On Tuesday 1 August Bratz doll manufacturing company MGA Entertainment announced their new collaboration with reality TV star Kylie Jenner.This collaboration is the first of its kind to include a celebrity Bratz doll collection and will include six different versions of the doll that’s meant to look like Kylie. The mini figurines features looks that Kylie has worn through the years, some of which include her 2019 and 2022 MET Gala looks.
In a press release sent to Today news, Bratz creative director Jasmin Larian shared that their reasoning for choosing the billionaire businesswoman was because Kylie is the embodiment of the Bratz brand.
“Kylie truly embodies everything Bratz has stood for since its inception 22 years ago — from being disruptive and rebellious to energetic and expressive. Not only will this collaboration expand to Kylie’s millions of fans, but it will also reach the audiences that grew up with Bratz and are excited to relive the Y2K Bratz lifestyle today. We couldn’t be prouder to welcome Kylie into the Bratz family”, Jasmin said.Despite this being a monumental move for the Bratz company man have taken to social media to express their criticism and disappointment for this new collaboration.
The doll in question all depicts different Kylie Jenner looks, but what makes them even more noticeable is their brown skin complexion. And as we all know, Kylie is a white woman with very fair complexion.This makes the collaboration extremely problematic and insensitive especially when Kylie Jenner and her sisters have repeatedly been accused of cultural appropriation, specifically appropriating Black beauty standards.
One user tweeted: Giving Kylie (a white woman who modelled her face/body around Black women) her own Bratz doll (which is an arguably more Urban/Black presenting doll) before an ACTUAL Black woman is… weird”.
Another user on Instagram commented that this was the worst collab ever.
“The worst collab ever. There’s so many other girls you guys could’ve picked, who actually love Bratz and HAVE fashion sense”.