Non-Barbie Fashion Dolls, Clones, and Competitors 1960s to early-2000s

Name: Non-Barbie Fashion Dolls, Clones, and Competitors

General Description: Mattel’s Barbie remains the most popular mainstream fashion doll to date. Because of the doll’s popularity, other 11-1/2 to 12-inch fashion dolls are often incorrectly referred to as Barbie. To piggyback on Mattel’s sales success with Barbie, throughout the years, other doll makers have created playscale-size fashion dolls with similar characteristics (competitors) or dolls that actually look like the #1 Barbie or other sculpts Mattel has used for Barbie and friends (clones). Likewise, other companies often imitated Ideal Toy Corporation’s Tammy dolls from the 1960s. This installation includes a small sample of clones and competitors of Barbie and family, and Tammy made by different known and unknown manufacturers from the 1960s through the early 2000s. A single image or a slideshow of two to three images is included for manufacturers’ clones and competitors. Use the right arrow or the dots below the first image to advance the slide shows.

Material, Height, Hair, Eyes, Clothes: All dolls are made of vinyl and/or hollow plastic as described. Larami, Mego, Peggy-Ann Doll Clothes, Shillman, Totsy, Uneeda, and the dolls that are only marked MADE IN HONG KONG have hollow plastic bodies.  They are 11-1/2 inches tall. All dolls have brown painted eyes either forward or side glancing. Darice Fashion Doll has blue underneath the black pupils. Blue outlines Larami’s Miss Model’s eyes. Where indicated, some have rooted eyelashes, a twist-and-turn waist, click-bend, or jointed knees. Dolls with original boxes or packages wear their original clothes.

Brooklyn Lollipops, 2017, Sophie Sister(s)*, Barbie and Skipper Competitors:

11-1/2 and 8-1/2-inch dolls have dark brown rooted hair styled in a ponytail and worn loose, respectively. Their brown eyes are painted with painted upper eyelashes with blue eyeshadow (larger sister) and pink eyeshadow (little sister). The larger doll’s mouth is closed. The little sister has painted teeth.  Both have click-bend knees and a grayish undertone to their complexions.  The legs are super thin and shapeless.  Dressed in white party-style dresses accented with silver belts at the waist, silver spaghetti straps, and a silver glitter floral pattern on the skirt and bodice of the larger doll’s dress is only on the skirt of the smaller doll’s dress.  Both wear pink shoes and have pink handbags.  Both dolls have stamped on their backs:  Brooklyn Lollipops/041517 DF2017T1/MADE IN Jieyang China/Item #T/4853-4. The larger doll’s head mark, DF, possibly abbreviates Defa Lucy, another fashion doll clone brand. *The package spelling of Sophie Sister was used by the manufacturer.

Chic Dolls, 2008, four Chic Boutique dolls, a Barbie competitor:

Marked ©2008 CHIC DOLLS/MADE IN CHINA (on the heads); CHIC/MADE IN CHINA (and the upper backs have a different stamped style number below “Made in China”). The heads are soft vinyl. The bodies and limbs are rigid hollow plastic. All have twist-and-turn waists. The doll on the far left has jointed knees, a tan complexion (possibly represents a Latina) and a different head sculpt than the others. The far-left doll has auburn rooted waist-length hair. The other three have black-rooted waist-length hair. The brown-painted eyes have painted upper and lower eyelashes and brown or black eyeliner. All are redressed. The second doll from the left has permanently placed stud earrings. The other dolls’ stud earrings were added. Walmart and even Macy’s have sold Chic Boutique dolls.

China Clones of My Scene Jai, 2013 and 2024 (purchase years):

Two dolls appear to use the same head sculpt as Mattel’s My Scene Jai. The doll in the two-piece swimsuit has long-auburn-rooted hair. The other doll has a tightly coiled and closely rooted black Afro. Both have brown-painted eyes with heavy eye shadow, closed mouths, and red lip color. They are fully articulated but use different bodies. The doll on the left has a sturdier body with more shapely legs than the thinner body used for the doll on the right. They are both articulated underneath the breast area. Both wear their original clothes. Jai was considered the most difficult to find during Mattel’s My Scene Dolls’ popularity. See an original My Scene Jai here.

