Malia and Sasha Obama in doll form?
The First Daughters: Are they dolls or what?
The Web has been buzzing today about dolls called “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia,” the same names as the Obama girls.
Ty Inc., the company behind the Beanie Babies toys, released the 12-inch plush dolls in 2007 as part of the company’s “TyGirlz Collection.” The Malia doll has a side ponytail and a long-sleeved shirt and Capri pants, while the Sasha doll sports pigtails, a white and pink dress and leggings.
They appear to be the only African American dolls among the dozens in the collection.
But the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company chose the dolls' names because "they are beautiful names," not because of any resemblance to President Obama's daughters, spokeswoman Tania Lundeen told the Associated Press.
"There's nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls," Lundeen said. "It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls. They are not."
A limited supply has been shipped to retailers, according to the Associated Press. The dolls retail for $9.99.
—Tiffany Hsu
Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press
This is just the beginning! Those little girls are role models for so many children!
Over the past week, I asked hundreds of people in DC, including lots of kids, to choose a word to represent how they feel about the inauguration of Barack Obama. I then took their portrait with the word! The 26 words included "Proud," "Hopeful," "Skeptical," and "Angry." No one chose angry! But there were definitely some "Skeptical" people out there!! And "Curious" too.
Kids just kept talking about Malia and Sasha! They chose the words "Love" a lot and "Obama" because they like the way it sounds!
The result of my photos is this great video/photo essay. It's really inspirational. The love for the Obamas is moving. The company doesn't have to name the dolls "Sasha" or "Malia" because the kids definitely will anyway!!!
http://vimeo.com/2895468
or http://www.emilytroutman.blogspot.com
I can't wait to watch these girls grow up! --emily
Posted by: Emily Troutman | January 22, 2009 at 08:47 PM
This is just the beginning! Those little girls are role models for so many children!
Over the past week, I asked hundreds of people in DC, including lots of kids, to choose a word to represent how they feel about the inauguration of Barack Obama. I then took their portrait with the word! The 26 words included "Proud," "Hopeful," "Skeptical," and "Angry." No one chose angry! But there were definitely some "Skeptical" people out there!! And "Curious" too.
Kids just kept talking about Malia and Sasha! They chose the words "Love" a lot and "Obama" because they like the way it sounds!
The result of my photos is this great video/photo essay. It's really inspirational. The love for the Obamas is moving. The company doesn't have to name the dolls "Sasha" or "Malia" because the kids definitely will anyway!!!
http://vimeo.com/2895468
or http://www.emilytroutman.blogspot.com
I can't wait to watch these girls grow up! --emily
Posted by: Emily Troutman | January 22, 2009 at 08:48 PM
The company should have released a 3rd doll with a random name so they can say that the names Sasha and Malia were just random.
Posted by: Simonian | January 23, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Now I know the girls are cute and sweet, but that is just a little too weird. Is the company going to manufacture a White House and then sell that like Barbie and her Malibu Beach house? Come on people, does anyone else find this to be ridiculous?
Posted by: Sadie | January 25, 2009 at 08:37 AM