin Rouge style French showgirl to the collection, fit for any performance, modeling Barbie pink with a beautiful feathered headpiece. This was followed by other performance themed dolls later on, including a can-can dancer (Dolls of The World, France), ballerina, circus performer and a collaboration with TV’s Dancing With The Stars to create Ballroom and Latin dancers.
Chicken Farmer
Starting initially as a Farm Veterinarian, Barbie has since had multiple runs as a farmer beginning in 2018. In 2019, she worked as a chicken farmer with her own coop. Gumboots, chickens and eggs included of course. She extended this career in 2022 to run her own farmers market stall selling produce.
Air Force Pilot
If G.I. Joe ever needs help, Barbie is ready to join the fight! Barbie has been stationed in her home country across many departments of the armed forces, first joining the U.S army as an officer in 1989 and a medic in 1993. She progressed through the Navy and Marine Corp and then served as a Paratrooper and an Air Force and Thunderbirds pilot. All this before her time as an Aircraft Engineer! Presumably, Barbie feels the need for speed.
Paleontologist
Welcome to Jurassic… Barbie?
No stranger to a niche career, in 1996, Barbie began her run in the field of paleontology, equipped with a stylish pink bandana. The doll was then reproduced again in 2012. With a continuous love for all sorts of animals and creatures, both living and extinct, these skills may have come in handy when Barbie worked as a Wildlife conservationist in 2019 and Zoologist in 2021. Forever a specialist in any field, Barbie also worked as a Microbiologist and Entomologist.
Game Show Host
“What is a doll who’s looking to expand into television?”
Barbie began hosting a Jeopardy-style game show back in 1987, sold with an interactive set which included a spinning wheel, contestant desks and TV camera. Arguably, this makes her the show’s first female host. All this on air experience and she still decided to work behind the camera in 2018. Jumping from daytime to Hollywood, she also worked as a film producer and director.
TV Chef
Game Show hosting is definitely not Barbie’s only experience on TV, as Barbie later became a TV chef, which featured the doll on the set of her own cooking show, which included a fridge, kitchen counter and film camera accessories. Beyond that TV-specific culinary role, Barbie has taken on more than 10 different chef jobs, specializing in both sweet and savory specialties, such as a pancake chef, smoothie chef, cupcake chef and pizza chef. Did we mention she also taught cooking?
Computer engineer
A progressive career for its release in 2010, Barbie became a computer engineer. Ready for a productive day, she came equipped with a laptop, coffee and Bluetooth headset. Another tech-centric doll followed in 2016, when a Game Developer inspired Barbie was released as career of the year, followed by a Robotics Engineer in 2018.
McDonald’s Cashier
Barbie has always been the perfect candidate for customer service with a smile. She got a job at global fast food chain McDonald’s as a cashier in 1982. By 1994, she even ran the drive thru with a play set that featured a working speaker. Collaborating with various other companies, Barbie was also a Pizza Hut cashier and Soda Fountain waitress as part of the 1998 Coca-Cola collection. More recently, Barbie has participated in a wide range of food business ownership, in more specialized areas, such as a noodle bar owner in 2021.
Food Truck Operator
Barbie is no stranger to entrepreneurship. Ever ready to run her own small business, Barbie took her food service skills from behind the counter to the streets as well and operated a food truck in 2020, with a full set that folded out in the back to show the kitchen detail. With her previous ice cream cart experience in 1987, we’d probably be inclined to give this food business a 5 star review.
Music Star
Barbie has had a music career to span the generations, across multiple genres, including in the Barbie and The Rockers Line released in 1986. Reproduction dolls inspired by this original line have been released in years since. Barbie also became a rapper in 1991 with the Rappin’ Rockin’ set which featured a working boombox. She also sings Jazz, Pop and Country. Through different personas, the collector line of dolls has equally taken on some of the largest music sensations, including Elton John, Tina Turner, Elvis, Frank Sinatra (1997, 2008, 2011, 2021) and David Bowie. Surely a Vegas residency is in her future. Not always at the front of the stage, Barbie is trained in at least 7 instruments, including as a Lute player in 2000.
Boxer
Through the years, Barbie has taken on many athletic personas, including multiple Summer and Winter Olympic sports beginning in 1974 as a gymnast and up to the modern era. With additions like surfing, rock climbing, skateboarding, softball and karate, Barbie was sure to attempt them all. Maybe she should tackle curling next? She also led a bowling team in 2000 and became a baseball player in 1993. With all her experience, Barbie has also coached soccer, tennis, figure skating, gymnastics and volleyball. Female fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad was also a revolutionary release, as the first Barbie doll to wear a hijab. Then, in 2020, Barbie made it into the ring, proving she was ready to brawl and had the Eye of the Tiger via her own Boxing figure.
Surgeon
Barbie has taken on many medical careers over the years, starting first as a nurse in 1961 before moving on to roles as varied as dentist, eye doctor and pediatrician. Perhaps most notably, in 1973, Barbie was ready to operate and became a surgeon for the first time. This doll was reproduced in 2021. We know this is all about Barbie, but her well known beau, Ken, is also an occupational overachiever. A scene in which Ken (Ryan Gosling) requests to perform surgery is featured in the trailer for the upcoming movie.
Building Construction
Suited up and ready for work, as part of the Barbie and Mega Bloks collaboration, 2019 saw the release of Builder Barbie donning a stylish safety hi-vis vest, utility belt, pink hard hat and work boots, alongside a brick set to build. Continuing her work to close the Dream Gap, Barbie even established a charitable partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The uniform was also sold as part of a careers inspired fashion pack and was followed by her little sister Chelsea following in her big sister’s footsteps. Barbie always finishes the job. Once finished on site, Barbie is not one to leave a project incomplete, she became an interior designer in 2022.
Cat Burglar
You’d think Barbie would have a lot of money from all these jobs, so maybe it’s just for the thrill that she also is a straight-up thief as well. Barbie starting as a teenage fashion model means she has collaborated with a wealth of fashion designers from around the world but Christian Louboutin took a new spin on high fashion by having one of the dolls in his collaboration to take on the persona of a Cat Burglar. A very alternative career path throwing stereotypes out the window, leaving Barbie as a devilish criminal. This was not her first secretive career though, with a Detective doll in 1999 and a Spy Barbie released in 2002. Mr. Bond and Mr. Hunt, you’ve met your match.