The Prettie Girls! Tween Scene Dolls

One World Dolls has extended the Prettie Girls! line with their new Tween Scene dolls/

The 16-inch Tween Scene doll line by One World Dolls was developed through a partnership with Robert Tonner of Tonner Dolls.  According to their press release:

The Prettie Girls! Tween Scene is a line of 16 inch dolls that are representative of younger versions of the multi-cultural characters from the current Prettie Girls! line with 2 new additions, Hana, an Asian American and Alexie, a Caucasian. Other dolls in the Tween Scene line include Lena an African-American, Dahlia a South Asian, Kimani an African native and Valencia who is Hispanic American.

Follow the next link and click/tap the Tween Scene logo to open the album of all Tween Scene dolls at the company's website.

Read the press release here.



On first glance, I had hoped the dolls were produced in a 9- to 10-inch "Skipper" size.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  Weigh in if you'd like in a comment on your first impression of the dolls.

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Vivica A. Fox Prettie Girls! Collectors Doll

Vivica A. Fox Prettie Girls! Collectors Doll, photograph courtesy of Stacey McBride (OWDP)

On January 15, 2015, One World Doll Project, Inc., unveiled their plan to release their first collectors doll for 2015, the Vivica A. Fox Prettie Girls! Collectors Doll (shown above).  The doll, like all dolls in their line, is designed by Stacey McBride.  Stunningly gorgeous with an almost exact likeness to Ms. Fox is how I "see" the Vivica A. Fox Prettie Girls! Doll prototype.

Excited, I signed up for future updates on the doll here.

The company's full announcement can be read here.

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The One World Doll Project Announces First Order From Walmart

I have been a supporter of the One World Doll Project since day one, beginning with an interview of Stacey McBride-Irby in March 2011.  Several posts about Prettie Girls Lena and the Cynthia Bailey doll have followed.

Prettie Girls Valencia (Latina), Dahlia (South Asian), and Kimani (African) have joined Lena and Cynthia Bailey.

I recently acquired, Valencia, Dahlia, and Kimani, shown above.



I was very excited to learn about the company's most recent accomplishment:  The One World Doll Project Announces First Order From Walmart.  This is major because it is no easy feat to get products on the shelves of America's largest discount department store chain.



Trent Daniel, CEO of One World Holdings, announces the Walmart deal in the following Youtube video.







Congratulations to OWDP and Stacey McBride-Irby! 







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In Case You Missed The Prettie Girls Interview on NewsOne Now

Journalist and NewOne Now's Roland Martin is joined by Ellen Livingston, LCSW-C; Trent T. Daniel, founder of One World Doll Project; and Stacey McBride-Irby, designer of Prettie Girls Dolls

Via Skype from Los Angeles, California, and Houston Texas, respectively, Stacey McBride-Irby and Trent T. Daniel of One World Doll Project were interviewed on Roland Martin’s NewsOne Now show earlier today.  Present during the segment was Ellen Livingston, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who spoke on the importance of Black dolls in promoting the esteem of Black girls. 

As an obsessed Black-doll enthusiast, not only did I watch and record the segment, I also took still shots and transcribed most of the questions and comments as the show aired.   My transcript is not word-for-word, but comes as close as my flying fingers allowed.  

*****

Prettie Girls Dolls on the set:  Dahlia (Middle Eastern/Indian), Cynthia Bailey Doll (from the collector series), and Kimani (African)

Roland Martin's initial questions and comment:  Can a line of Black dolls boost the self-image of Black girls?  Does it have an impact on how they see themselves later in life?  We will explore that topic on what these dolls actually mean to the images of sisters.

Roland's brief commentary prior to introducing the guests:  For a lot of African Americans, they actually did not have dolls that were made in their image in terms of their hair, in terms of how they looked, and when you talk to women as they got older, they talk about how the beauty or definition of beauty in America was determined by those images, not just what they saw in magazines and television commercials, but also the kinds of dolls they were able to play with.

