I cannot tell you the story of my literal first Barbie because I was always a true Barbie girl. I had a lot of Barbies. I remember once, late in my Barbie-playing career in the early 2000s, when I would have been 8 or 9, looking at all my Barbies together (I had a pink play chest I kept them stored in, lined up like little logs). I realized you could tell the difference between the first Barbies I'd been given as a baby and toddler and the more recent ones just by the color of their hair. My earliest Barbies were all platinum blond, often with bangs. The later Barbies had a more honey-blonde hair tone, and some of them even had highlights. I could see the trends of my entire life laid out before me (included the incredible, bendy "jewel girl Barbie," who was extremely beloved).
But this photo showcases an iconic birthday haul from my 4th birthday with one of the most classic Barbies of all time, the Enchanted Evening Barbie. My mom also got me her Christmas ornament, starting my collection of Barbie ornaments. Looking back, when I think about how I would play for hours with my Barbies, I see little me as an early storyteller, coming up with massive dreams for her dolls to act out. I see a little fashionista, who always wanted her Barbies to match perfectly. She meant a lot.
