Mattel made an Earring Magic Ken doll in 1993, complete with a purple mesh shirt, lavender vest and an earring in his left ear
Dressed in black pants with pink stitching, a purple mesh t-shirt, a purple vest and sporting a silver necklace and earring, the new Ken was definitely different from the old. In fact, he appeared to be dressed for a rave, and he was soon dubbed "Alternative Lifestyle Ken" by mainstream America.
Despite his "alternative lifestyle" causing an uproar among parents, the new Ken doll was immensely popular. He flew off the shelves. A lot of this popularity can be attributed to the gay community's interest.