Today we have a couple of African American entrepreneurs who have gone out to help Black girls embrace their own self images by creating a line of dolls they can relate to.  We also want to expand this beyond that and talk about what this means in terms of the self-image, in terms of the self-esteem of Black girls and eventually Black women.

Martin to Stacey:  Stacey, I want to start with you.  It's no surprise that you are calling these the Prettie Girls, and I would say that I wouldn't be surprised that you chose that.  Because when we talk about Black girls, when we talk about that image, you have folks who grow up who say, 'I never saw myself as pretty' because they didn't see themselves reflected when it came to the dolls they played with.

Stacey McBride-Irby:  Definitely, and I can speak to that because I didn't see fashion dolls that looked like or represented me.  I had baby dolls that looked like me, but not fashion dolls.  Everyone in this world wants to be pretty wherever you come from; race, creed, background, old or young, you want to feel pretty.  So I wanted to create a line of Prettie Girls dolls that represent being pretty not just inside but out.

Dr. Mamie Clark and husband Dr. Kenneth Clark developed and conducted the Doll Test during the 1940s and 1950s to study the psychological effects of segregation on Black children.

Martin mentioned the results of Dr. Kenneth and Mamie Clark's1947 Doll Test where then and even today the children tested (boys and girls) preferred the White doll over the Black doll. 


Stacey commented:  That test always saddens me.  That is why I did want to create dolls because a doll is our first image that we really see and we are able to nurture and play with.  So I wanted to create images for little girls that really change the institution and make them feel good about themselves.

Martin asked Trent:  What is the origin of that particular name? [One World Doll Project]

Trent: When Stacey and I first met and decided that we wanted to do this, we first of all wanted to send a message that it’s not just about Black people or Hispanic people or one group, and I think that's kind of the messaging in our culture that gets lost.  If somebody creates a Black doll, all of a sudden they are a Black doll company, and we're not a Black doll company.  We are actually a company focused on multicultural diversity.  We want our dolls to reflect the melting pot that the United States of America is.  And so that's when we thought about the name of this.  We wanted to make sure we had a name that sent a crystal clear message that it’s about all of us and not just about one particular group.

(Martin reflects on his mother's difficulty finding Black dolls for his sisters, having to buy White dolls in the absence of Black dolls, yet wanting dolls that reflected their image.  He admits things in the doll market are better now than they were then.  Martin then asks Stacey why she left Mattel.)

Stacey:  A little bit of my Mattel history:  I used to play with fashion dolls as a little girl.  I played with White Barbies because that was my fantasy world and I didn't have a doll that represented me.  Fast forward to 2008.  I am a Mattel designer, designing Barbies, and my daughter wasn't playing with dolls.  I realized the time had changed and she didn't see an image of herself in a fashion doll.  So that's when my passion and designer [instincts inspired me] to create an African American line of dolls through Mattel [So in Style Barbie].  They embraced it.  My community embraced it, but I realized that my passion was bigger than Mattel’s marketing plan.  They did not really promote the dolls like I expected them to.  My passion outweighed that.  That's when I decided, I'm bigger than this.  This is a bigger movement.  I need to go out on my own, and that's when I partnered with Trent T. Daniel and we created the Prettie Girls line of dolls. 

Images used in CNN's 2010 Doll Test where results illustrates self-esteem in Black children has not improved much since the Clark's Doll Test of the 1940s.

 A video of CNN's 2010 Doll Test using images of characters that rang from white to black is shown.   Show me the smart child [the Black child points to white character].  Show me the dumb child [points to black character].  Show me the ugly child [points to the black character].  When asked why the negative image was chosen, each time the child said, "Because 'she' black."


Martin to Ellen Livingston, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, regarding CNN's Doll Test:  This really speaks loudly to the self-hatred that Black women and even Black men grow up with in terms of how we look at color, how we look at hair, how we look at all those different things.  We saw it in Bill Duke and Channsin Berry's Dark Girls.  [It's the] same thing, how you have these beautiful brothers and sisters, these beautiful children who grow up thinking they are ugly because beauty has been defined as not looking like this but only looking like someone who's White. 

