Revisiting the ’90s Supermodel Touted as a “Real-Life Barbie”

It’s the summer of Barbie! Come July, Margot Robbie—Vogue’s latest cover star—will star as the iconic Mattel doll in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken. Last summer, Barbiecore took over fashion in anticipation of the film, and labels such as Chanel, Versace, and Jacquemus are still very much thinking pink this summer. The current takeaway? Life in plastic is fantastic. You should definitely be taking style cues from the chic doll, whether it’s rocking head-to-toe pastels or a pair of cute fuzzy heels. But back in the ’90s, long before it became a thing, one supermodel rocked Barbie style better than anyone else.

That would be Dutch model Karen Mulder, who burst onto the scene in the early ’90s. Born in Vlaardingen, the Netherlands, Mulder was signed by the Elite Paris modeling agency when she was just 15-years-old, after she won a modeling contest she saw advertised in the newspaper. By her second year with the agency, Mulder had already begun walking for all of the major international fashion houses such as Versace, Christian Lacroix, and Yves Saint Laurent. Her calling card? Her tall 5’10 frame, blonde hair, and blue eyes, which made her resemble a “real-life Barbie”—something many fashion and catwalk fans continue to refer to Mulder as today.

Mulder began truly ascending to supermodel status when she began landing Vogue covers. Her first solo covers for American Vogue came in July and August of 1991—back to back! In April 1992, she starred in a now-iconic cover photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, in honor of Vogue’s 100th anniversary; It featured several other supermodels including Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Cindy Crawford.

But it’s Mulder’s cameos on the catwalk that are especially Barbie-licious. Whether she was styled in a professional suit or sexy evening gown, Mulder’s distinctive look gave any collection a peppy, upbeat feel. Early in her career, she walked Dolce & Gabbana’s spring 1992 show in a frothy violet tulle dress that would make the doll extremely proud. Same goes for the pink tweed skirt suit she sported for Chanel’s spring 1994 couture line, or the bright yellow bathing suit she donned for Chanel’s spring 1995 collection—Barbie goes to the beach!

While tons of models since Mulder’s ’90s takeover have continued to channel Barbie on the runway as well—Candice Swanepoel, Charlotte Free, and Gigi Hadid come to mind—it’s Mulder who was one of the first to define the look on a high-fashion scale. Below, peruse some of her best moments in Vogue and on the catwalks. Perhaps you’ll even find inspiration for your outfit to wear to watch Barbie in theaters.