To commemorate her 50th birthday, Forbes Magazine interviewed Barbie last week. You read that right. Sort of. One of the most widely read business magazines conducted a tete a tete with America's most famous 12 inch-tall blond bombshell, through her reps (read: the answers were provided by press peeps at Mattel). I'm not sure if this is technically journalism, but it's easily the most painstaking interview the magazine has featured in quite some time. For example, Barbie's "responses" are rendered in pink font, which is a first for the magazine–not even Forbes editor-in-chief and publisher Steve Forbes has appeared in anything other than standard black print. Want to take a li'l gander? Well, here ya go!
Forbes: You're the most popular doll in the world. How do you keep it real?
Barbie: At the end of the day my best friends are little girls, so, truthfully, they help me keep it real. On any given day they take me on all sorts of imaginative adventures–from a princess to a president, movie star to mermaid, fashionista to fairy–so I really can't take myself that seriously. You've had 108 different careers. Which was the most satisfying? I am a big believer in dreaming big and inspiring girls that they can do anything they set their minds to. Being an astronaut in 1965 was very satisfying because–for one, traveling to space was, literally, out of this world–and, secondly, I went to space before any other American woman astronaut, so that's something I'm very proud of. I'm also very proud of all my philanthropic work–from UNICEF Ambassador (1989) to Candy Stripe Volunteer (1964).
Are you currently dating anyone?
I'm just too busy for boyfriends or marriage these days. Right now, I'm concentrating on my careers and projects...this year alone I'll be starring in two new made-for-DVD movies, trying out a few new careers like a SeaWorld Trainer and planning all my 50th birthday bashes around the world. It's a busy year!
Has your Barbie Dream House been affected by the real estate crash?
Luckily Malibu is a pretty stable market...and my Malibu Dream House just had a fabulous re-design by my good friend Jonathan Adler. The house turned out so amazing that Jonathan and I decided to collaborate on a line of real home décor pieces called Jonathan Adler Loves Barbie so people can have a little bit of Barbie style to create their very own Dream House! The collection comes out this fall.
Seems a little...product placementy, don'tchathink?
I'm not complaining about the content, exactly. (And Jonathan Adler, if you're reading, I'm currently in the market for a new apartment–pimp my pad!) But I am a bit confused about the fact that the Forbes editors are running content of a commercial nature where they usually run real interviews, with real business moguls (read: living people who are not made of epoxy and polymer). Sure, I run advertorial stuff, but PEB is a fashion and style magazine, not an unbiased business periodical. Plus, I kind of find the interview...charming. So no letters accusing hypocrisy!
So it's officially happened, possums: It's a Barbie world. Life in plastic; it's fantastic!