Darice Fashion Doll, 1980s-1990s: a Barbie competitor:

Except for an oblong space on the lower back, the doll is unmarked. Darice is the name of the company that produced this 11-1/2-inch fashion doll that has a twist ‘n turn waist and click-bend knees similar to the bodies used by Mattel during the 1980s-1990s. The arms are bendable vinyl. This doll’s complexion is medium brown. The long below-the-waist-length hair is wavy with bangs. The black pupils are outlined in blue underneath. Has a smiling mouth with closed lips that are painted coral. Sold nude with a pair of white high-heel shoes packaged in a baggie with the manufacturer’s cardboard label stapled to the top. 

Defa Lucy, 2004, Fashion Girl, a Barbie Competitor:

11-1/2 inch nonarticulated fashion doll with bend-click knees has closely rooted black curly hair with a side-swept bang, brown-painted eyes with painted upper and lower eyelashes, and slightly parted lips with nude lip color; wears an orange, green, and yellow print crop top and short skirt, blue plastic earrings, holds a transparent vinyl orange cone-shaped purse that opens, and orange high-heel shoes. Defa Lucy is a China-based company.

Defa Lucy Studio, 2025, a Barbie Competitor:

The head is marked DF55. The Defa Lucy Studio doll uses the same head sculpt as the Defa Lucy Fashion Girl. This 12-inch multiarticulated doll has dark brown rooted hair with the top pulled back into a small ponytail and the rest hangs loose, brown-painted eyes, a closed mouth with dark lip color; wears a yellow knit cropped turtleneck sweater, metallic turquoise shorts, and light blue ankle boots. The wrists rotate, and the elbows and knees bend.

Excite, a toy manufacturer and importer founded in 1985, manufactured the following three undated Barbie competitors:

Click Chicks, a doll with an interchangeable head. The doll has reddish-brown wavy, rooted hair; brown-painted eyes, and a closed mouth.  The extra head has brown straight hair with pink bangs. Doll wears a black halter underneath a pink fleece jacket, denim pants, a pink/purple/white striped belt, brown mid-calf boots, silver hoop earrings, and a silver necklace. The extra fashion includes a red blouse, a plaid mini skirt, and a pink shoulder bag with two blue flowers painted on the front. Additional accessories are an extra pair of brown anklets and a set of silver jewelry (earrings and necklace).

Vickie’s Fashion Doll Purse Shop, distributed by Excite and sold by Kids Stuff, has black rooted hair, painted brown eyes, and wears purple stud earrings that match the purple halter and pencil skirt.  Vicke holds a black handbag. Pink high heels are attached to the box liner along with five purses for Vickie’s Shop, with two extra purses in the display case of the purple counter.  A purple cash register is also included. The back of the box features white versions.

Vickie’s Wedding Doll Playset includes the 11-1/2-inch doll and two approximately 5-inch dolls to serve as the ring bearer, a boy, and the flower girl.  A jewelry pack of two sets of extra earrings and necklaces, and two bracelets, is attached to the box liner. Vickie wears faux pearls and pearl stud earrings to accessorize the wedding gown.  Vickie was one of the company’s popular doll characters. The back of the wedding set box illustrates two blond sets.

Fibre-Craft Materials, Corp, circa 1980s, Flat Heel Doll, a Tammy-clone:

Style #3012B, marked with an indiscernible logo on the head and upper back, this doll’s actual measurement is 11-1/4 inches. It was designed for a crafter to dress. With an Ideal Tammy-type face, the doll has black-rooted hair styled in a bubble cut, brown-painted eyes that glance slightly to the right, and pink lip color. Has a vinyl head, a blow-plastic molded teen-type body, and wears white flat shoes.

