A Reimagined Portrait Doll

Prissy was redressed by Shawatha Kendrick.

In a Facebook group several years ago, a fellow collector shared a photo of a doll with a bubble cut hairstyle, dressed in a full-length dress. The doll's face was both striking and familiar. I asked the doll’s owner, Shawatha Kendrick, to identify the doll. Much to my surprise, the doll is  World Doll's 1989 Prissy, redressed! I could not believe it. 

Mammy and Prissy by World Doll, released in 1989 are portrait dolls of actresses Hattie McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen. These two women portrayed the roles of Mammy and Prissy in the 1939 movie, Gone with the Wind (GWTW), based on the 1936 book of the same name by Margaret Mitchell.

The 1989 release of portrait dolls featuring the main and supporting characters from the 1939 movie commemorates the film's 50th anniversary. During the 1990s, I purchased Mammy and Prissy and included both dolls in the "Dolls with Books" section of my 2nd book, Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion. Mammy and Prissy were also included in my Dolls with Books local museum, library, and school exhibitions that took place throughout the early to mid-2000s. 

After Shawatha identified her doll, I had subconsciously planned to purchase a duplicate World Doll Prissy to redress. That time finally presented itself. My duplicate Prissy is shown above wearing a different (but original) dress than my first doll. It is presumed that one of the two is a second release.

Redressing Prissy

I found a suitable yellow off-shoulder dress, a necklace, a purse, and a pair of shoes, but the purse and shoes were the wrong colors.

The necklace was a keeper.

The colors of the lavender purse and peachy-orange shoes clashed. The shoes could have been worn with the dress, but she'd need a purse to match.

This is a close-up of the purse and shoes. I've had the peachy-orange shoes (made by Mattel) for quite some time, but never found a doll with feet small enough to wear them until now. Determined to use them now, I decided to paint the shoes and the purse to match.

The purse and shoes after painting better match the yellow dress and the amber beaded necklace.

The painted purse close-up

The painted shoes close-up

Everything pulled together nicely.

I present to you my modern version of Prissy, renamed Caroline L---- after my paternal great-great-grandmother.

What I Discovered About My Paternal Great-Great-Grandmother

I recently joined the Ancestry website to trace my family lineage. Caroline L---- is listed on some Ancestry family trees as "Caroline (Slave) L----." I suppose the parenthetical term was to distinguish her from white women with the same name born during the same period in the early 1800s. She is also listed as the child of her enslaver in family trees created by others. I cannot document that the enslaver fathered her. I can document that he owned my great-great-grandmother and a host of other Black men, women, and children, who are listed only by their gender and age groups on the 1830 and 1840 U. S. Censuses. 

From the 1830 U.S. Census

The 1830 U.S. Census documents the household of the man determined to be the enslaver (possibly father) of my great-great-grandmother Caroline, who was born in 1830. The above snapshot is a section of his household of enslaved people. This man is listed as GG Caroline's father on family trees created by some of her other descendants and hinted at as her biological father by Ancestry.

From the 1840 U. S. Census

Additional people are listed as enslaved by the same man, as illustrated in this snapshot of the household he headed in the 1840 U.S. Census. GG Caroline was 10 in 1840.

Born in a Confederate state in February 1830, my great-great-grandmother, Caroline L----, remained enslaved for over 30 years of her life. Although the institution of slavery was abolished in Confederate states in the U.S. in 1863, I wonder if she was ever truly free. She did, however, live to be 85. So I will assume that for more than half her life, she was not bound by the extreme rigors of inhumane bondage. Life, however, for most formerly enslaved Black Americans in rural areas was not completely free. Some remained on white-owned plantations as sharecroppers with Black men listed as farmers, blacksmiths, and other laborers on U.S. Censuses post 1863, while others migrated to northern states and Canada seeking better lives. GG Caroline and her descendants remained in the southern states.

To keep track of the man listed as GG Caroline's father, I added him to my family tree. I did not include his wife as her mother, as suggested by Ancestry. I added the following comment on GG Caroline's profile:

Caroline L---- was enslaved by _____ Lewis. Some records and hints suggest he may have been her biological father, but there is no proof at this time. The relationship shown here is for historical context and further research.

