Lilli: Behind the Plastic – The Virtual Exhibition of the Original Barbie by Student Che-Wei Wu

Before Barbie became a surgeon, astronaut, or marine biologist, she was Lilli, a German comic-strip character who embodied the post-war ideal woman—independent, flirtatious, and unapologetically confident. This interactive digital exhibition, hosted on the Brooklyn Museum website, uncovers the doll’s undisclosed past, revealing the transformation from Lilli to the beloved figure of Barbie. The Lilli doll debuted in Germany in 1955, based on the popular comic in the tabloid newspaper Bild. She represented the ideal post-war woman—independent, flirtatious, selective with men, youthful, attractive, and confident. Unlike her American successor, the Lilli doll was not marketed to children and was sold at newsstands rather than toy shops. During a 1956 vacation, Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler di