As proud partners with Mattel for a decade, The Black Doll Affair, while promoting all doll brands, has emerged as the largest consumer group for black Barbie dolls. The founder of The Black Doll Affair played a pivotal role in facilitating a conversation on Black Barbie sporting an afro and having a conversation about race between Black and White Barbie, marking a historic moment in the doll’s 64-year history. In 2016 when Barbie rolled out its most diverse line of Fashionistas, Mama Doll suggested they ‘get with the natural hair trend’ and put Black Barbie in an afro. Her suggestion resulted in Barbie Fashionistas TROPI-CUTIE Doll #59. In 2020, following the tragic murder of George Floyd, Mama Doll urged her Mattel partner to address the conversation at the level of the toy box. You can watch the 'Barbie and Nikki Discuss Racism' video below.
Barbie and Nikki Discuss Racism.
#BUYFELICIA
Buy black dolls from Black women who design them.
Paper or Plastic? If you'd like to support us by donating a doll, that's fantastic! Choose from the list of dollmakers below, visit their website, and pick the dolls you'd like to purchase. During checkout, use our shipping address: The Black Doll Affair, LLC, 1102 A Street #1071, Tacoma, WA 98401.
Once we receive your donated dolls, we'll make the donation in your name and honor to bring joy to a child. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can let us do the shopping for you. Click here to make a Paper Doll (Money) Donation, and we'll purchase and donate the dolls on your behalf. Either way, thank you for your support!
Buy, Felicia!
Paper Doll Party Bags by Mama Doll
Healthy Roots by Yelitsa Jean-Charles
Positively Perfect by Dr. Lisa
Datreese Thomas, The Melanie Dolls
Naturalista Dolls by Purpose Toys
Beautiful Curly Me by Evana & Zoe
Corage Dolls by Flora Ekpe-Idang
Reuben & Ruby Dolls by Doreen Lawrence
Ikuzi Dolls by Ozi Okaro
Double Dutch Dolls by K. Charles
Mala Bryan, Malaville Honorary Black Doll of The Black Doll Affair
Natural Girls United by Karen Byrd
Herstory by Queen Cee
My Natural Doll by Mushiya Tshikuka
Stepstitches by Stephanie Dean
The Fresh Dolls by Dr. Lisa
HarperIman by Cynthia & Kathryn
Sibahle Collection by Khulile & Caroline
Trinity Designs by Nikki Graves
HBCyoU Dolls by Brooke Hart Jones
Fusion Dolls by Widline Pyrame
Mini Muse Ornament Dolls by Nikki Cade
Unity Dolls by Auldon USA
Orijin Bees by Melissa & Elsi Orijin
Brown Divas Dolls by Clara D. Lewis
Queens of Africa Dolls by Taofick Okoya
Nana Dolls by Fuse ODG
Cute Little Crumbsnatchers by LaVonda Howard
My Pretty Brown Doll by Yolanda Jordan
Cheza Toys by Susette Adjoa Nichols
Agape Doll by Carole Brothers
Laken and Carlissa King, Team World Girls
Lil Dee, Our Brown Boy Joy
Jennifer Pierre, Melanites
Adrienne Brown-David, Paper Dolls
Niya Dorsey, Brains and Beauty Dolls
Bukola Somide, Somi the Stem Doll
Frekles Doll Company
Melissa Perkins & Blanche Perkins, Uzuri Dolls
Roxanne Findlay, Jules Marie Dolls
K. D. Domoto, K.D. Dolls
Cole and Jayla Hawthorne, Jayla's Heirlooms
Nikki Graves, Trinity Dolls
Qai Qai by Serena Williams
Black Doll Designers & Creatives:
Stephen Sumner is The Black Doll Affair's Deputy of Doll Affairs. A toy designer for almost 30 years, Stephen holds a BFA degree in Fashion Illustration from Parsons School of Design, NYC and a BFA degree in Toy Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), NYC. Stephen is a first generation American of Sierra Leonean descent who has worked for Mattel, Hasbro, Marvel Comics, JAKKS Pacific, and Spin Master. He’s currently employed at MGA Entertainment in Los Angeles, CA.
Nicole Guice has worked in the industry as an illustrator, character/costume designer and CP designer for Disney Publishing, Walt Disney Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, Hasbro and Mattel.
Khari Torres, Toy Designer and Associate Designer at Spin Master.
Honorary Black Doll, Elle Oliver-Edmonds is a communications strategist who ensures brand voice, tone and positioning for global, iconic fashion Barbie®. Elle partners with Barbie consumer licensing and publishing groups to further develop worldwide tone and content of Barbie brand. She is the copywriter dedicated to Barbie Fantasy and Entertainment brand segments. Elle also develops product names, packaging copy and ensures continuity of brand tone and voice for Barbie Entertainment DVDs. Elle's design work includes the Barbie Inspiring Women Series: Ida B. Wells Barbie, Ella Fitzgerald Barbie, Rosa Parks Barbie and Katherine Johnson Barbie; the Jean Michel Basquiat Barbie; the 40th Anniversary Black Barbie; the Harlem Theater Collection Dolls; and the Dapper Dan Doll. In addition, the Barbie Looks Black Curvy Body is called the "Elle" sculpt.
Tamika Cosen is Copywriter and Storyteller with 8+ years of experience crafting engaging brand copy and content. "A young woman sets out on a winding road to fulfill her destiny. Along the way she learns the quickness of wit, the power of wonder and the necessity of whimsy. She would go on to use these lessons to create compelling stories, dynamic names and engaging characters that would live on and on...well, at least until the next rebrand."
Keysha Kaiser Ramos is a freelance illustrator and toy designer with a focus on fashion. She works digitally in a variety of mediums. Past clients include DIsney, Fisher Price, Hasbro, Jakks Pacific, Marble, MGA Entertainment, Disney and Jakks Pacific.
Lora Stephens is a cheerful, admirable and creative senior designer with outstanding experience in product management, design, packaging, textiles, and market trend research. With 11 years combined background at 2 Fortune 500 companies, she is an expert in various facets of a product’s development life cycle. Excellent leadership in presentations and professional design expertise in a diversity of products both proprietary and licensed from Barbie®, Polly Pocket®, Hello Kitty® and Disney Princess®. She has a passion for creating all things girly, from soft to hardlines.
Vaughn Sawyer is a doll designer at Integrity Toys for over 20 years. Beginning his career at Integrity in 2001 as a part-time sample maker. In 2002, Vaughn started designing for play line. He didn't become a full time designer until 2004 and has worked on ever line that Integrity Toys has released.