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We already know that Aussie queen Margot Robbie will make the perfect Barbie. She's perfectly poised and whip-smart—just like our fave doll. But what about the decades of Barbies that came before her?

Since Mattel's 1985 "Barbie: You can be Anything" campaign (which is still going strong today!), we've seen Barbie take on jobs spanning everything from dolphin trainer to presidential candidate. And with over 40 feature films under her belt since 2000, we've seen her deal with sisterly bonds, friendship and greedy royal advisers (we're looking at you, Preminger!). 

Time and time again, Barbie has shown that girls can do whatever they put their minds to. Today, we're looking back at just a few of the many moments Barbara Millicent Roberts proved just that. 

When her squad became the first female musketeers

Apparently, the OG musketeers (from a book written like, forever ago) were men. Too bad we don't remember them—because Barbie's version of the Three Musketeers was so much more memorable!

In the 2009 film, Barbie plays Corinne, who teams up with three other girls in mid-century France to protect the King-to-be's throne from being stolen. Barbie flips the classic "damsel in distress" trope on its head, and does so with the most *iconic* girl gang. 

When she stuns Ken by flying (and landing!) a plane

In the '90s, Barbie took on a job as a pilot. Turns out, she still has her license, almost 25 years later! In the Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse episode "The Only Way to Fly", our best doll returns to her roots to play pilot and aerospace engineer (that's right—she builds the plane on her own, too!). 

She may have shocked her eternal BF Ken by not needing his help and temporarily raised tension in the cockpit by descending the plane a little too quickly, but if you know Barbie, you just have to trust the process. Barbie *never* fails to prove people wrong. 

When she proved she was "Queen of the Waves"... both on land and underwater

In the 2010 movie Barbie in a Mermaid Tale, Barbie plays Merliah Summers, a gifted surfer from sunny Malibu who finds out she is part mermaid, daughter of queen Calissa. When she realizes that her mother's throne is in danger, she makes the tough decision to sacrifice her dream of surfing stardom to protect the underwater kingdom.

Barbie eventually saves the kingdom of Oceana, returning to the surface to make one last impression. She wins her surfing competition, earning the title "Queen of the Waves". In this film, Barbie reminds us that you can take on multiple responsibilities and succeed at both. A true girlboss moment. 

When she spoke up about the things that matter

In 2015, Barbie added another unique career to her list: vlogger. On the Barbie YouTube channel, you can find hundreds of vids hosted by our girl, featuring everything from a summer must-have list to a boyfriend tag with Ken. 

But our fave vids? The ones where she educates her viewers (in, like, a totally cool, Barbie-fied way). Amidst the hairstyle how-tos and dancing challenges, Barbie still uses her platform to share digestible, important info—whether that be environmental protection tips or a list of the most inspiring female CEOs of our time. 

When she proved (multiple times) that being a good sister counts

Even though Barbie has hundreds of jobs under her belt, no job is more important than being a good big sister to little siblings Skipper, Stacy and Chelsea. Whether she's dedicated to providing her sibs the best holiday season or navigating a treasure hunt with four adorable pups in tow, Barbie never fails to share kindness with her sisters. 

Navigating sisterhood can be tough—I mean, Skipper def gets on Barbie's nerves sometimes. But nevertheless, Barbie puts family ahead of everything else. Barbie can be anything she wants, but she was a sister first. 

How excited are you for the Barbie Movie?
Let us know on Twitter @girlslifemag!

Top image: @barbiethemovie
Slider Image: @barbie

by Laila Mayfield | 7/20/2023