I Remove Make-Up From Hollywood And Disney Dolls To Turn Them Into Inspiring Real-Life Women
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When I came across Sonja Singh’s Tree Change Dolls™, the controversy of a certain line of dolls being overly sexualized, I wanted to explore further the idea that toys or playthings could have an impact on one’s identity.
Through my work in Child’s Own Studio, I am familiar with the notion that toys can become a source of comfort, pride and meaning for a child (and even adults). The dolls we find in toy stores today are often licenced Disney™ characters or the heroines of Hollywood blockbuster movies that capitalize on the pull of fantasy, fictional characters to young consumers. But there are real-life people who are heroes too, with inspiring stories of courage, intelligence, strength and uniqueness. Could children learn about and be inspired by them through toys?
In this project, I repainted and reclothed the manufactured dolls into the likeness of real, inspiring women – as young girls. As a parent, I’d love for my child to play with a young J.K. Rowling or Malala and have conversations about them. What inspiring person would you like to see as a doll?
More info: wendytsao.wordpress.com
Malala Yousafzai
1997-, Pakistani activist, youngest Nobel Prize laureate
J.K. Rowling
1965-, British novelist best known for Harry Potter series
Waris Dirie
1965-, Somali model, author, social activist
Roberta Bondar
1945-, first Canadian female astronaut
Jane Goodall
1934-, British primatologist, UN Messenger of Peace
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This is really well made and a great idea and I'd love some of these for myself!! Like the Frida Khalo one, for example. Even though I'm technically an adult. Ahaha Hope this actually becomes real and that more real life heroes are made. Also, a few important male figures won't be bad either every here and there, as long as their numbers are kept in proportion. I'd personally love a Barbie's Ken remodelled into a young version of Nikola Tesla and a Salvador Dali one.
Um exuse me? Frida Khalo? He named her Malala. I know you meant well, but try to pay more attention or you might get labeled a racist or something else negative. Just looking out far ya! :)
Back when I posted this comment there was a Frida one too. In the meantime the post has changed. Thank you for the warning.
calm your shit lila
I also own an repainted Bratzilla doll, they can really look good with a repaint. Your's have charisma and personality. I don't get why companies have to exaggerate that much (original version)
I'd like to see Sally Ride and Mae Jemison. Perhaps Maya Angelou.
Yes! I'm looking through my dolls now to see if there's one that can be made into Maya.
Susan B. Anthony, Margaret Sanger, Amelia Earhart .... I could go one and on. And how about Gloria Steinem???
What about kits where we could make our own dolls of women we know. Everyday hero's: my daughters a teacher and a doctor. My mum and aunts? Love j.k. and Malala however. I love that there a groundswell of alternatives now to the sexualization of dolls. We mum's have to take up this mantle and bring change.
I can't believe how awful these dolls were originally - what a horrendous message we're giving to our young children!
It's why you see so many women made up to look like drag queens now even in the workplace, in supermarkets and not just on nights out.
Awesome stuff...dolls I'd encourage little girls to play with
These are dolls worth far more than a price!
Wonderful! I would like to see the doll-makers take this on and get rid of those awful, original sleazy looks they have!
These are wonderful! Good female role models are very important. Well done. You should set up a store on EBay.
Would love to see an Angela Davis, Amelia Earhart, Sonia Sotomayer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Nikki Giovani, Rosa Parks, Sally Ride, Marie Curie, Virginia Wolfe, Charlotte Bronte, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Yuri Kochiyama, Maya Lin ...just in case you're running out of ideas.
Very creative!!! Thanks for sharing your creative world with us.
These are brilliant! Dolls that can actually inspire girls to turn into women.
Love them. Disney and other toy makers should take note!
What a great idea and wonderfully executed! Bring 'em on - I think kids would LOVE to have dolls like these!!!
Princess Diana would be lovely to see.
Yeees!!!!
I want to buy your dolls......so way cooler than those heavily make-up dolls!!! @ . @
Nice love it and my mom always told me not to wear make up if i want flawless skin
Where can we buy these?? I love them, and know many other women who would purchase them for their girls and boys. Please tell us!
Brilliant idea! I can't believe those sweet faces are under all that painted makeup. Thank you for the fun article.
I love love love this! Just one thought: I don't think dolls aimed at girls being "pretty" and glamorous is necessarily such a problem. I do think it's hugely toxic that they are given these very narrow, extremely unrealistic looks, with no diversity (even when they have different shades they're identical), extremely skinny, and nothing interesting about them except looks & outfits. So I think this is awesome because removing the makeup (very heavy yet identical, apparently obligatory make up) gives them a bit more individuality and diversity, and giving them cool role model personae is obviously great. But, like - Waris Dirie in doesn't usually wear a shapeless sack... and it wouldn't make her more "serious" as an activist if she did than her underwear photos make her. Sorry for getting hung up on this! I just don't want the message to be that beauty/glamour/fashion interest in women is mutually exclusive with competence, cuz that can end up being repressive it's ownn way.
