I recently saw an image on Facebook of another collector's On Location Milan Barbie by Mattel and initially thought the doll was Kiyoni Brown from the Mattel Flavas series.
I examined the two dolls and decided to take and share photos of their head sculpts, which are similar, but not the same.
On Location Milan Barbie, box date 2006, designed by Robert Best has the ModelMuse body. She has rooted black hair with side part. Eyes are hazel with heavy blue eye shadow. Mouth is smiling with painted teeth. Worn clothing/accessories are silver lamé bathing suit, crystal drop earrings, black sunglasses, white high-heel shoes. There are two extra fashions. The first is a tan belted skirt, gold lamé blouse, black sweater, black high-heel shoes, and tan faux leather shoulder bag. The second fashion is a white silk pant suit, black blouse with crystal button closure, black pumps, and black clutch with crystal closure accent.
Representing the hip-hop culture, Kiyoni brown stands a full inch shorter than Milan Barbie at 10-1/2 inches and has articulated elbows. She has painted green eyes with tan and brown eye shadow. Lip color is pale tan lined in brown. Rooted hair is dark brown with golden blonde streaks on top. She wears a red two-piece jogging suit with white mesh crop top, silver necklace with heart-shaped pendant, and white sneakers. Kiyoni's extra fashion consists of denim short-shorts, short-sleeved denim shirt, white footies with blue pom-poms, white terrycloth visor, black high-top sneakers with heart graphic on sides, and black purse with heart graphic. Accessories include a boom box, temporary decals, and pull out "street" stand for Kiyoni and her Flavas crew to "have a spot to hang out." The back and sides of box are graffitied. Kiyoni's box date is 2003.
Was Best inspired by Kiyoni when Milan was designed or did I just mistake a redressed head and torso image of one doll for the other?
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I examined the two dolls and decided to take and share photos of their head sculpts, which are similar, but not the same.
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| On Location Milan Barbie (left); Kiyoni Brown (right) have same facial structure but are clearly two different dolls. Milan has an open mouth with teeth; Kiyoni's mouth is closed. Kiyoni's head is also larger, but she is not as tall as Milan. |
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| On Location Milan, full view |
On Location Milan Barbie, box date 2006, designed by Robert Best has the ModelMuse body. She has rooted black hair with side part. Eyes are hazel with heavy blue eye shadow. Mouth is smiling with painted teeth. Worn clothing/accessories are silver lamé bathing suit, crystal drop earrings, black sunglasses, white high-heel shoes. There are two extra fashions. The first is a tan belted skirt, gold lamé blouse, black sweater, black high-heel shoes, and tan faux leather shoulder bag. The second fashion is a white silk pant suit, black blouse with crystal button closure, black pumps, and black clutch with crystal closure accent.
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| Flavas Kiyoni Brown, full view |
Representing the hip-hop culture, Kiyoni brown stands a full inch shorter than Milan Barbie at 10-1/2 inches and has articulated elbows. She has painted green eyes with tan and brown eye shadow. Lip color is pale tan lined in brown. Rooted hair is dark brown with golden blonde streaks on top. She wears a red two-piece jogging suit with white mesh crop top, silver necklace with heart-shaped pendant, and white sneakers. Kiyoni's extra fashion consists of denim short-shorts, short-sleeved denim shirt, white footies with blue pom-poms, white terrycloth visor, black high-top sneakers with heart graphic on sides, and black purse with heart graphic. Accessories include a boom box, temporary decals, and pull out "street" stand for Kiyoni and her Flavas crew to "have a spot to hang out." The back and sides of box are graffitied. Kiyoni's box date is 2003.
Was Best inspired by Kiyoni when Milan was designed or did I just mistake a redressed head and torso image of one doll for the other?
dbg
Follow my Dolls for Sale blog
Please visit and "Like" The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak I Listen
