Kenneth Sean Carson is a fashion doll and fictional character invented by Elliot Handler and introduced by American toy company Mattel in 1961 as the counterpart of Barbie, who was introduced two years earlier. From 1961 to the debut of Superstar Ken in 1977, Ken valentine’s day gift for country boyfriend straight arms that didn’t bend. His head could only turn left and right. The first African-American male doll, Brad, was introduced in 1968, as the boyfriend of Barbie’s African-American friend, Christie, who was introduced in 1967.
In 1993, “Earring Magic Ken” was released. The style of the doll was thought to resemble fashions and accessories worn by some segments of the gay community at the time, and “Earring Magic Ken” subsequently attained a cult following, becoming a collector’s item. Like other celebrity couples, their Hollywood romance has come to an end”, though Arons indicated that the duo would “remain friends”. In February 2006 however, a revamped version of the Ken doll was launched, though it was stated that his relationship with Barbie was still purely platonic. In 2011, Mattel launched a massive campaign for Ken to win Barbie’s affections back. In October 2009, Mattel announced a new Palm Beach line which included a “Sugar’s Daddy Ken” doll aimed for adult collectors.
The said line officially debuted in the spring of 2010. The line proved to be controversial, because of Ken’s suggestive-sounding name. In 2011, Mattel introduced Japan Ken, the first Ken doll to be included in the “Dolls of the World” collection, which was formerly a Barbie-only line. The Japan Ken doll features a new face sculpt.