Skipper Roberts was a doll created by Mattel

Mattel

Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...

 in 1964 to be Barbie

Barbie

Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration....

's younger sister, as well as to oppose controversies directed at Barbie. Since Skipper was introduced, she has changed immensely. When she first came out, she was 9.25 inches in height (compared to Barbie's 11.5 inches), and then as newer versions were released she gradually became taller with an older appearance, eventually turning out to be almost as tall as Barbie. At first, Skipper was available with three different hair colors, but later was only available as a blond. Usually, Skipper dolls had blue eyes.

The doll appeared as a character in several Random House

Random House

Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...

 novels and Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...

. A fictional biography was developed for her from these, as well as from the backs of the boxes which held the dolls that were sold. Several celebrity and fantasy dolls were produced at the Skipper size, most recently two twin dolls from the Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses is a 2006 direct-to-video computer animated Barbie film directed by Greg Richardson and loosely based on the fairytale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". It is part of the Barbie film series and features the voice of Kelly Sheridan as the Barbie protagonist. This...

 line.

Vintage (1963-1973)

Skipper was Created, along with Midge, to counteract criticism that claimed Barbie was a sex symbol

Sex symbol

A sex symbol is a celebrity of either gender, typically an actor, musician, supermodel, teen idol, or sports star, noted for their sex appeal. The term was first used in the mid 1950s in relation to the popularity of certain Hollywood stars, especially Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte...

. Midge's facial appearance was gentler than Barbie's, whereas Skipper was a response to requests that wanted Barbie to have children; however, instead of having a married, pregnant Barbie, which would make her too domestic, Barbie would babysit Skipper. As Barbie's little sister, Skipper was Barbie's first family member sold. Since their introduction in the early 1960s, Skipper dolls have changed drastically.

Vintage versions

1964

• Skipper Barbie's Little Sister
• Skipper Party Time Giftset
• Barbie Wedding Party Giftset Skipper Ken Barbie Midge
• Japanese Skipper

1965

• Skooter
• Ricky
• Bendable Leg Skipper, Skooter
• Skooter Cut 'n Button Set (Sears Exclusive)
• Skipper On Wheels

1968

• Twist & Turn Skipper

1969

• Twist & Turn Skipper
• Skipper Perfectly Pretty Gift Set (Sears Exclusive)

1970

• Dramatic New Living Skipper
• Skipper Barbie's Little Sister re-issued
• Young Ideas
• Japanese Skipper
• Living Skipper Doll Vert Best Velvet Set
• Twist & Turn Skipper

1971

• Living Skipper
• Sunshine Special Sears Exclusive Fluff Doll Gift Set
• Living Fluff

1972

• The Sun Set Malibu Skipper
• Pose N Play Skipper (Sears Exclusive)
• Pose N Play Tiff

1973

• Quick Curl Skipper

1974

• No. 8126 Skipper
• Funtime Skipper
• Funtime Skooter

Vintage fashions

1964

• Ballet Class
• Under Pretties
• Red Sensation
• Silk 'n Fancy
• Masquerade
• Flower Girl
• Dress Coat
• School Days
• Skating Fun
• Dreamtime

1965

• Day At The Fair
• Sunny Pastels
• Cookie Time
• Me 'N My Doll
• Platter Party
• Outdoor Casuals
• Rain Or Shine
• Land & Sea
• Ship Ahoy
• Happy Birthday
• Fun Time
• Sunday Suit
• School Girl
• Town Togs
• Wooly P.J.'s
• Party Pink
• Lights Out
• Saturday Show
• Little Leaguer

1966

• Can You Play
• Tea Party
• What's New at the Zoo
• Chill Chasers
• Rainy Day Checkers
• Dog Show
• Loungin' Lovelies
• Let's Play House
• Country Picnic
• Junior Bridesmaid
• Learning To Ride
• Sledding Fun

1967

• Beachy Peachy
• Flower Showers
• Rolla Scoot
• All Spruced Up!
• Right In Style
• Popover
• 'Jamas 'N Jaunties
• Hearts 'n Flowers
• Glaid Plaids
• Lolapaloozas
• Velvet 'N Lace
• All Prettied Up!

