Barbie doll taken to space by European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti (top R) on display during "Barbie: The Exhibition" photocall at The Design Museum in London on July 1, 2024 (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP)
Samantha Cristoforetti
The Barbie resembles Samantha Cristoforetti, the first female commander of the International Space Station. On the mission in which she was accompanied by her lookalike Barbie, Cristoforetti became the first European woman to complete a spacewalk. Video of Cristoforetti answering questions from space to encourage young girls to become scientists and astronauts will also be on display.
Astronaut Barbie dolls on display during the “Barbie: The Exhibition” photocall at The Design Museum in London on July 1, 2024 (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP)
The silver "Miss Astronaut" was Barbie's first depiction as an astronaut released in 1965, four years before Neil Armstrong reached the moon. Barbie in a metallic pink spacesuit, also on display, was released in 1985 afer Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.
The original first edition Barbie doll from 1959 during the "Barbie: The Exhibition" photocall at The Design Museum in London on July 1, 2024 (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP)
Other rare and iconic dolls on display include a prototype of the first Talking Barbie launched in 1968, one of the earliest first edition Barbie dolls, the Sunset Malibu Barbie and Day to Night Barbie.
Ken dolls displayed during the "Barbie: The Exhibition" photocall at The Design Museum in London on July 1, 2024 (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP)
The exhibition also includes friends of Barbie including Midge, and a section dedicated to Ken, Barbie's male companion.
"Barbie" film poster displayed during the "Barbie: The Exhibition" photocall at The Design Museum in London on July 1, 2024 (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP)
Ever since the movie ‘Barbie’ released last year, the doll has become more prominent in popular culture, finding place in fashion, music, and now design.
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