It’s Barbie’s 50th birthday today and she looks better than ever. Over the years, she’s had 108 careers, including Olympic athlete, firefighter, Marine Corps sergeant, dentist, veterinarian, aerobics instructor, astronaut and rock star. Since she first hit store shelves on March 9, 1959, just about every little girl has owned at least one Barbie doll or one of her many friends and or family members, including Ken (her boyfriend), Midge (her friend), Francie (another friend), Skipper (little sister), or Tootie (even younger sister). Even Barbie’s sisters had friends – Skipper’s best friend was Scooter (available as a brunette or a redhead), while Tootie’s dark-haired best girl pal was named Chris. Barbie’s had her fair share of criticism, whether for her plastic figure that is the equivalent of a 5’9″, 110 pound woman with an 18-inch waist, or for her latest incarnation, Tattoo Barbie. Love her or hate her (in 2002 Iran pulled her from store shelves and in 2003, Saudi Arabia officially banned Barbie due to her “revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories and tools”), it looks like Barbie and friends are here to stay.