Ellen Livingston, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Ellen Livingston:  This speaks from generations before.  When I was growing up, the only Black doll we had was the Julia doll... [from the 1960s TV Show starring Diahann Carroll.]  All of our dolls were White...  As we've come along, and this company that we have here, is wonderful to provide an array of what Blackness and what beauty looks like in all colors.  Because I understand it is not just African American dolls, there are brown dolls of all  different types.  It does affect our children and it does affect them negatively.  

Martin to Livingston:  Do you see it in your work in terms of women who come in and here they are adults, some of them in their 40s and 50s and 60s and they still are bothered by that notion of what is beautiful?

Livingston:  Absolutely.  In my practice I have seen women who have gone to great lengths to either participate in plastic surgery or changing their hair by adding hair extensions and different things to look more like what we consider beauty in America, which is very different from our broader nose, our broader hips, and our kinkier hair and curly hair and what have you, who have gone through great lengths and they don't like themselves, even after they have gone through all of that, because that's not their authentic personality.  That's not who they are really.

Prettie Girls Dahlia (now sold out according to my search for her today)

Martin to Stacey:  When I look at these dolls, I see some with straight and braided hair but also I see a huge Afro...  So clearly you were thinking about all of that in terms of offering different looks.  Because we have a lot of women who really emphasize natural hair versus getting a perm.

Prettie Girls Cynthia Bailey (from the collector line) and Kimani (also sold out, according to day's search)

Stacey:  Definitely.  I did want to put an Afro in our collector line of dolls.  This is actually the Cynthia Bailey Doll, our first collector doll.  I also wanted to add curly hair, straight hair. I wanted to give little girls something they can play with and also see themselves and women in their community.

Martin to Trent:  ..,The reality is, this also impacts us [as men].  It impacts it when it comes to our relationships, when it comes to our our daughters as well as our nieces and their interaction with men and boys.  

Trent:  That's a key point that you brought up, Roland.  It is always about the messaging.  When you walk into our local retail stores, when you see an entire aisle of one race of dolls and this little small sliver of another race, it does send a message.  And that's a message we intend on changing.  But I think a bigger dynamic, Roland, is we also have to understand it's not just a situation where the retail stores don't want to carry Black dolls, and White-owned stores don't have an interest in little Black girls.  There is also a supply problem.  That supply problem comes from the fact that there have been many attempts for businesses to create African American dolls, but when you talk about the financial dynamics of being able to bring a product to the marketplace that a major retail store can put a hundred thousand units in, that becomes a whole other different topic that goes into the Black business community's responsibility to create the supply for the demand because the demand is certainly out there, and in our conversation with many major big box retail stores, they want the product, but it is a matter of their having a problem sometimes finding the product.  That's really what the core of our mission is:  to provide the supply for the demand.

Martin to Ellen:  Do you believe that this line of dolls and others can have a dramatic impact on changing the view of the next generation to understand the different views of beauty and also greatly improve the self-esteem of the next generation.

American Girl dolls Addy and Kaya and Doc McStuffins were also on the set.

Ellen:  I believe it can...  I see the array of the dolls that they have, the different hues, skin tones, and the different hairstyles.  [Martin referred to the dark skinned dolls that Livingston brought:  American Girl Addy and Kaya and a Doc McStuffins doll and pointed out that dolls' shapes and sizes matter.  Ellen agreed. She pointed out that Black dolls representing professionals are important, like Doc McStuffins.]  I think that it is important for the self-esteem not only of our daughters but also of our sons.  Our sons do get impacted by how the women in their world feel about themselves and how they allow the men to treat them.  I think it is very important for our daughters to see these types of images.


Trent shared where the Prettie Girls dolls can be found online:
Oneworlddolls.com
Wayfair.com

Stacey's final comment:  Prettie Girls are beautiful.  You are a "prettie" girl.  We want you to embrace your "prettie" on the inside and out.  

The show ended after Roland patted the Cynthia Bailey Doll's Afro into shape and next asked viewers the question of the day:
Do you buy black toys and products to help boost your child's self-esteem? 

Each caller answered, Yes!

