Ken, the iconic male doll in the Barbie universe, turns 60 Thursday. The milestone birthday highlights how much the doll has changed over the years since its 1961 debut as Barbie's beau, but the brand says there’s still room for Ken to grow. 

Robert Best, senior designer for Barbie, describes Ken and Barbie’s journeys as “an evolution," adding that part of Ken’s progress has included following Barbie’s strides in the areas of diversity and inclusion. 

Just like Barbie, there are a range of Ken dolls that represent different ethnicities, body types and abilities.

Best noted one of the most recent Kens, which features the doll in a wheelchair, follows the success of a similar Barbie, which was the number 2 selling Fashionista doll last year.