Caroline L---- (30 years enslaved, now forever free)

This now transformed Prissy is in remembrance of my great-great-grandmother's life and the dignity she deserved. Great-great-grandmother married or jumped the broom with James L---- and gave birth to six children, four of whom were born enslaved. Her first child, Tilda or Tildy, was born in 1851. Tilda gave birth to my grandmother, Mollie L---- (born free in 1889), who gave birth to my father in 1922.

Great-great-grandmother Caroline, through Prissy (the doll I renamed after you), I honor your life and legacy, of which I am proud to be a part.

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©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. 

A Halloween Cocktail Party Dress Resurfaces

So in Style Kara models a Halloween Cocktail Party Dress

In October 2013, according to the date of So in Style Kara's picture above, I participated in a So in Style Yahoo email discussion group event where I made a Halloween cocktail party dress for Kara. Recently, the administrator of the So in Style VIP Facebook group asked if we remembered the dress. I had just recently reconnected with what I thought was the complete ensemble and had planned to redress a non-SiS doll in it. 

Dolls from the You Create Barbie Kit No. 003 without wigs

Instead of redressing one doll, I decided to redress all three Barbie You Create Kit Dolls from Kit #3 in the Halloween cocktail party dress to see which doll wears it best. Unfortunately, after I removed the ensemble from the baggie it was stored in, the actual cocktail dress was not inside. I improvised by using a no-sew dress made from a knit headband that was made for another doll a few years ago.

The dolls modeled the no-sew black dress first.

Minh and Rose wear the same wig. Caro wears a half loc'd wig. Their shoes are either similar or the same.

Each doll added the other pieces of the ensemble: a witch's hat, a multicolored tulle peplum, and a sparkly black clutch. Their combined before-and-after photos are illustrated next.

Minh Before-and-After

Rose Before-and-After

Caro Before-and-After

The dolls are seen in a combined photo wearing the ensemble.

Who wore it best?

A beaded cord necklace model by Kara in 2013

Before redressing the kit dolls, I misplaced the necklace shown above that I made during the 2013 event. It was in the baggie with the rest of the pieces sans the dress. I didn't discover it missing until after the 2nd doll was redressed. By that time, I had already photographed the 1st doll in the cocktail party ensemble.  Even if I did find it at that time, I wasn't going to redress and rephotograph the 1st doll wearing it. 

Background Changes

This second picture is supposed to be all three kit dolls in a Halloween background. AI replaced Minh and Caro with two Karas.  This is the correct version on the kit dolls placed in a Halloween background.

After redressing the kit dolls in their original clothes, putting them back in their box, and re-storing the ensemble, I found the necklace. It had slid in between the arm and seat of the office chair that serves as my small-doll photography area. 

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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

#1 Barbie Clone #2

#1 Barbie Clone #2

Due to the price being less than $10, I couldn't resist purchasing a duplicate #1 Barbie clone from the "China site."  I redressed this one in the reproduction 1962 Silken Flame Barbie fashion. Mattel reproduced brunette Silken Flame Barbie in 1997, and a friend gave me the fashion in 2011. (If it weren't a shame, I'd purchase several of these clones and redress them in vintage or reproduced vintage Barbie fashions.)

#2 Barbie #1 clone models the fashion below.

In this picture, she wears the pillbox velour hat, the sleeveless dress and gold belt, opera gloves, red high-heeled shoes, and she holds a red velour clutch.

The red velour swing coat completes the Silken Flame fashion statement.

#1 Barbie Clones Together

Both dolls pose together for this photo and the next two photos.

They both look stunning in their authentic Barbie fashions.

I love them.

I really enjoyed playing with my Barbies, starting around 1964. Barbie and her friends were my friends on demand. I spent hours dressing and redressing the dolls in their tagged Barbie fashions, which replicated real clothes made from real fabric, rather than the synthetic material Mattel has used in recent years. The clothing had snaps, zippers, hooks and eyes, and real button closures. The only thing (and I didn't notice it then) is that the dolls didn't share my complexion. I have now experienced what it would have been like as a child to have a Black Barbie with the original head sculpt by dressing these clones in higher-end Barbie fashions. It's always better late than never, and I am grateful to now experience what I missed during childhood: dolls that look like me.

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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

The Elegant #1 Barbie-ish Clone Redressed

She has the 1959 #1 Barbie look and style.