Geoffrey, Inc., 1999, Real Friends Tanisha (boxed and redressed), a Toys R Us-exclusive Barbie competitor:

The redressed doll is marked ©1998 Geoffrey, Inc. (on the head); MADE IN CHINA (upper back). Tanisha has a vinyl head and legs with bendable knees, rigid plastic arms and body with a twist-and-turn waist. The black hair is rooted; brown-painted eyes, parted lips painted burgundy with molded painted teeth area. The boxed doll wears a tennis costume and has two tennis rackets, a tennis ball, a red jacket, red sneakers, and a red visor enclosed in a baggie. An extra pair of black high heels are attached to the box liner. The back of the box includes images of other dolls in the collection. Tanisha is the only Black doll shown.

Greenbrier International, Inc. for Dollar Tree stores, 1992, Poseable Patti, a Barbie competitor.

Poseable Patti Dolls, 1992, by Greenbrier International, Inc. were sold at Doll Tree Stores

Unmarked Poseable Patti Dolls (Poseable Patti’s Wedding Bride, Poseable Patti Ballet Dancer wearing a purple costume, Poseable Patti Ballet Dancer wearing a pink costume, and an unkown gown-wearing Poseable Patti) distributed by Greenbrier International were sold at Dollar Tree stores in 1992. The quality of these dolls is superior to 11-1/2-inch fashion dolls sold at Dollar Tree in today’s (2020s) market. The brides and ballerina share the same head sculpt with open smiles and painted teeth. The doll in the green gown has a different head sculpt, a closed mouth, outlined lips, and wears replaced shoes. Each doll has black-rooted hair, brown-painted eyes, and painted upper and lower eyelashes. Except for the replaced green shoes, all clothing is original.

Larami, circa 1986, Miss Model, a Barbie competitor:

Marked MADE IN / HONG KONG (on the upper back), Miss Model has a vinyl head and a blow-molded plastic body with a twistable waist. The straight black-rooted hair has a top-center part. Blue outlines the black eyes, has green eyeshadow, and no eyelashes. The closed mouth is painted red. The one-piece jumper has a white halter top and white floral-pink flared-leg pants. The red high-heel shoes were originally loose inside the bag.

Lucky Ind. Co. Ltd., 1997 and 1999, Clearly Casual and Fashion Corner Zahara, Barbie competitors:

The Clearly Casual doll is marked 1994 LUCKY (on the head) and MADE IN CHINA (on the upper back). Fashion Corner Zahara is marked 1111 / 1994 LUCKY (on the head); the Lucky rabbit logo / ©1990 LUCKY DOLL IND. CO. LTD/MADE IN CHINA (on mid-to-lower back). The heads, arms, and legs are non-hollow vinyl with bendable knees and twist-and-turn waists. The bodies are rigid plastic. Both have black-rooted hair. Clearly Casual has a ponytail with bangs; Zahara has knee-length straight hair with a center part. Both have brown painted eyes with painted upper and lower eyelashes, parted lips, burgundy lip color, painted teeth area, and the appearance of an overbite. The clothing is original; the shoes are replaced.

M&C Toy Centre Ltd., 2005, Designer’s Choice Kari Michell, a Barbie competitor:

Made by the manufacturers of World Peacekeepers action figures, Designer’s Choice Kari Michell dolls are non-articulated (except for the five usual locations). They have black-rooted hair, brown-painted eyes, and smiling mouths with painted teeth. They wear pearl heart-shaped earrings. One doll wears a black sparkly pullover sweater and a black faux leather pencil skirt with black high heels and a black handbag attached to the box liner. The other doll wears a burgundy fleece (faux suede) jacket, burgundy pleather pants, and a fuchsia knit top with a burgundy handbag and burgundy high heels attached to the box liner. 

Medine, 2007, Anastasia, Barbie competitor.

Marked MADE IN CHINA across the upper back. The head, arms, and legs are vinyl; the body is rigid plastic. The black rooted hair is styled in a high ponytail. The gray eyes are painted with painted upper and lower eyelashes and pink eyeshadow. The open/closed mouth has coral lip color and a painted tooth area. The ears are pierced. Anastasia wears a USA flag-printed hair net, a light blue surgical mask, dark blue surgical scrubs, white socks, and light blue shoes. A stethoscope sticker hangs from the neck, and a patient chart and pencil sticker are attached to the pants near the right hand. A black medical bag marked Anesthesia Department in white letters is attached to the waist. Anastasia has the usual five points of articulation and an articulated waist. The doll’s backstory of working in the operating room, the recovery room, and providing patient care during and after surgical procedures is on the back of the box.  Of note, a headshot image of a similarly dressed doll that uses the Asha head sculpt by Mattel is on the back of the box.

