Barbie, also known as Barbara Millicent Roberts, is the iconic doll loved by millions around the world. However, the true inspiration behind Barbie's creation has been a topic of debate. Some believe that Barbie Ryan, who passed away, or Barbara Handler Segal, who is now 82 years old, is the real-life Barbie.

These two origin stories couldn't be more different. One suggests that Barbie was created due to a man's obsession with the "perfect woman," while the other revolves around a mother's love for her children. However, both stories have darker sides that go beyond the innocent image of the doll, including scandals involving orgies, sex toys, embezzlement, AIDS, and suicide.

The battle over who truly inspired Barbie didn't come to light until years after the doll's debut in 1959. Ruth Handler, one of the co-founders of Mattel and Barbie's creator, published her autobiography in 1994, taking credit for naming the doll after her daughter and overlooking the contribution of Jack Ryan, the designer behind Barbie. Ryan, who had a turbulent relationship with Handler and Mattel, later tragically ended his own life.

Handler's version of the Barbie creation story overshadowed Ryan's involvement, causing controversy.

Barbara Handler Segal, Ruth Handler's daughter, has publicly claimed to be the real-life Barbie but has expressed discomfort with the comparison to the doll, especially during her teenage years. Rumors suggest that Segal appeared briefly in a recent Barbie movie trailer.

However, Ruth Handler's claim to have been Barbie's mother had its own dark side. The doll she cited as inspiration was based on a German toy called "Lilli," which was actually based on a cartoon character of a prostitute. Moreover, the real-life Ken, Barbie's companion, had a secret gay life and died of AIDS.

Ann Ryan, Jack Ryan's daughter, is working on a memoir about her experiences in the Barbie world and runs a podcast about her father's story.

According to Ann, Barbie was named after her mother, Barbara "Barbie" Ryan, as her father was obsessed with the image of the perfect woman. She disagrees with Ruth Handler's account of Barbie's creation and believes her father would be excited about the upcoming Barbie movie.

Despite the controversies surrounding Barbie's true inspiration, the doll continues to be a major success for Mattel, with the company's stock price soaring in anticipation of the movie release. The story of Barbie is far from the innocent image portrayed to children, but it remains a significant part of pop culture.