1968

• Baby Dolls
• Patent 'n Pants
• Posie Party
• Quick Change
• Real Sporty
• Skimmy Stripes
• Trim Twosome
• Warm 'n Wonderful

1969

• Chilly Chums
• Drizzle Sizzle
• Eeny, Meeny, Midi
• Hopscotchins
• Ice Cream 'n Cake
• Jazzy 'Jamas
• Jeepers Creepers
• Knit Bit
• Pants 'n Pinafore
• Plaid City
• School's Cool
• Sunny Suity

1970

• Budding Beauty
• Daisy Crazy
• Fancy Pants
• Lemon Fluff
• Lots of Lace
• Pink Princess
• Rik Rak Rah
• Super Slacks
• Triple Treat
• Twice As Nice
• Velvet Blush
• Wooly Winner

1971

• All Over Felt
• Ballerina
• Double Dashers
• Dressed In Velvet
• Goin' Sleddin'
• Ice-Skatin'
• Little Miss Midi
• Long 'n Short Of It
• Lullaby Lime
• Sweet Orange
• Teeter Timers
• Tennis Time

Fashion Paks

1970

• Happy Times!
• Nighty Night
• Side Lights
• Summer Slacks
• Toe Twinklers
• Undertones

1971

• Action Fashions
• Check The Suit
• Skimmer 'n Scarf
• Some Shoes
• Sporty Shorty
• The Slumber Party

Modern (1973-2010)

In 1975 Growing Up Skipper was released. The gimmick of the doll, which led to much controversy in the newspapers, was that if Skipper's arm was rotated, the doll would become an inch taller and small breasts would appear on her rubber torso. In 1979 Skipper's entire appearance changed. She was advertised as "Super Teen Skipper." She had a new body mold which included small permanent breasts, and a different head mold that made her look slightly older. In 1985, Hot Stuff Skipper was released, which had another new head mold that included the addition of dimples and a longer face.

Skipper changed again in 1988 with the release of Teen Fun Skipper. Her new body mold was taller and more graceful. Her waist was more flexible and her breasts were slightly bigger. Her eyes were also enlarged, giving her a cartoon-like look. At this stage she appeared to be somewhere between 13 to 15 years old. Later, Skipper had a new head mold with smaller eyes in a Pizza Party line, but with the same body mold. Many collectors believe that the 'Pizza Party' head mold was the most popular, if not the prettiest, version of Skipper. Dolls with the 'Pizza Party' Skipper head mold or the 1960s head mold are the most sought after Skipper dolls by collectors.

Finally, in 1997, Teen Skipper was introduced. She again had a new body mold and was now almost as tall as her sister Barbie. This was mostly because of her legs, which were now long and lanky. Most notable of all, however, was Skipper's new face mold. She no longer looked like a child, but more like a girl on the brink of becoming a woman, appearing to be about 16 years of age. Skipper also appeared to have larger breasts which continued the sexual past controversy that has followed Skipper for years.

In 1994, the first vintage reproduction Skipper was produced specifically for collectors to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Skipper's introduction. Instead of the usual vinyl

Vinyl

A vinyl compound is any organic compound that contains a vinyl group ,which are derivatives of ethene, CH2=CH2, with one hydrogen atom replaced with some other group...

, the dolls were made of porcelain

Porcelain

Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...

. She wore a blue reproduction dress from 1965, known then as "Happy Birthday." In 2007, Mattel released their second vintage reproduction Skipper doll, this time sold in a gift set along with a reproduction of a vintage swirl ponytail Barbie doll.

Modern versions

1975

• Gold Medal Skipper (Europe)
• Gold Medal Skipper (Italy)
• Growing Up Skipper, Ginger

1976

• Malibu Skipper
• Deluxe Quick Curl Skipper (Europe)

1978

• Partytime Skipper (Europe)
• Malibu Skipper
• Spiel Mit Skipper(Europe)

1979

• Sun Lovin' Malibu Skipper
• Beach Time Skipper (Europe and Canada)
• Super Teen Skipper
• Unknown French Skipper

1980

• Scott
• Jeans Skipper (Germany)
• Sports Star Skipper (Germany)

1981

• Disco Skipper (Germany)
• Safai Skipper (Germany)

1982

• Sunsational Malibu Skipper
• Jogging Skipper (Europe and Canada)
• Western Skipper

1983

• Horse Lovin' Skipper
• Super Dance Skipper (Europe)

1984

• Great Shape Skipper
• Great Shape Giftset From England
• Ritmic Skipper From Spain
• Sun Gold Malibu Skipper

1985

• Hot Stuff Skipper
• Beach Time Skipper (Europe)
• Sea Lovin' Skipper from Spain
• Sea Lovin' Skipper (Europe)
• Sea Lovin' Skipper from France

1986

• Music Lovin' Skipper (Europe)
• Tropical Skipper

1987

• Jewel Secrets Skipper
• Tennis Skipper

1988

• Island Fun Skipper
• California Skipper (Europe)
• Teen Fun Cheerleader Skipper
• Teen Fun Party Skipper
• Teen Fun Workout Skipper
• Teen Sweetheart Skipper