Good points. I chose to depict Waris when she was 12/13 years old in Somalia and running away from her forced marriage, across the desert. This was her first act of bravery that resonated with me. I know the "sack" is probably not accurate, and I'd love the opportunity to learn more about what Somali girls wear.
Can you make a Sophie Scholl doll?
I want this Jane Goodall doll so much!
I loved the Bratz dolls and disney dolls. My daughters were crazy about them. I do not think they would have cared much for these boring dolls. Dolls are supposed to sparkle and be glammed up. Its make believe. Inspiring creativity and imagination. These just look like small regular people (yawn) . The craft is cool as a hobby I guess.
This is so cool
These dolls are amazing. They aren't stereotypical girls with makeup and represent real, amazing women. Awesome!
The original dolls look disgusting
Malala Yousafzai <3 Truly an inspirational woman.
These are wonderful! I wish they were available in stores!
Your re painting of these dolls are incredible. You have made them into beautiful women. What a great artist you are.
I really want the Malala one and the JK Rowling one
Did anyone notice that the original dolls were dressed like total sluts?
I would actually buy these dolls....for myself lol
these are amazing! YES! NEED MORE great inspiring peoples of the Earth made too!!!
AWESOME :)
I love it!
This is fantastic! I love how you have done actual people and these dolls can inspire young kids.
These are really good I really like the Janie Goodall doll with the little monkey that is very clever of you
Awesome! Such a wonderful idea that you came up with! Pass them along!
I have a question on how you got the messy hair that was on the doll into Beautiful straight and nice hair? Plus I love your dolls
AWESOME!
You have the best pic for your comment, fyi. Also, this is a wonderful project and I'm heartily glad to see true role models represented by dolls instead of weird, alien-looking brats
Sorry, typo there, my last comment was supposed to say "Fabulous work!"
Fatuous work!!
GOTTA LOVE IT!!! Although when I was doll playing age, the shape of Barbie's body never registered to me as something to attain.
I love it! I wsdh I had this idea when my daughter received those horrible dolls when she was little..She loved them so much that I gave in at the end. Wish we had an alternative back then.
Why is the Waris Diri doll so.... Unlike the others? Seems the artist put her best effort into the other dolls but put a pink potato sack on the Waris doll and let her hair go to shiiiiit.
These dolls have been brilliantly transformed. But I'd like to point out that Bratz is owned by MGA Entertainment (Micro-Games America Entertainment). Using Disney in the title of the article is erroneously misleading of the Disney brand.
This is brilliant and beautiful work. But please note that Bratz is owned by MGA Entertainment (Micro-Games America Entertainment). Not Disney, nor Mattel. The way the article is written is erroneously misrepresenting Disney!
Great idea!!
That's absolutely fantastic!
This is SOOOOOOOO good!
Coooooool. Keep it up.
Very very good idea...such a better image for young girls! Thanks for sharing!
These are great! It would be encouraging if we could get these mass marketed rather then the scantily clad ones on the market currently.
Great idea! thanks for sharing <3 they should really sell these instead.
They are way better than the "original" ones! We need this in stores asap!
Beautiful <3
Wonderfully done.
Very cool.
Another great idea from Tasmania - The Creative Isle
Another great idea from Tasmania - The Creative Island.
Well made ... but I seriously cannot understand why you would spend/waste time on this.
This is really well made and a great idea and I'd love some of these for myself!! Like the Frida Khalo one, for example. Even though I'm technically an adult. Ahaha Hope this actually becomes real and that more real life heroes are made. Also, a few important male figures won't be bad either every here and there, as long as their numbers are kept in proportion. I'd personally love a Barbie's Ken remodelled into a young version of Nikola Tesla and a Salvador Dali one.
Um exuse me? Frida Khalo? He named her Malala. I know you meant well, but try to pay more attention or you might get labeled a racist or something else negative. Just looking out far ya! :)
Back when I posted this comment there was a Frida one too. In the meantime the post has changed. Thank you for the warning.
calm your shit lila
I also own an repainted Bratzilla doll, they can really look good with a repaint. Your's have charisma and personality. I don't get why companies have to exaggerate that much (original version)
I'd like to see Sally Ride and Mae Jemison. Perhaps Maya Angelou.
Yes! I'm looking through my dolls now to see if there's one that can be made into Maya.
Susan B. Anthony, Margaret Sanger, Amelia Earhart .... I could go one and on. And how about Gloria Steinem???
What about kits where we could make our own dolls of women we know. Everyday hero's: my daughters a teacher and a doctor. My mum and aunts? Love j.k. and Malala however. I love that there a groundswell of alternatives now to the sexualization of dolls. We mum's have to take up this mantle and bring change.
I can't believe how awful these dolls were originally - what a horrendous message we're giving to our young children!
It's why you see so many women made up to look like drag queens now even in the workplace, in supermarkets and not just on nights out.
Awesome stuff...dolls I'd encourage little girls to play with
These are dolls worth far more than a price!
Wonderful! I would like to see the doll-makers take this on and get rid of those awful, original sleazy looks they have!
These are wonderful! Good female role models are very important. Well done. You should set up a store on EBay.
