Move over Doc McStuffins. A new African-American doll promoting positive self images is about to hit the market.
Created by author Betty K. Bynum, the Mia doll will make its debut at the Toy Fair taking place February 14-17, 2015 in New York.
She will present her 18-inch Mia doll, which is the first ever African-American doll fashioned in the likeness of a children’s book’s main character, according to a press release. (We were curious and asked Bynum’s spokesperson about this claim. Turns out Doc McStuffins was never in a book. And Tiana, the main character in The Princess and the Frog, didn’t begin as a Black character. Learn something new every day!)
Designed by Bynum, the Mia doll is based on the character from Bynum’s NAACP-nominated children’s book I’m A Pretty Little Black Girl! from The I’m a Girl Collection, a literary series promoting positive images and affirmations for young girls of color ages two through nine.
For the doll collection, Bynum has inked a partnership with doll maker Madame Alexander, who has licensing deals with Disney, Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind, Fancy Nancy, Pinkalicious, and Angelina Ballerina.
The Mia doll is slated to arrive in stores this spring.
