This editorial is inspired by the brown dolls that were not sold ten years back in the market. Creating body positivity by portraying a brown skinned model with dolls alike to convey a message that beauty in every colour is valued. Through this editorial we aim on challenging the stereotype of white dolls which dominate the doll market and creating the first imagery in this genre of models being shot as doll in a whimsical world to promote ethnic positivity.

I worked on this project before the lockdown in March at The Selfie Factory. I had an opportunity to work with photographer Steve Taylor. Solis Magazine offered to publish this editorial story. I collaborated with a writer fro Melbourne to write a written piece. Yve, my friend from class helped me on this project by working as my assistant!!

Doll House
By Naomi Felfeli

I’m a blond bimbo girl in a fantasy world, Dress me up, make it tight, I’m your dolly.
Well well well, doll guess you got that one totally wrong! Let’s try again
I’m a brown smart girl in the real world, dress me up, make it tight, I’m not your dolly.
We grew up in a world that synonymised a young, fair, pretty and mostly blond girl
with a doll. Is there a rule book that limits us to certain characteristics? Why does the
timeless and iconic Barbie doll only represent a certain ethnicity or race of women?
Guess this innovative piece of feminine appearance isn’t as progressive as it seems
anymore. Young girls from all over the world invested in these dolls only to grow up
with insecurities and prejudices.
How many brown mothers heard their young daughters worry about their colour and
appearance because they don’t look like a ‘doll’?
Little brown girls are often left feeling confused and insecure—most of the dolls in
the toy stores look nothing like them.
Despite the enormous success of idol fair skinned and skinny dolls, it seems society
is divided about her. Does she represent a feminist icon? Is she helping a cause, or
only adding to the docile female stereotype? The society we live in shall never really
have a simple answer leaving no chance for these ideally created dolls to get away.
Let’s take for example Barbie – the epitome of an ideal girl. Fair, skinny, blonde long
hair and perfectly dressed. How many of the young girls of colour could idolize or
even remotely relate to the “perfection” created by Mattel, I reckon none. Mattel did
try to create dolls that represented these girls but again they were all Barbie’s
friends. Why weren’t versions of Barbie herself created with various skin tones?
Growing up, I had a collection of quite a few dolls that ranged in skin tone, but
nothing else. I loved to play with them, comb their hair and dress them up, but often
wondered if they were meant to represent a girl like me…Why doesn’t their hair curl
up in the water too? Why do they have the same face as the white dolls? Are my lips
too big or eyes too groggy? Should I always keep my hair this straight? Is this what
I’m supposed to look like? Reflecting on thoughts like these that I had as a child
validated the outrage of the dolls then created.
Models, actors, Beauty pageant participants or even marriage proposals in most
Asian countries revolved around the same doll looking – skinny and fair women. The
media portrays these doll-like looking figures as beautiful or perfect to the rest of the
world. Where is the ethnic and cultural acceptance? Where was the body positivity
influence? Where were Beyonce, Rihana and Nicky Minaj? Well, wherever they
were, aren’t all of us glad they are?

Over a period, the appearances did change to reflect the broad ethnic diversity of
women leaving a large range of possibility for girls’ futures. Young girls did realise
that beauty comes in various colours and shapes. These dolls that reflected the
common girls from diverse racial backgrounds, help in opening the eyes of young
girls to the complete spectrum of beauty.
Haven’t you adored a little girl dressing up in all her pinks, bows and frills? The joy
on her face when she says she looks exactly like her favourite doll? Inclusivity and
acceptance have been extremely significant lessons dolls of colour have inculcated
in young girls along with self-confidence.
Over 6 decades and no signs of greying or slowing down, these dolls of plastic are
now getting more adventurous, and all for the best reasons. The fair epitome of
beauty as perceived by all of us is now moulding herself into all of us.
The Doll House is what represents these girls, their dreams and is also an attempt to
shatter unreasonably high standards of beauty.