memory - purchase dolls these days have a sure sameness to them .   Despite variations in hairdo or shade of lip rouge , choosing between Barbies on the shelf can be a process that come up down to such insignificant thoughtfulness as which one ’s shoes are trendy . Based on a personal belief that toy can have pregnant impact on a child ’s ego - simulacrum , artist Wendy Tsao made it her mission to take those off - the - ledge dolls — in this case , figures from thecontroversial Bratz brand — and turn them into positive symbols of female inspiration and empowerment , rather than just “ Girls with a love for Fashion . ” The remainder resolution is a serial publication of “ Mighty Dolls”—playthings with something to be proud of .

Tsao did n’t originally specify out to plan a line of persona example with movable limbs . urge on by the work of Sonja Singh , who had earlier release a series of dame " make - unders , "   Tsao simply wanted to play with the process herself to see what she could do with the volume - produced statuette . An earlier billet on her web site feature her first circle of " renovate " dolls , call off of their heavy composition to better resemble the unseasoned girls who might want to play with them . These earlier dolls number with quotidian names like Abby , Carina , and Emma , and each has her own miniskirt - life history penned by Tsao .

Abby , for example , get in trouble for translate under the cover song when she should be sleeping , and Bella wants to study dolphins when she grow up . Even in Tsao’sfirst forayinto repaint dolls , she demonstrated a latent desire to show them not only as relatable , but admirable .

Image via Wendy Tsao

It was n’t a far leap , then , from Tsao ’s real - world dolls to her " Mighty Dolls , " mold after veridical woman made notable by their various accomplishments . A Charles William Post on Tsao ’s internet site features an international mold of well-thought-of woman , from Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar to Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai , each with her owndistinctive outfit and accessary .   The J. K. Rowling chick features a knit scarf joint in Gryffindor’ssignature colors , and Jane Goodall is shown with a cuddly primate puzzle by her foot . There are sure no complaint to be made about sacrificing style for sum here . By Tsao ’s business relationship , these are “ real - animation people who are poor boy too , withinspiring storiesof bravery , intelligence , strength , and singularity , ” well suited to raise the feeling of playtime .   Her repainted , re - costumed dolls mimic the features of these develop heroine , but Tsao strives to portray even the elder fair sex as vernal girls , to reflect the dolls ’ target area interview ( the elision being Malala , a heroine almost youthful enough to still have dolls of her own ) .

A mother herself , Tsao read she would be thrilled to have her baby play with these dolls and “ have conversation about them , ” taking into thoughtfulness not just their appearances , but their attainment as well .