In 1983, Mattel introduced a Latina Sunsational Malibu Barbie #4970. There were previous black male dolls in the Barbie line such as Brad and Curtis, but this was the first black Ken doll. That same year is the first year there was a black Ken doll, #3849, Sunsational Malibu Ken, who has a funky rooted afro. In 1981, they were renamed “ Sunsational” Malibu dolls. In 1979, they were renamed from The Sun Set Malibu to Sun Lovin’ Malibu dolls and have tan lines. Malibu Barbie and her friends were produced from 1971 – 1984. Coincidence? Was Malibu Barbie my inspiration? Especially since she, too, is from Wisconsin? :-) I grew up in Wisconsin and, in the late-90s, I moved to San Diego where I still reside. Malibu Barbie established a look that first springs to mind, even to this day, when someone says “Barbie.” I was obsessed with the Sun Set Malibu dolls as a little girl in the early 70s I dreamed of being a Cali girl. Malibu Barbie was ready for the surf in her powder blue swimsuit, lavender goggle glasses on top of her head and yellow beach towel. She has long, straight, blonde hair with a slight off-center part and a smile much like Marcia Brady’s! Her lashes are painted on and she has soft coral lips. Her TNT face was replaced with the Stacey face mold. For the first time, she featured an open smile and her coy, sideways glance was updated to forward-looking eyes. Golden couple, Malibu Barbie and Malibu Ken, could paddle out into the ocean to surf, roller skate on the boardwalk, make sandcastles and picnic at the beach or lay out and soak up the rays. She rocked the quintessential California surfer girl vibe with her blissfully tanned skin, blue eyes and platinum blonde hair – even though her roots peg her to be a native of Willows, Wisconsin! With California’s white beaches and Pacific blue waves, Malibu was the perfect setting for a new Barbie lifestyle. A plastic tan never fades! In 1971, Barbie kissed her mod years goodbye and welcomed Malibu Barbie #1067.
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