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Limited Edition Cynthia Bailey Collectors Doll in the House!

Limited Edition Cynthia Bailey Prettie Girls! Collectors Doll -- she is gorgeous!

The Cynthia Bailey Collectors Doll is here and more lovely than I had imagined, which is always a good thing.  I am as impressed with the box as I am with the doll.  I took several initial photos shown below.

The front of box shows a tonal image of the head and torso of the doll.

The inside flap defines Prettie Girls! and the One World Prettie (OWP) concept. The Cynthia doll's fashion is described in the final paragraph.

The lovely, articulated (underneath breasts, at elbows, wrists, and knees), 12-inch Cynthia Bailey doll is nicely presented inside the box with black doll stand included.  Her huge Afro hairstyle is well done with soft fibers. 

This lovely image of supermodel, actress, entrepreneur Cynthia Bailey is underneath the plastic liner that holds the doll in place.

The back of the box is as impressive as the front, featuring a tonal headshot of the doll.  A cute image of the doll's designer, Stacey McBride-Irby, is in the lower right corner.

The text from the back of the box contains Ms. Bailey's biography:

Supermodel Cynthia Bailey resides in Atlanta with her 13-year-old daughter, Noelle, and her husband Peter. The Alabama-born beauty moved to New York City 25 years ago to pursue her dream of modeling.  Cynthia's biggest career moment was when she beat out Naomi Campbell for a co-starring role opposite Sandra Berhardt in her film, WITHOUT YOU I'M NOTHING.  From there she was always on call for her friend and super-star film director Brett Ratner for all of his early movies & music videos.  Mr. Bill Cosby [cast] this southern beauty for 2 episodes of THE COSBY SHOW, and other television appearances that include NY UNDERCOVER, SOUL TRAIN guest model host, and host spots on BET.

Cynthia's commercials include [Macy's], Levis, Mercedes Benz and many more.  In addition to her "housewife" duties, Cynthia can be seen regularly on Good Morning America serving as a correspondent.  She also operates as CEO of The Bailey Agency School of Fashion and is creator of the Miss Renaissance Pageant and the Cynthia Bailey Model Search.

My doll is documented as follows in my doll inventory Excel spreadsheet:

Month-Year of Purchase

Manufacturer/Artist/Year Made

Name

Description

Price

January

One World Doll Project, 2013

Limited Edition Cynthia Bailey Prettie Girls! Collectors Doll

12-inch fashion doll designed by Stacey McBride-Irby (former Mattel designer) inspired by former supermodel/model agency owner Cynthia Bailey; black Afro, brown painted eyes; wears white tank with The Bailey Agency School of Fashion logo on front; black faux leather jacket, black and shimmery silver striped shorts, black high-heel shoes, gold cuff bracelet, gold hoop earrings, has black patent-leather purse with gold "chain" strap.  Doll is not a portrait of Cynthia Bailey; but was inspired by her.   Signed, #'d, COA enclosed in blue stock folder arrived later; has black doll stand.

$69.95

Scan of certificate of authenticity and OWDP Lifetime Collectors pin

Her impressive signed, numbered, certificate of authenticity arrived under separate cover accompanied by a One World Doll Project Lifetime Collectors Club pin, shown above.  

Still attached to the plastic liner, Cynthia hopes to be released soon

I have not removed the doll from the box liner and am not sure I will.  I want to, but I want to preserve her in her manufactured state a while longer.  (It's a collector's thing that only a doll collector would understand.)

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Will She Look Like Thelma?

Will she look like Thelma? refers to the doll the One World Doll Project plans to release in December 2013.  This news was obtained from the Angelic Dreamz website (scroll down at their site to the graphics below McBride-Irby's image/text). 

According to AD, the second doll in OWDP's celebrity doll line will be Thelma, the 1970s Good Times character played by actress Bern Nadette Stanis. 

This second doll is good news, but I hope it has a unique head sculpt, one that actually looks like "Thelma."

(The first celebrity doll by OWDP was inspired by model/reality star Cynthia Bailey, now to be released during the second week of December 2013 instead of February 2014.)

