A Caribbean mother has created and launched a new website to sell black dolls. Gabbysworld.co.uk was launched on Monday October 12th and is one of the only websites offering affordable ethnic dolls in the UK.
The need to launch such a website came from the lack of available Afro-Caribbean descent dolls in the market. Creator and CEO of the Gabby’s World Kerry –Ann Graham pointed out the importance of self –love and giving young girls dolls that reflect their beauty. ‘Having a daughter, I felt it was important for her to love herself and embrace her ethnicity. I thought one of the ways to do this was to capitalise on her love for dolls by purchasing dolls that look like her.’ She added ‘I found sourcing Afro-dolls was rather difficult and for this reason the idea came about.’
The website currently boasts four categories of dolls ranging from Barbies to Disney Princesses. The dolls are suitable for all ages. The website which caters to particularity minority girls brings out creativity through play and lives up to the slogan ‘Play it, Dream it Live it’. Whether a princess, rockstar, or a doll just like mommy, little girls will be able to use their imagination influenced by cultural norms and constructs to reinforce positive self image.
The website comes at a time where self confidence and esteem is low amongst young black girls. The skin bleaching phenomenon has been sweeping across Africa and the Caribbean. With not enough black female role models, it’s essential for parents – especially black mothers – to engrave in their daughter’s minds the old adage that black is beautiful. On this premise, Mrs Graham found that dolls portray what little girls want to be and dolls are beautiful. Giving a black girl a black doll is only one step in changing the perceptions of beauty and encouraging self-love.
For more details, please contact:
Kerry Graham – 07533066505
Kim Wilson – [email protected]
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