​​(Article updated: October 2024)

A plastic tan never fades! In 1971, Barbie kissed her mod years goodbye and welcomed Malibu Barbie #1067. She rocked the quintessential California surfer girl vibe with her blissfully tanned skin, blue eyes and platinum blonde hair – even though her roots peg her to be a native of Willows, Wisconsin! With California’s white beaches and Pacific blue waves, Malibu was the perfect setting for a new Barbie lifestyle. Golden couple, Malibu Barbie and Malibu Ken, could paddle out into the ocean to surf, roller skate on the boardwalk, make sandcastles or picnic at the beach, or lay out and soak up the rays. (Barbie recommends always wearing sunscreen!)

Mattel gave Malibu Barbie a fresh look. For the first time, she featured an open smile and her coy, sideways glance was updated to forward-looking eyes. Her TNT face was replaced with the Stacey face mold. She has long, straight, blonde hair with a slight off-center part and a smile much like Marcia Brady’s. (Marsha Marsha Marsha!) Her lashes are painted on and she has soft coral lips. Malibu Barbie was ready for the surf in her powder blue swimsuit, lavender goggle glasses on top of her head and a yellow beach towel. Each doll in the Malibu series came with a different colored beach towel. Although not confirmed by Mattel, the inspiration for Malibu Barbie is thought to be Sharon Tate's character, Malibu, in the 1967 film, Don't Make Waves. 
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​Malibu Barbie established a look that first springs to mind, even to this day, when someone says “Barbie.” I was obsessed with the Sun Set Malibu dolls as a little girl in the early 70s. I dreamed of being a Cali girl. I grew up in Wisconsin and, in the late-90s, I moved to San Diego where I still reside. Coincidence? Was Malibu Barbie my inspiration? Especially since she, too, is from Wisconsin? :-)​

 ​The Malibu dolls were an instant hit so Mattel added Malibu friends and family soon after. It also spawned licensed products, such as Colorform sets and coloring books. The tanned Malibu Sun Set included Barbie’s boyfriend Malibu Ken, little sister Malibu Skipper, cousin Malibu Francie, and her best friends Malibu P.J. and Malibu Christie. The introduction of the Sun Set family was an off-the-charts hit but, as Stephanie Deutsch, author of Barbie the First 30 Years, notes, “It sadly marked the beginning of the end of the "Golden Time of Vintage Barbie dolls." The following mass-produced, low-budget Barbies lacked the quality (lashes, elaborate hairstyles, etc.) and flair of the early Barbie dolls that collectors love so much. 

​Check out this fun article, It's a Malibu Barbie World, in the June 2023 Malibu Times written by Benjamin Marcus. He quotes me on page 55!

Click here to find your Malibu Barbie doll on eBay!!​

Malibu Barbie and her friends were produced from 1971 – 1984. In 1979, they were renamed from The Sun Set Malibu to Sun Lovin’ Malibu dolls and have tan lines. In 1981, they were renamed “Sunsational” Malibu dolls. That same year is the first year there was a black Ken doll, #3849, Sunsational Malibu Ken, who has a funky rooted Afro. There were previous black male dolls in the Barbie line such as Brad and Curtis, but this was the first black Ken doll. In 1983, Mattel introduced a Latina Sunsational Malibu Barbie #4970. In 1983, the Malibu dolls were renamed “Sun Gold” Malibu dolls. The 1983 Sun Gold Malibu Barbie #1067 uses the SuperStar Barbie head mold. 1986 was the last year of the Malibu series of dolls. 

Malibu Barbie was so popular that Mattel reinvented her in countless different versions throughout the years (see list below) such as the 1974 Sports Set Sun Valley Barbie skier, 1974 sailing Newport Barbie, several versions of 1975 Gold Medal (Olympic) Medal Barbie and a number of reproductions including 2013's Malibu Barbie by Trina Turk.

​Click on images below to see full photo.

Hi Dolls!

How's your summer so far? Are you indulging in fruity umbrella drinks with wide-brimmed hats and cool retro shades at the pool with a good book like me?! With the arrival of bikini season, I'm going to feature one of my favorite dolls (I know, I say that about all of them!) from my personal collection, Malibu Barbie's cousin, sun-kissed Malibu Francie #1068. And there is a rare brunette Japanese Sun Sun Malibu Francie also produced in 1971. 

The Sun Set Malibu group of tanned friends also included Malibu P.J., Malibu Skipper and Malibu Ken. In 1973, Malibu Christie #7745 was introduced and I thought she was one of the prettiest dolls I had ever seen. I was lucky enough that my family purchased all of these dolls for me! I grew up in Wisconsin, but with my strong affinity towards these dolls, I  knew I was destined someday for SoCal. And voila, I've lived in San Diego for almost 20 years now!

The introduction of the Sun Set family was an off the charts hit but, as Stephanie Deutsch (author of Barbie the First 30 Years) notes, it sadly marked the beginning of the end of the "Golden Time of Vintage Barbie dolls." The following mass-produced, low-budget Barbies lacked the quality (lashes, elaborate hairstyles) and flair of the early Barbie dolls that collectors love so much.