Welcome to Daily TWiP, your daily dose of all the holidays and history we couldn’t cram into The Week in Preview.

When it comes to name recognition, there is no doll quite as ubiquitous as Barbie. Adored by adult collectors and children alike, this sometimes controversial doll was introduced to the world at the American International Toy Fair in New York City today (March 9th) in 1959.

Barbie, created by Ruth Handler, was designed to fill a gap in the toy market, which offered plenty of infant and child dolls, but no dolls with adult bodies. Handler based Barbie on Bild Lilli, a German doll that had initially been marketed toward adults but had proven surprisingly popular with children.

Although Handler’s husband, one of the co-founders of Mattel, was less than thrilled with her idea, he and the company decided to see it through. Handler dubbed her creation “Barbie,” after their daughter Barbara. The doll’s full name was Barbara Millicent Roberts.

In spite of the fact that some parents were uncomfortable with the idea of purchasing a toy with a bosom for their daughters , Mattel sold approximately 350,000 Barbies during the first year. Parents have apparently become more comfortable with Barbie over time. Today, the company estimates that three Barbies are sold every second.

The doll, however, has definitely experienced her share of controversy. Barbie’s figure is completely unattainable in real life, leading some to argue that she is a poor role model for young girls, who will develop eating disorders attempting to look like her. In some conservative Middle Eastern countries, Barbie’s revealing clothing is frowned upon (she was banned in Saudi Arabia in 2003) and the modestly-dressed Fulla doll is more popular.

In spite of her detractors, Barbie is still going strong. After more than 50 years of manufacturing, she has been everything from an aerobics instructor to an Air Force pilot, raised more than 40 pets (including a panda and a lion cub), and appeared in books and movies as well as her own line of accessories and merchandise. Not too shabby for a girl who, according to her fictional biography, grew up in a small town in Wisconsin.

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– Teresa Santoski