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We are Prettie Girls, Lena is Here!

This is my review of Prettie Girls Lena, the African American doll in a line of articulated fashion dolls designed by Stacey Mcbride-Irby for the One World Doll Project, Inc. 

Packaging
Since I always photograph my dolls in their never-removed-from-box state prior to deboxing, this task was not spared for Lena.  The packaging is nice, front and back.   "I'm Lena, the business Girl!" is on the front.  Text on the back of the box includes where Lena is from (Charlotte, NC), her favorite things, what she is amazing at, what she loves, and why she is "prettie."  There is a cute picture of Stacey McBride-Irby in the lower left-hand corner of the back of the box.

Other than her hair being sewn to the blister with one plastic attachment from the head to the blister, removing Lena only required a few snips of the bands that held her arms, waist, and feet down.  The base of the OWP-personalized black doll stand had a cord threaded through it to hold it onto the blister. 

Lena, deboxed

Lena's Vital Statistics
Height:  12 inches
Head/Body Proportions:  The head is not over-sized!

Hair:  Straight, black, rooted, comb-able but a little stiff
Eyes:  Painted brown
Facial Features:  Full nose and lips
Appeal:  Gorgeous!

Lena is prettier than I expected.  I love her luscious lips, fuller nose, and beautiful brown eyes.

 
Clothing:  Separates -- floral-print blouse, tan high-waist suspender pants, red duffle bag, red high heels

Articulated Areas: Underneath the breasts, elbows, and knees; the breast movement is only slight from left to right.

I was pleasantly surprised that Lena's blouse is not attached to her pants.  Both have a Velcro closure in back.

Comparison to Similar-Size Dolls
I compared Lena's height and foot size with Mattel's So in Style Kara, Integrity Toys' Reese, and YNU Group's Opal.

So in Style Kara and Reese pose with Lena for height comparison with shoes on.

 

So in Style Kara and Reese pose with Lena for height comparison with shoes off.

Opal poses with Lena

The Feet
Lena's foot measures approximately 1 inch long and is longer and wider than the feet of the other dolls mentioned above.  Her arch is not as high as Kara's or Reese's.  It is not as low as Opal's.  She can wear Opal's shoes and Opal can wear hers.

L-R:  Kara and Lena

L-R:  Reese and Lena

L-R:  Lena and Opal

The Body
I did not do a nude comparison between Lena and the other dolls because I did not want to take the time to disrobe everyone.  I did disrobe Lena.  I often wondered why it appeared her butt protruded in her promo images.  Now I know why:  girlfriend has some impressive curves!

The next two images illustrate Lena's very slight chest movement.

Her upper torso is turned as far as possible to her right (to the left looking at the image).

Her upper torso is turned as far possible to her left (to the right looking at the image).

More about Hair and A Quick Change
The next image attempts to illustrate the hair fiber and length of Lena's hair from the back:

Lena's hair has a synthetic look and feel.  It is comb-able, but a little wiry.

Her curvaceous body can fit into Kara's dress. 

Overall Assessment
For the retail price of $21.95 (on sale for $18.95 when I purchased), I am pleased with Lena's overall quality and the attention to detail given the product.  I love her sculpt, the quality of her clothing, the inclusion of a doll stand, and the nice packaging.  The addition of other dolls representing a variety of ethnicities, each with a unique complexion and their own personality is an added plus.   

What I would change/add if I could:
Improved hair quality (softer, less wiry), wrist articulation, more movement at the breast joint and at the hips/knees -- Lena cannot cross her legs at the knees when seated.  The best she can do is cross her ankles.

Lena sits with her legs as close together as possible.

Legs crossed at the ankles

Was Lena worth the wait?
Yes.

Am I looking forward to the release of the other dolls in March 2014?  Yes!

Kudos to Stacey McBride-Irby for her outstanding design of this doll, the fashion, and box presentation.  I must also applaud The One World Doll Project for taking the initiative to create a line of multicultural dolls for collectors but especially for little girls.   They need to see themselves in a positive light and dolls can certainly aid in helping girls of color appreciate their whole beings, from their heads to their toes and to consider their reflections normal and beautiful.


