| Barbie and Ken (also known as Ken Carson) are two | | | | president of marketing Russell Arons, saying that |
| lovers Mattel toy doll introduced in the early sixties as | | | | Barbie and Ken felt it's time to for them to spend |
| the fictional boyfriend/girlfriend. Similar to his female | | | | some quality time apart, Like many other celebrity |
| counterpart, Ken had a fashionable line of clothing and | | | | couples, their Hollywood romance. He also hinted that |
| accessories. In the Barbie tales, Ken and Barbie met | | | | the separation might be partially due to Ken's |
| on the set of a TV commercial in 1961. Since his | | | | reluctance to getting married to Barbie. In February, |
| debut, Ken has held at least forty occupations, from | | | | 2006 however, a revamped version of the Ken doll |
| Olympic gold medalist to hair stylist in a span of four | | | | was launched, and it appeared that their relationship |
| decades. | | | | was official again. |
| The unrealistic physiques of these two caused | | | | These characters are named after the names of the |
| comment in the past years. Yale University | | | | children of its designer Ruth Handler. Early this year |
| psychologist, Kelly Brownell, observed that to match | | | | the media reported on the publication of a book |
| up to what Barbie looks for in a mate, a man would | | | | entitled Toy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel |
| have to grow 20 inches taller and add nearly 8 inches | | | | by Jerry Oppenheimer. In the book, Oppenheimer |
| to his neck circumference, 11 inches to his chest and | | | | claims that Ken Handler "grew up embarrassed and |
| 10 inches to his waist to resemble the muscular Ken. | | | | humiliated by having an anatomically incorrect boy doll |
| In February, 2004, the doll company Mattel | | | | named after him with no hint. |
| announced a split for Barbie and Ken, with its vice | | | | |