Barbie® Presents Unique Angela Merkel Barbie® Doll

The German chancellor honoured by Mattel at International Toy Fair in Nuremberg

On Thursday 5th of February, Barbie will unveil a one of a kind Angela Merkel Barbie doll in honour and recognition of Germany's first female chancellor at the 60th International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany.

Barbie has chosen to honour and recognise the Chancellor Merkel as a very modern role model for girls. Chancellor Merkel has successfully led her country while also having major impact with her work in Europe, where she recently received the Charlemagne Prize in recognition of her relentless work to reform the European Union.

"Angela Merkel is an incredible role model and with this unique Angela Merkel Barbie Doll we want to honour and recognize her impact and influence on women all over the world to whom she has been a tremendous inspiration." said Richard Dickson, GM and Senior Vice President of Barbie. "For 50 years Barbie has inspired girls to believe they can be anything, and Chancellor Merkel certainly brings that message to life for girls worldwide."

With Forbes Magazine naming her "the most powerful woman in the world at present time" for three years in a row, Angela Merkel represents what lies at the core of the Barbie brand. As Ruth Handler, Barbie's creator, explained; "My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices."

The Angela Merkel Barbie doll will be exhibited at the International Toy Fair in Mattel's showroom from the 5th-10th February, beginning a year of celebrations to mark Barbie's five decades as a Fashion Icon and Princess of Pop culture.

Angela Merkel's outfit consists of a single breasted trouser suit in black wool crepe. The jacket can be opened and closed with realistic snaps. Inside the jacket, it has a beautiful "Barbie Pink" satin lining that matches Angela Merkel's blouse. When closed, it is accessorized with "buttons" made out of nine Swarovski crystals, three at the front and three on each of the sleeves. On her left lapel, she is wearing a miniaturized "Barbie" silo head logo. To complete the trouser suit she is wearing sheer black knee highs with lace trim and square toe low heel pumps.

Angela Merkel's necklace is hand made with nineteen white petite pearls and four pink crystal beads with a silver chain closure.
In designing her hair, a blond blend in a soft layered bob was chosen with wispy bangs brushed to the right.

For further information or order b-roll running footage, please contact;
Viviane Borges
Viviane.borges@uk.ogilvypr.com
+44 (0) 2073091030

Rachael King
Rachael.king@uk.ogilvypr.com
+44 (0) 2073453425

Ricky Vazquez
ricky.vazquez@ok.ogilvypr.com
+44 (0) 2073091269

Notes to editors

FAST FACTS

• Barbie's real name is Barbie Millicent Roberts
  
• Barbie is from Willows, Wisconsin, and went to Willows High School
  
• Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, brought her vision of a three-dimensional doll to life with the introduction of Barbie in 1959
  
• Barbie first appeared in the now-famous black-and-white striped swimsuit and signature ponytail
  
• Barbie has four sisters Skipper (1964), Stacie (1992), Kelly (1995) and Krissy (1995)
  
• Barbie's first pet was a horse named Dancer
  
• The first Barbie doll sold for $3.00
  
• Barbie's signature color is Barbie pink – PMS 219
  
• Barbie's first boyfriend, Ken, debuted two years after Barbie in 1961
  
• Ken was named after the son of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler
  
• Ken and Barbie broke up on Valentine's Day in 2004 after being together more than 43 years
  
• The best-selling Barbie doll ever was 1992 Totally Hair Barbie, with hair from the top of her head to her toes
  
• Barbie has been outfitted by more than 70 famous couturiers
  
• Barbie has had more than 108 inspirational careers
  

• 1 billion – fashions have been produced since 1959 for Barbie and friends
  
• 105 million – yards of fabric that have gone into making Barbie and friends' fashions, making Mattel one the largest apparel manufacturers in the world
  
• 74.5 million – results received from googling Barbie
  
• 18 million – registered users worldwide on BarbieGirls.com
  
• 300,000 – Barbie dolls sold in 1959
  
• $27,450 – cost of the original 1959 Barbie doll in mint condition
  
• 300 – Facebook pages in her likeness
  
• 108 – Careers Barbie has had in her lifetime
  
• 1,000 – YouTube Channels dedicated to Barbie
  
• 100 – people, designers, seamstresses, pattern makers and stylists needed to create a single Barbie outfit and look
  
• 100 – careers Barbie has had in her lifetime
  
• 90 – percent of girls ages 3-10 who own at least one Barbie doll
  
• 70 – famous designers who have outfitted Barbie
  
• 50– pets including dogs, horses, ponies, cats, a parrot, a chimpanzee, a panda, a lion club, a giraffe and a zebra Barbie has owned
  
• 50 – different nationalities Barbie has represented
  
• 43 – years Barbie and Ken were together
  
• 15 – fine artists who work on one Barbie using water-based acrylics and tiny sable brushes
  
• 14 – chart-topping, direct-to-DVD movies Barbie has starred in
  
• 12 – average number of Barbie dolls girls ages 3-6 own
  
• 11.5 – inches Barbie stands tall
  
• 7.25 – ounces, Barbie's weight
  
• $3.00 – Cost of the first Barbie doll sold in 1959
  
• 1–Barbie is the No. 1 doll property in the US and the No. 1 worldwide property in the traditional toy industry

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