As I prepared to find a display spot for my #1 Barbie lookalike and stood from my chair, I glanced to my left and saw another Barbie clone that I dressed in Silkstone 45th Anniversary Barbie's fashion four years ago. I'll place her there, I thought, and redress her! 

The ladies had a brief discussion.

#1 Barbie Clone to Lara Clone: I love your dress. Wanna swap?

Lara clone to Barbie Clone: Thank you! Why, sure! A swap sounds fun. Let's do it!

So they did.

Barbie Clone eased the dress on. It fits well, except the bust area is slightly loose. (I taped it taut in the back.) The black slingbacks fit her feet.

The gloves were added.

The fur stole completes the look.

The completed swap illustrates that both dolls look equally stunning.

The stunning ladies are shown close-up.

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Updated: Debbie Allen Barbie and Golden Dream Christie Repro

Debbie Allen Tribute Barbie

When I saw the initial photos circulating on social media of the Debbie Allen tribute Barbie, I was not impressed. My initial thought was, she looks goofy. Someone mentioned that the doll looks more like Karyn Parsons (a.k.a. Hilary Banks' character on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). I could see that comparison. But after seeing the image of Debbie Allen that the doll is fashioned after, I can almost appreciate the sculpt. So, a few seconds ago, I carted the doll on Amazon. It's also available on Mattel Creations, but you have to be a Barbie Club 59 member. 

In this video, Debbie Allen gives the Debbie Allen Dance Academy students a first look at the doll.

Update

My Debbie Allen tribute Barbie arrived swiftly, two days earlier than expected on October 20, 2025.

The end of the shipping box had been previously opened and was taped closed. A label on the opposite side of the box read, "This is a new item." The tissue paper covering the doll's box was torn and crumpled. Either someone ordered and returned the doll or a curious Amazon employee opened the box and resealed it.

Except for the fully side-parted top hair, Debbie Allen Barbie doll looks like the online pictures. Box tampering, described above in the box photo caption, occurred before the doll's arrival.

Debbie Allen Tribute Barbie is seen in a photo collage.

I am pleased and happy I decided to order.

~~~~~~~~~~

Golden Dream Christie, the original doll released in 1980

Also offered recently through Mattel Creations is the reproduction of Golden Dream Christie. I have the original doll (shown above) and had no desire to add a reproduction to my collection; one is enough for me, and having the original is usually preferable to owning a reproduction. I can understand, however,  why owning an original and a reproduction doll would be desired. 

I am very disappointed in the IRL (in real life) photos of the reproduction doll's wiry hair, which is quite different from the beautiful curly ends seen on Mattel's promotional photos. 

Below, view Michele Lee's YouTube video unboxing of her reproduction Golden Dream Christie. Her doll's hair looks good compared to some photos I have seen of other reproduction dolls, but as she states, "Her hair looks nothing like the promo pics do."

So many people anticipated this doll's arrival, only to be met with great disappointment. This is not acceptable for a doll at this price point to be released with what appears to be used steel wool-looking hair in many cases. While some collectors have indicated their plan to return the doll, others have opted to keep it and restyle the hair. 

Please do better, Mattel. Barbie collectors, the people who support your business, deserve better, especially for the dolls they voted for you to create.

Related Link

Golden Dream Christie (the original doll's museum installation; there is a slideshow of photos in the Gallery section).

__________

All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.

Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls. http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com

The Other Doll in the Order

Another Xian Xian Supermodel arrived.

In my post about the #1 Barbie-ish clone, I mentioned that another doll was included in the order. This post is about that doll. Except for hair color, she is identical to this Xian Xian supermodel doll. After the auburn-haired doll arrived, I ordered one with black hair. 

This close-up illustrates the "pink" eyeshadow that I could live without. Other than that, I'm pleased.

Just like the others, she arrived in a bubble-wrapped cellophane envelope inside a plastic mailer. There were no issues with her. 

This two-piece suit was my first choice for her. 

She modeled it with the auburn-haired supermodel.

Next, she tried on a cute dress that has a faux leather bodice and a floral tulle skirt. A black and white houndstooth print neck scarf  matches the print of the other doll's suit.

She wears a faux leather and floral tulle dress with black slingbacks and holds a black satin purse. 

The two pose together.

A close-up of the two

The decision is final. The second fashion works well for her. 

Related Post

#1 Barbie-ish Clone

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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.