Would love to see an Angela Davis, Amelia Earhart, Sonia Sotomayer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Nikki Giovani, Rosa Parks, Sally Ride, Marie Curie, Virginia Wolfe, Charlotte Bronte, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Yuri Kochiyama, Maya Lin ...just in case you're running out of ideas.
Very creative!!! Thanks for sharing your creative world with us.
These are brilliant! Dolls that can actually inspire girls to turn into women.
Love them. Disney and other toy makers should take note!
What a great idea and wonderfully executed! Bring 'em on - I think kids would LOVE to have dolls like these!!!
Princess Diana would be lovely to see.
Yeees!!!!
I want to buy your dolls......so way cooler than those heavily make-up dolls!!! @ . @
Nice love it and my mom always told me not to wear make up if i want flawless skin
Where can we buy these?? I love them, and know many other women who would purchase them for their girls and boys. Please tell us!
Brilliant idea! I can't believe those sweet faces are under all that painted makeup. Thank you for the fun article.
I love love love this! Just one thought: I don't think dolls aimed at girls being "pretty" and glamorous is necessarily such a problem. I do think it's hugely toxic that they are given these very narrow, extremely unrealistic looks, with no diversity (even when they have different shades they're identical), extremely skinny, and nothing interesting about them except looks & outfits. So I think this is awesome because removing the makeup (very heavy yet identical, apparently obligatory make up) gives them a bit more individuality and diversity, and giving them cool role model personae is obviously great. But, like - Waris Dirie in doesn't usually wear a shapeless sack... and it wouldn't make her more "serious" as an activist if she did than her underwear photos make her. Sorry for getting hung up on this! I just don't want the message to be that beauty/glamour/fashion interest in women is mutually exclusive with competence, cuz that can end up being repressive it's ownn way.
Good points. I chose to depict Waris when she was 12/13 years old in Somalia and running away from her forced marriage, across the desert. This was her first act of bravery that resonated with me. I know the "sack" is probably not accurate, and I'd love the opportunity to learn more about what Somali girls wear.
Can you make a Sophie Scholl doll?
I want this Jane Goodall doll so much!
I loved the Bratz dolls and disney dolls. My daughters were crazy about them. I do not think they would have cared much for these boring dolls. Dolls are supposed to sparkle and be glammed up. Its make believe. Inspiring creativity and imagination. These just look like small regular people (yawn) . The craft is cool as a hobby I guess.
This is so cool
These dolls are amazing. They aren't stereotypical girls with makeup and represent real, amazing women. Awesome!
The original dolls look disgusting
Malala Yousafzai <3 Truly an inspirational woman.
These are wonderful! I wish they were available in stores!
Your re painting of these dolls are incredible. You have made them into beautiful women. What a great artist you are.
I really want the Malala one and the JK Rowling one
Did anyone notice that the original dolls were dressed like total sluts?
I would actually buy these dolls....for myself lol
these are amazing! YES! NEED MORE great inspiring peoples of the Earth made too!!!
AWESOME :)
I love it!
This is fantastic! I love how you have done actual people and these dolls can inspire young kids.
These are really good I really like the Janie Goodall doll with the little monkey that is very clever of you
Awesome! Such a wonderful idea that you came up with! Pass them along!
I have a question on how you got the messy hair that was on the doll into Beautiful straight and nice hair? Plus I love your dolls
AWESOME!
You have the best pic for your comment, fyi. Also, this is a wonderful project and I'm heartily glad to see true role models represented by dolls instead of weird, alien-looking brats
Sorry, typo there, my last comment was supposed to say "Fabulous work!"
Fatuous work!!
GOTTA LOVE IT!!! Although when I was doll playing age, the shape of Barbie's body never registered to me as something to attain.
I love it! I wsdh I had this idea when my daughter received those horrible dolls when she was little..She loved them so much that I gave in at the end. Wish we had an alternative back then.
Why is the Waris Diri doll so.... Unlike the others? Seems the artist put her best effort into the other dolls but put a pink potato sack on the Waris doll and let her hair go to shiiiiit.
These dolls have been brilliantly transformed. But I'd like to point out that Bratz is owned by MGA Entertainment (Micro-Games America Entertainment). Using Disney in the title of the article is erroneously misleading of the Disney brand.
This is brilliant and beautiful work. But please note that Bratz is owned by MGA Entertainment (Micro-Games America Entertainment). Not Disney, nor Mattel. The way the article is written is erroneously misrepresenting Disney!
Great idea!!
That's absolutely fantastic!
This is SOOOOOOOO good!
Coooooool. Keep it up.
Very very good idea...such a better image for young girls! Thanks for sharing!
These are great! It would be encouraging if we could get these mass marketed rather then the scantily clad ones on the market currently.
Great idea! thanks for sharing <3 they should really sell these instead.
They are way better than the "original" ones! We need this in stores asap!
Beautiful <3
Wonderfully done.
Very cool.
Another great idea from Tasmania - The Creative Isle
Another great idea from Tasmania - The Creative Island.
Well made ... but I seriously cannot understand why you would spend/waste time on this.