Meet Ken, Barbie's boyfriend 💞​ ​ In 1961 the original Ken was introduced as the epitome of clean-cut, collegiate American masculinity.​ ​ Like the Barbie doll, he had an extensive wardrobe of elegant contemporary clothing heavily influenced by preppy Ivy League style.​ ​ Ken was presented as a youthful, wholesome counterpart to Barbie, with his crew-cut hairstyle in blonde or dark brown and slender physique. The new doll allowed children to role play relationship and dating scenarios in an age