Mego, 1970, two Maddie Mod dolls, Barbie competitor:

Marked HONG KONG (on the heads); MEGO TOY CORP., MCMLXX / HONG KONG (on the upper backs). The heads and arms are soft, rubbery vinyl. The bodies and limbs are hollow plastic. Black-rooted hair is styled in a bubble cut (on the left) and straight with bangs (on the right). Brown-painted eyes have rooted upper eyelashes and heavy blue eyeshadow. They have chubby, dimpled cheeks, smiling mouths, painted teeth, and pink lip color. It is unknown if the doll on the left wears an original fashion; the shoes are replaced. The doll on the right is redressed in a Totsy tennis outfit and sneakers.

Midwood Brands, LLC., 2019, 2 Pack Trendy Fashion Dolls, Barbie competitor.

Two identical dolls, dressed in different synthetic material dresses, have ethnically correct facial features, sparsely rooted black hair (rooted around the sides and top), bendable arms that do not hold a pose, and hollow vinyl legs. The heads are marked:  CHINA. The upper backs are stamped: MIDWOOD BRANDSLLC/0322516120460620. Midwood Brands, LLC is a private-label and discount brand company, with its parent organization being Dollar Tree. The dolls were sold at Family Dollar.

Peggy-Ann Doll Clothes, Inc., circa 1970s, Boutique Fashion Doll, a Barbie clone:

Marked MADE IN / HONG KONG (on the back). The head and arms are vinyl; the body and legs are hollow plastic. Has brown hair styled in a sparsely rooted low ponytail with bangs, black side-glancing eyes with heavy black eyeliner, and a closed mouth. Wears original orange short pants jumper belted at the waist with a black patent-leather belt, and red high-heel shoes. This dark-tan-complexioned doll was sold at Kmart originally for 96 cents.

Rainbow Classics, circa 1990s, two dolls named Shauntee, Barbie Competitors:

Stock number 11534 includes only the doll. Stock number 11510 includes the doll and one extra fashion. The black rooted curly hair is shoulder-length and styled the same. They have black-painted eyes with painted lower eyelashes and closed mouths with red lip color. The heads, arms, and legs are soft rubber-type, nonhollow vinyl. The bodies are rigid plastic. Both dolls are dressed in their original fashions as shown. The articulation is at the usual five places: neck, arms, and upper legs with bendable knees (click-bend).

Shillman circa 1960s-1970s, two Maxi Mods and Mini Mod, Barbie competitors:

Maxi Mod is marked M&S / SHILLMAN (on the head); MADE IN HONG KONG (on the upper back). Mini-Mod is marked M&S / SHILLMAN (on the head) and M. & S. SHILLMAN, INC / MADE IN HONG KONG (on the back). The heads are vinyl; the body and legs are hollow plastic. Maxi Mod in the lavender sweater dress has firmer plastic arms, body, and legs. The boxed Maxi Mod has rubbery vinyl arms, a firm plastic body and legs. Mini Mod’s head is vinyl; the body and limbs are hollow plastic. All three have twist-and-turn waists. Black-rooted hair is styled in bubble cuts; brown painted eyes. Maxi Mod has rooted eyelashes. All have closed mouths. Maxi Mod in the lavender dress is redressed. The others wear their original yellow bathing suits.

Totsy, circa 1988, a Barbie competitor:

Marked TOTSY ©1988 (on the head), ©TOTSY / MADE IN CHINA (on the back). The head is firm vinyl. The arms are firm plastic. The body and legs are hollow plastic; has a twist-and-turn waist.  Black-rooted bubble cut, brown forward-looking eyes with painted upper and lower eyelashes and tan eyeshadow, pink lip color, painted teeth area. Wears original white bathing suit, no shoes.

