We all knew she was made of plastic. Who’d have thought she could be so fake?

After 43 years of dating, Barbie has ditched her longest-running accessory, Ken. In a press conference that has rocked the toy industry, the couple announced plans to spend some time apart. According to a release on Mattel’s Web site, however, the pair “will always remain the best of friends.”

Yeah, right — we’ve all heard that one before.

Maybe there’s more going on here than the public needs to know, but Ken should have seen this one coming — Barbie’s never been one to settle down. The jet-set lifestyle, the constant wardrobe changes, the penchant for new cars — everything about her life has always screamed “single and loving it.”

For those who question placing blame on the woman in this relationship, let’s take a look at the evidence. Most obvious, of course, is the fact the couple dated for almost half a decade without any hint of a marriage proposal from Ken. But every other bit of blame points toward Barbie.

This breakup arrives just in time for the release of Barbie’s new laid-back “Cali Barbie” look. In preparation, she’s traded in the elegant dresses for board shorts and a bikini top. She’s been seen working on her new, deeper tan at the beach. And, of course, there’s Blaine, the Australian surfer inside sources say has been spending a suspicious amount of time with Malibu’s most wanted.

Of course, this is all standard fare for the biggest names in Hollywood. With so much pressure to maintain an image both onscreen and off, it’s not surprising so many A-list couples end up apart. After making such gigantic theater flops together, including “Barbie of Swan Lake,” “Barbie as Rapunzel” and “Barbie in the Nutcracker,” it’s amazing Barbie and Ken lasted as long as they did.

Perhaps turning down the leading roles in “Gigli” wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

The difference between Barbie and Bennifer, however, is that Barbie has had, and will continue to have, a far bigger impact on impressionable young children than J-Lo could even fathom. Sure, Barb and Jen may share a few traits — successful careers in music and film, obsessive male fans, androgynous significant others — but beyond that, Barbie will always be a staple of childhood imagination.

Pop idols like Britney, Christina and J-Lo, although still role models in the eyes of little girls, have a bit more leeway in the image they present to the public. It’s not tough to argue they are as much manufactured products as they are musicians, but there is still a distinction between a living, breathing celebrity and a toy.

Ken has always been a part of Barbie’s life, and removing him — especially in an era of broken homes and high divorce rates — gives little girls a bad impression of how mature women should act. She didn’t leave Ken because he was abusive, or to pursue a career, or to follow her dreams — she dumped him to hook up with a surfer.

The creative team at Mattel may think marketing the new Barbie as a single, carefree and independent woman is a great way to sell more dolls, and they’re right — it probably will. Unfortunately, they’re forgetting the image of Barbie already ingrained in the mind of every little girl who’s ever let her imagination run free in the Dream House.