In which US state is the Barbie doll’s fictional hometown located?

Many people probably associate the fashion doll Barbie with the West Coast of the US, and for good reason. Malibu Barbie is one of the most famous and sought-after versions of the doll ever. The 1980s saw a line of California Dream Barbie dolls and merchandise, including a "Surf 'n Shop" setup that included roller skates, boogie board, and tiny bottles of “sunscreen”. Barbie wasn't always a California girl, though. According to Mattel, she's originally from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin.

Born Barbara Millicent Roberts to parents George and Margaret, Barbie attended high school in Willows before becoming a teen model (her first job) and then, eventually, a pop culture icon. Her Midwestern past is often forgotten amid the glitz and glamour of her new life and her many, many, many careers, which including fashion editor, surgeon, astronaut, CEO, rock star, pilot, pop star, paleontologist, cheerleader, and Olympian.

Despite turning 60 years old in 2019, Barbie never seems to age. She has, however, adapted to changing times with expanded career options, and broader representation across race, nationality, and body types (petite, tall, and curvy).

Since 2019, Barbie has also been available with either a wheelchair or prosthetic limb (leg). Her new looks are a hit with disability rights activists; it is hoped the dolls will help remove stigmas surrounding disabilities, and show kids that there is “nothing wrong” with people who have them.