Teresa (Barbie)
Encyclopedia
Teresa is a Mattel
fashion doll
who is marketed as one of Barbie
's fictional friends. Teresa first debuted in the California Dream Teresa doll in 1988 and since then, she has been Barbie's most frequently featured female companion in the toy line (next to Christie). As of 2006, Teresa is one of Barbie's core friends in the Barbie brand along with Summer, Nikki and Raquelle.
In the movie Barbie and the Diamond Castle
, Barbie states that Teresa is officially her "best friend".
, Mattel was compelled to issue companions for Barbie. Some of these are her boyfriend Ken, the African American
Christie, Barbie's cousin Francie and Barbie's little sister Skipper. Midge appeared in 1963 and was marketed as Barbie's first best friend. Midge was discontinued in 1967.
Over the years, Barbie's family tree expanded and soon Barbie would have many diverse and multicultural friends. Among these was Teresa, who was depicted as being Italian or Latina
. She appeared in 1988 in the California Dream line alongside Barbie, Ken, Christie and Midge (who made her comeback in this line as well). Christie has been Barbie's most featured friend at the time, being continuously in the playline since 1968. It wasn't till 2004 when Christie was discontinued (her last appearance was in the Really Rosy line) then Teresa would become Barbie's most frequent companion to date (aside from Ken).
Teresa has been seen in various Barbie-related media such as books, magazines, video games and movies (such as Barbie and the Diamond Castle
, Barbie and the Three Musketeers
and Barbie in A Mermaid Tale
).
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...
fashion doll
Fashion doll
Fashion dolls are dolls primarily designed to be dressed to reflect fashion trends. They are manufactured both as toys for children to play with and as collectibles for adult collectors. The dolls are usually modeled after teen girls or adult women, though child, male, and even some non-human...
who is marketed as one of 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 fictional friends. Teresa first debuted in the California Dream Teresa doll in 1988 and since then, she has been Barbie's most frequently featured female companion in the toy line (next to Christie). As of 2006, Teresa is one of Barbie's core friends in the Barbie brand along with Summer, Nikki and Raquelle.
In the movie Barbie and the Diamond Castle
Barbie and the Diamond Castle
Barbie and the Diamond Castle is a 2008 direct-to-video computer-animated film that was released on September 9, 2008. The film features the voice of Kelly Sheridan, who has voiced the Barbie protagonist in the CGI Barbie film series...
, Barbie states that Teresa is officially her "best friend".
History
To counteract the criticisms that Barbie was a sex symbolSex 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...
, Mattel was compelled to issue companions for Barbie. Some of these are her boyfriend Ken, the 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...
Christie, Barbie's cousin Francie and Barbie's little sister Skipper. Midge appeared in 1963 and was marketed as Barbie's first best friend. Midge was discontinued in 1967.
Over the years, Barbie's family tree expanded and soon Barbie would have many diverse and multicultural friends. Among these was Teresa, who was depicted as being Italian or Latina
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
. She appeared in 1988 in the California Dream line alongside Barbie, Ken, Christie and Midge (who made her comeback in this line as well). Christie has been Barbie's most featured friend at the time, being continuously in the playline since 1968. It wasn't till 2004 when Christie was discontinued (her last appearance was in the Really Rosy line) then Teresa would become Barbie's most frequent companion to date (aside from Ken).
Teresa has been seen in various Barbie-related media such as books, magazines, video games and movies (such as Barbie and the Diamond Castle
Barbie and the Diamond Castle
Barbie and the Diamond Castle is a 2008 direct-to-video computer-animated film that was released on September 9, 2008. The film features the voice of Kelly Sheridan, who has voiced the Barbie protagonist in the CGI Barbie film series...
, Barbie and the Three Musketeers
Barbie and the Three Musketeers
Barbie and the Three Musketeers is a 2009 computer animated direct-to-video film and part of the CGI Barbie film series. It was released on DVD on September 15, 2009.-Plot:...
and Barbie in A Mermaid Tale
Barbie in A Mermaid Tale
Barbie in A Mermaid Tale is a computer animated direct-to-video movie and part of the Barbie film series. It was released on March 9, 2010. This is Kelly Sheridan's last film as Barbie.-Plot:...
).
Brief history
- First Teresa used the Spanish headmold in 1988
- Teresa original headmold used 1990s-2006
- Top Model Teresa used Lara/Drew's headmold 2007-2008
- Playline Teresa used Barbie's marked 2005 headmold 2007-2008
- Playline Teresa currently uses Summer's headmold (i.e. Fashionistas and Barbie in A Mermaid Tale) 2009–Present