Tov Toy, 1970s, Veronique, a Barbie clone:

Marked MADE IN / HONG KONG (on the upper back). Soft vinyl head, firm arms and body, hollow legs, twist and turn waist; black rooted hair, brown side-glancing eyes with heavy brown eye shadow, closed mouth. Wears original dark blue large-flowers-and-shapes-printed dress, white undies, and black mid-calf plastic boots. Sold in a plastic baggie with a cardboard label that reads Poupee Mannequin Veronique Tov Toy. This doll was purchased from a seller in The Netherlands.

Uneeda, 1990s, Barbie competitors:

Marked U.D. CO. INC. (on the heads); UNEED ADOLL CO. INC (on the upper backs). These two use the same head sculpt as Uneeda’s 1980s Streak ‘N Frost Miki (a White doll). Their names are unknown. They have firm vinyl heads and hollow plastic bodies and limbs. They both have black-rooted hair. One doll’s hair is curly; the other doll wears a side ponytail with curly ends. Both have brown painted eyes, rooted upper eyelashes, painted upper and lower eyelashes, and smiling open mouths with molded upper teeth. Both dolls are redressed.

Unknown Manufacturer, 1960s-1970s, Barbie competitors:

Marked MADE IN HONG KONG. The heads are firm vinyl. The arms are firm plastic. The body and legs are hollow plastic. Both have a twist and turn waist. Black-rooted bubble cut hairstyles, brown painted eyes (the whites have faded or were never painted properly); closed mouths. Dressed in original bathing suits (purple and pink), released without shoes. These two have a black rubber band on their right wrist that possibly held a hangtag.

Unknown Manufacturer, 1970s, Grown Up Tammy competitor:

Marked HONG KONG on a raised rectangular piece of vinyl (on the head); MADE IN HONG KONG (on the upper back).  The head is vinyl; the body and limbs are hollow plastic; has a twist-and-turn waist. Black-rooted bubble cut hairstyle, brown painted side-glancing eyes, closed mouth with dark red lip color. The red sleeveless blouse with sailor collar, calico-print skirt, and brown belt might be original; the red high-heel shoes are replacements.

Unknown Manufacturer, 1990s, Teen Skipper competitor:

Unmarked. Soft vinyl head, rigid plastic body, firm vinyl arms and legs (not hollow) with bend-click knees, twist and turn waist. Long black rooted straight hair, brown painted eyes with upper painted eyelashes, parted lips are painted red with painted teeth area. Has permanently placed white stud earrings; otherwise, is redressed.

Unknown Manufacturer, 2025 #1 Unnamed Barbie clone:

This 12-inch Barbie clone was sold nude by a Chinese merchant. The vinyl head sculpt is similar to #1 Barbie’s with black rooted bubble cut hair over a painted black scalp. The raised side-glancing eyes are sculpted and painted blue with light blue eyeshadow, heavy black eyeliner above the upper lids, and painted lower eyelashes. The closed mouth has red lip color. The arms and lower legs are solid vinyl, while the body and upper legs are hollow plastic. The doll has four extra points of articulation at the elbows, wrists, knees, and underneath the breasts, but only slight movement underneath the breasts. Dressed by the curator in a red party dress, a handmade felt clutch, and red high-heeled shoes, jewelry includes pearl stud earrings and a handmade pearl necklace.

Walmart, Inc., ©2015, Kid Connection Fashion Dolls, Barbie Competitors.

The same head sculpt but different complexions were used for the Kid Connection dolls. The light-complexioned doll’s straight, below-the-waist black hair hangs loose. The medium-complexioned doll has a top ponytail, and the rest hangs loose. Both have light brown painted eyes with painted upper and lower eyelashes, and open/closed mouths with painted teeth areas. They feature soft vinyl heads, arms, and legs with click-bend knees; rigid plastic bodies, and the usual five points of articulation. Dressed as shown in different styles of dark pink and black dresses and pink high-heeled shoes.

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Published by DeeBeeGee

Doll collector, historian, co-founder of the first e-zine devoted to collecting black dolls; author of black-doll reference books, doll blogs, and doll magazine articles.

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