1972 - 1976 Miss America Barbie - Mod Era Barbies | Guide, Blog & Collecting Resource

Here she is, Miss America! Naturally, if your career starts as a teenage fashion model, and you're smart and want to make the world a better place - why not showcase those traits in a pageant?! Mattel came out with two different Miss America dolls using Barbie's body and the popular Steffie head mold; 1972 - 1973 Walking Miss America (#3200) and 1973 - 1976 Quick Curl Miss America (#8697).

In 1973, you could only purchase the Walking Miss America through a Kellogg's corn flake special mail-in offer for $3. There were three Miss America fashions produced in 1972. Walking Miss America dolls were designed to carry out the duties of a pageant queen. With a white Walk 'N Turn stand, these dolls could walk the runway, turn gracefully, and move their head and arms as she "walked." This stand was included in dolls sold in stores, but was not included with the Kellogg's promotional doll.

Miss America Barbie wore a gold lame tank and a white flowy, full skirt over white taffeta. She also came with a silver crown, gold scepter, red cape with faux fur trim (white with black spots), a Miss America ribbon sash, bouquet of red roses and white pilgrim shoes.

1972 Walking Miss America, a Walk Lively Barbie, only came as a brunette

1973 Quick Curl Miss America Barbie only came with blonde hair.

Quick Curl Barbie instructions for hair styling

You could curl and straighten her hair with the help of a special curling wand, comb and brush. Quick Curl Barbie capitalized on the popularity of hair play in the 70s. 1973 Quick Curl Barbie wears the same fashion as 1972 Walking Miss America but Quick Curl Barbie had painted lashes and Quick Curl hair. Quick Curl Miss America was produced from 1973 to 1976. All Miss America dolls are brunette with the exception of Quick Curl Miss America - the only blonde.

If you'd like to learn more about the Quick Curl dolls, check out my blog post about the Quick Curl collection. Did you know there's a Quick Curl Barbie, Francie, Skipper, Cara and Kelley?!

A fun fact... from 1973 on, fashions for Barbie were no longer named but now known only by their numbers. Well, that's no fun! Bring back Glimmer Glamour, Intrigue, Movie Groovie, and Stripes are Happening!

Walk Lively Steffie (#1183) is one of three in the Walk Lively series (there was also a Walk Lively Barbie and Walk Lively Ken (see below). The Walk Lively dolls came with a special Walk n' Turn stand which allowed the dolls to move their head and limbs when pushed. Barbie's same-sized friend, Steffie, was introduced in 1972. Steffie used a gorgeous new head mold that would be used for numerous Barbie family dolls over the years.

Here's a fun 1972 Walk Lively Barbie, Ken and Steffie commercial!