1989

• Homecoming Queen Skipper, Skipper AA
• Teen Time Skipper, Courtney
• Beach Blast Skipper
• Pepsi Spirit Skipper (Toys R Us Exclusive)
• Cool City Blues Barbie/Ken/Skipper Giftset (Toys R Us Exclusive)
• Style Magic Skipper (Europe)

1990

• Cool Tops Courtney, Kevin, Skipper, Skipper AA
• Wet 'n' Wild Skipper
• Dream Date Skipper (Toys R Us Exclusive)

1991

• Babysitter Courtney, Kevin, Skipper, Skipper AA
• Barbie/Ken/Skipper Giftset (Toys R Us Exclusive)
• Kevin (Cool Teen Boyfriend)
• Hawaiian Fun Skipper

1992

• Bathtime Fun Skipper (Target Exclusive)
• Beauty Pageant Skipper (Toys R Us Exclusive)
• Pet Pals Skipper, Skipper AA, Courtney, Kevin
• Sun Sensation Skipper
• Sharin' Sisters Barbie/Skipper/Stacie Giftset
• Totally Hair Skipper, Courtney (Toys R Us Exclusive)

1993

• Baton Twirling Skipper, Baton Twirler Skipper AA, Basketball Kevin, Cheerleader Courtney,
• Glitter Beach Skipper
• Hollywood Hair Skipper
• Mermaid Skipper and the Sea Twins
• Sharin' Sisters Barbie/Skipper/Stacie Giftset

1994

• Camp Fun Skipper
• Cool Crimp Skipper, Skipper AA, Courtney, Kevin
• 30th Anniversary Skipper (Porcelain)
• Babysitter Skipper
• Sun Jewel Skipper

1995

• Pizza Party Skipper, Skipper AA, Courtney, Kevin
• Tropical Splash Skipper
• Travelin' Sisters Barbie/Skipper/Stacie/Kelly Giftset

1996

• Phone Fun Skipper, Skipper AA, Courtney
• Winter Holiday Barbie/Skipper/Stacie/Kelly Giftset
• Sparkle Beach Skipper

1997

• Splash ‘n Color Skipper
• Teen Skipper, Courtney, Nikki

1998

• Extreme Green Teen Skipper
• Pearl Beach Teen Skipper
• Cool Sitter Teen Skipper/Skipper AA

1999

• Florida Vacation Skipper
• Totally Yo-Yo Skipper, Nikki, Courtney

2000

• Pajama Fun Skipper, Courtney, Nikki
• Let's Drive Gift Set Skipper And Barbie (Toys R Us Exclusive)
• Hawaii Skipper

2001

• Fashion Party Teen Skipper, Courtney, Nikki

2002

• Palm Beach Skipper

2003

• Skipper as Velma
• Rio de Janeiro
  Rio de Janeiro
  Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
  
   Skipper
• Pajama Fun Tote Barbie And Skipper/AA (Walmart
  Wal-Mart
  Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
  
   Exclusive)

2007

• Knitting Pretty Barbie & Skipper (Vintage Reproductions)

2009

• Camping Skipper

2010

• Barbie I Can Be Bride Set-Including Barbie, Ken, Skipper, and Kelly (Target Exclusive)

2011 *My Fab Sisters

Popularity

Skippermadison Roberts was the original little sister of Barbie, and has been quite popular over the years. When she first came out, she was an alternative for parents who did not approve of Barbie's adult figure. The first vintage Skipper dolls now have a value of US$195 MIB (Mint In Box

Mint condition

Mint condition is an expression used in the description of pre-owned goods. Originally, the phrase comes from the way collectors describe the condition of coins. As the name given to a coin factory is a "mint", then mint condition is the condition a coin is in as it leaves the mint...

). The brass headbands alone that came with these dolls have a value of $20. While vintage Skipper dolls, clothes, and accessories can sell for a lot of money, modern Skipper dolls usually only have a value of $10 to $20 MIB. If they have no box, the value may be only $5 or less.

Friends

Skipper's friends at the vintage stage were Skooter (1965), Ricky (1965), Living Fluff (1971), and Pose N' Play Tiff (1972). Skooter and Ricky had their own head molds, and both had freckles. Skooter was available with the same three hair colors as Skipper had, but Ricky was only available with molded red hair, similar to Midge's boyfriend Allan Sherwood. Fluff and Tiff shared a head mold which many collectors think is adorable, with a contagious smile. Most of Skipper's first friends were never seen after the lines they were produced for, but another Skooter doll, called Fun Time Skooter, was produced for the European market. She had auburn hair, a Twist N' Turn waist, and bendable legs. However, she had the head mold of the oldest version of Skipper, not the older Skooter doll, which many collectors found strange.

