The recent Barbie movie created quite a stir, and my own daughters absolutely loved it. As I thought about Mattel, the company behind Barbie and a leading toy manufacturer, I wondered, “What other dolls out there celebrate diversity?” To my delight, I discovered a few! Allow me to introduce you to three remarkable dolls from independent brands that not only champion inclusion but also empower both girls and boys.
The Jilly Doll
Look out for ‘Latinistas’
Created to celebrate the beautiful diversity of the Latino community, Latinistas dolls feature an array of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors, diverse hair textures, and unique facial features. Latinistas bring cultural authenticity into toy aisles, which have traditionally lacked such representation in the market. “Las Amigas” (Lola, Liv, Julianna, and Dani) brings a clear and meaningful representation to the toy market. You can find these dolls available for purchase at major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
“We are honored to celebrate the Latino community through Purpose Toys LATIN. Under the leadership of Jovanna Rosado, Purpose Toys LATIN is proud to lead this historic launch of Latinistas,” said DeeDee Wright-Ward, founder and CEO of Purpose Toys, in a press release.
Barbie creator Ruth Handler wanted the doll to be whatever the girl playing with her wanted her to be. While that is an amazing message, it’s always nice to see dolls that look like the children playing with them.
Representation really does matter, and I cannot wait to see what incredible dolls will debut next!
