While on a trip to Europe, Barbara, the daughter of Ruth Handler, drew her attention towards Bild Lilli, a plastic doll based on a flirtatious comic strip character published in the West German newspaper Bild Zeitung in 1952. A 3D version of the character was created by Greiner & Hausser GmbH a year later and sold as an adult novelty toy. It was mainly available at bars, tobacco kiosks, and adult toy stores and was often given as a gag gift at bachelor parties or hung from car rearview mirrors. Soon, the doll became popular among children as well. Ruth was convinced that a doll with adult proportions would inspire…