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Introducing Stacey McBride Irby’s Prettie Girls! OWP

Super-talented doll designer, Stacey McBride-Irby

After amicably ending a several-year career with one of the leading manufacturers of dolls, Stacey McBride-Irby’s contribution to the doll world will continue as I excitedly reported in my blog: Stacey McBride-Irby + One World Doll Project.

In an effort to gain full details about The One World Doll Project and The Prettie Girls! OWP, I immediately contacted Ms. McBride-Irby with an interview request. She and the company’s chief marketing officer, Ms. Bettie DeBruhl, graciously granted the following interview.

Note: My questions are preceded by the initials, BDC (Black Doll Collecting), and SMI (Stacey McBride-Irby) precedes Stacey’s answers. OWP abbreviates One World Prettie.

BDC: Stacey, how important was it for you to create an inclusive doll line that represents more than one ethnicity?

SMI: It's more than important; it's the impetus for The One World Doll Project. What will begin as a focus on filling a market niche in the Multi-cultural doll category that has largely gone unsupported by the three major toy manufacturers, will eventually become the worldwide leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of the most diverse and innovative dolls and doll products. That's our plan!

BDC: Your plan sounds exciting! Does each doll have a name? If so, are you able to share these?

SMI: I'd be very excited to share with you and your readers the name of the very first doll in the Prettie Girls! OWP line. Her name is Sophia; and because she is the first, we are making her the most special!

We are celebrating the "one world" ideals that were ushered in by the Obama administration in 2008 and commemorating the historical president's run for re-election in 2012 by introducing Sophia as a Commemorative Obama 2012 Collector Doll! Unlike the other Prettie Girls! that will be introduced early next year as fashion playline dolls for the online retail segment, Sophia will be introduced as a Limited Edition Collector’s Doll, in two styles: Casual, ready for the campaign trail in her Obama 2012 T-shirt, stylish cuffed Capri jeans and trendy stiletto heels; and Formal, ready for the White House Ball, with a beautiful electric royal blue gown, trimmed in sparkling silver, accented by encrusted jewels and garnet stones. Both dolls will be offered for $49.99 and are available for pre-sale on the website at http://www.obama2012dolls.com/.   There will also be 2,012 signature edition collector dolls available, hand-signed by me, numbered and certified, with a commemorative Obama 2012 pin and Obama 2012 T-Shirt. These dolls will retail for $149.99 each and are also available for pre-sale today.

BDC:  Wow!  I just viewed the images of Sophia.  She is fabulously special!  Stacey, please tell me more about the other dolls.  Describe their overall characteristics to include their height, hair type (rooted or wigged), eyes (inset or painted), material from which they are made, and any other information that parents or collectors would appreciate regarding their appearance?

SMI: Prettie Girls! OWP are 11.5-inch (29.21cm) fashion dolls. They will have rooted hair of different colors and unique styles to match their personalities. The dolls will come in 4 different skin tones, molded in PVC. Each doll will have a One World Prettie message that girls can connect with. Let's meet our Prettie Girls!

The Prettie Girls! are more than just a name. We wanted to make sure their names would represent the true character and ethnicity of how we wanted each girl to be perceived.

• Lena is African American and is smart and sophisticated.
• Kimani is from Africa; she's beautiful and sweet.
• Valencia’s name means health and strong; she's from the Dominican Republic.
• Dahlia is from India; she is gentle and considerate. Readers can go to http://www.prettiegirlsowp.com/ to get their full bios, to connect and fall in love with each Prettie Girl! OWP.
• Our Collector’s Doll, Sophia is the role model to the girls and is "The Wise One." Collectors can go to http://www.obama2012dolls.com/ to read more about Sophia.

BDC: I’m in love with the dolls already. Collectors and little girls love pose-ability. Are the dolls jointed, if so where?

SMI: Yes, The Prettie Girls! will be jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbow, under the breasts, and at the knees for complete play and pose-ability.

BDC: You did say the dolls are fashion dolls, right?