Skipper's friend for the controveral Growing Up line was the brunette Ginger, made in 1976. However, after this line, Ginger was never seen again. Skipper's first boyfriend, who was named Scott, was created in 1980, and was introduced the year after Super Teen Skipper came on the market. Scott sported puffy brown 1980s style hair. Skipper gained two new friends after Teen Fun Skipper was first introduced. They included the brunette Courtney, made in 1989, and her second boyfriend Kevin, created in 1990.

After Teen Skipper came on the market, her first African American

African American

African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 friend appeared. Her name was Nikki, and she was made in 1997. Teen Skipper was originally going to have a third boyfriend named Zach who would have joined her in the "Totally Yo Yo line," but for reasons unknown, he was never produced. Parents speculate that Zach would be too much of a sexual influence on Skipper and children. However, the head Mold for the unreleased Zach Doll was later used for Generation Girl Blaine, the token boy in Barbie's "Generation Girl" Doll line.

Acquaintances

Acquaintances--Tori Burns, a Generation Girl Barbie friend made with the Teen Skipper body (first sold in 1999); Chocho-Chan (1974, sold only in Japan); Chelsie Peterson, a Generation Girl Barbie friend made with the Teen Skipper body (first sold in 1999); Pretty Teen (1991, a Kmart exclusive)

Celebrity friends--Kristy McNichol as "Buddy" (1979); Mary-Kate Olsen (first sold in 2000)
Ashley Olsen (first sold in 2000); Jimmy Osmond (1978)

Disney friends--Alice in Wonderland (first sold in 1996); Ariel (first sold in 1997); Arista (1998); Attina (1998); Wendy Darling (first sold in 1994); Kayla (1998); Peter Pan (first sold in 1994); Tinker Bell (first sold in 1994)

Fantasy friends--Daisy (1993); Hadley; Isla; Lily (1993); Peppermint Rose/Rose Richards (1993); Violet (1993)

Biography

According to the Random House

Random House

Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...

 novels of the 1960s, Skipper is the second oldest child of the fictional George and Margaret Roberts of Willows, Wisconsin, their first child said to be Barbie. In these novels, she attended Baker Elementary

Elementary school

An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...

, while the Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...

 of the early 1990s had her at Central Junior High School. The box of the first Kevin doll, Skipper's second boyfriend, that was sold, "Cool Tops Kevin", described Skipper as "the most popular girl in school." Like her sister Barbie, she has had numerous "acquaintances," celebrity friends, fantasy friends and Disney friends that were produced at her size. Some of these other dolls include Chocho, sold only in Japan in 1974, made with the Quick Curl Skipper body; Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen are American actresses and entrepreneurs.Both have appeared in television and films since infancy. Since then, they have continued their celebrity through numerous television programs, films, interviews, as well as commercial endorsements...

, introduced in 2000, made with the Teen Fun Skipper body; the Peppermint Rose dolls from 1993, also made with the Teen Fun body; and numerous versions of Ariel from The Little Mermaid

The Little Mermaid (1989 film)

The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...

, sold in either the Teen Fun or Teen versions. The Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses is a 2006 direct-to-video computer animated Barbie film directed by Greg Richardson and loosely based on the fairytale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". It is part of the Barbie film series and features the voice of Kelly Sheridan as the Barbie protagonist. This...

line sold two dolls named Isla and Hadley who were the size of Teen Fun Skipper dolls, but with a new appropriately-sized "belly-button" body.

Parody

On an episode of Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...

, Britney Spears

Britney Spears

Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...

 portrayed Skipper in a sketch in which Barbie, portrayed by Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler

Amy Meredith Poehler is an American comedian, actress and voice actress. She was a cast member on the NBC television entertainment show Saturday Night Live from 2001 to 2008. In 2004, she starred in the film Mean Girls with Tina Fey, with whom she worked again in Baby Mama in 2008. She is...

, accidentally in an argument told Skipper that she was her mother. The basis of this sketch is most likely from the fact that the toy line never had dolls of Barbie and Skipper's parents (although the parents are present in the Novels and comics). This probably led to both the speculation and joke that Barbie was most likely Skipper's mother.

KC Klifford sings The Barbie Song about her love for Skipper and her relationship with Barbie's dimensions.

Mention

In the "Mo-Ron" episode of Freakazoid!

Freakazoid!

Freakazoid! is an American animated television series created by Steven Spielberg, Bruce Timm, and Paul Dini for the Kids' WB programming block of The WB. The series chronicles the adventures of the title character, Freakazoid, a manic, insane superhero who battles with an array of super villains....

, "The Big Question", a group of aliens travel to Earth in order to ask a question of allegedly universal importance. The question was, "That doll, Barbie: what's the name of her little sister?" After some small confusion on the President

Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

's part, Freakazoid responds with the correct answer. The aliens then leave the planet, cheering.