SMI: Yes, The Prettie Girls! OWP are playline fashion dolls that will be introduced early next year for the online retail market—styled for play yet full of soul and rich with diversity! The first Prettie Girl! Sophia, the Obama 2012 Collector's Doll, available for pre-sale today, is also 11.5 inches (29.21 cm) in height.

BDC: What demographic is your target market?

SMI: What's exciting about The One World Doll Project is that we'll be marketing dolls that everyone will love and cherish! The Prettie Girls! OWP dolls will be designed for children ages 6 - 12, but the collectors' dolls are for collectors of all ages.

Our collectors' dolls will be the most stylish works of art and a vital part of a valuable growing collectors' market that will appeal to the most sophisticated and serious collectors, as well as to the novice consumer.

Our fashion and play dolls will be competitively priced and readily available to purchase online and shipped anywhere in the world, so the sky is the limit!

BDC: Global shipping will certainly please international customers.  You've shared Sophia's price.  How much will the other dolls cost?

SMI: The Prettie Girls! OWP dolls will be competitively priced for the market ranging between $19.95 and $24.95, and as mentioned, the Collectors' dolls will start at $49.95.

BDC: When and where will The Prettie Girls! be available (major stores, your website, or other sources)?

The Prettie Girls! OWP Obama 2012 Collectors Doll will be available for pre-sale starting Monday, March 28, 2011, on our website: http://www.obama2012dolls.com/ and will ship to consumers the first week of December 2011, just in time for Christmas. Our playline dolls will be available on our site for purchase, Spring 2012.

BDC: Will additional products be sold separately (extra fashions, accessories, books, etc.)?

SMI: We will be developing a series of story books and fashion packs, as well as some limited school supply items, such as notebooks, pens, etc. As the line continues to grow, we will add accessories for the complete play experience.

BDC: Stacey, I've taken up enough of your time, but before we conclude, please share any additional information about The Prettie Girls! and/or other dolls planned for the future.

SMI: As there is a void in the marketplace for dolls of color, we will certainly be looking to fill that void as well in the TV space. The One World Doll Project wants to give girls a positive story to embrace in an animated series. We will also continue to nurture relationships and build our collector line by designing dolls for affinity groups, non-profit organizations, and celebrities.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I wish to personally thank, Stacey and Bettie for allowing me to conduct the first in-depth interview regarding The One World Doll Project and Prettie Girls! OWP. Stacey, I am delighted that your doll designs will continue and hope they continue for many years to come. The doll market needs more designers whose lines are inclusive of dolls representing the diversity of mankind for every child (young and old-er).

Readers, for more information about The One World Doll Project; their debut doll, Sophia; and the rest of The Prettie Girls! OWP, visit the websites listed below and please support the company’s endeavors!

One World Dolls:  http://www.oneworlddolls.com/
Obama Collector's Doll, Sophia:  http://www.obama2012dolls.com/
Prettie Girls! OWP:  http://www.prettiegirlsowp.com/

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Stacey McBride-Irby + One World Doll Project!

I am so excited! I was recently informed about former Mattel doll designer, Stacey McBride-Irby's new doll-designing venture.

Well known for the very popular So In Style dolls, Stacey has broadened her horizons further in the doll arena.  She will be designing the Prettie Girls Dolls for THE ONE WORLD DOLL PROJECT.  According to their website:

Stacey joins entrepreneurial success trainer, author and “activational” speaker Trent T. Daniel; Bettie DeBruhl, former public relations senior vice president and general manager of one of the largest ad agencies in the Southwest; Gene Insley, former Mattel™ senior vice president; and Joanne Melton, former banking vice president, in forming a new company that will revolutionize the way mainstream dolls are designed, marketed, and integrated into the fabric of America. THE ONE WORLD DOLL PROJECT promises to make one of the most significant positive cultural impacts on play and in the doll category in recent history.

If you are as excited as I am and desire to learn more about OWDP's Prettie Girls Dolls  and the other dolls and community work they have planned, read more here!

Congratulations, Stacey (and thanks Janice for the heads-up!)

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