Dolls and your own body image

This is a bit personal... But what the hell, I'll go ahead and say it. I was / am anorexic. I'm now a healthy weight but still see myself as fat, and am sort of relapsing etc. One of the reasons I was attracted to BJD's initially was how some of them are rail thin and 'perfect'. Then I discovered DD's, and DD Dynamite. Long story short, DD and DDdy kind of made me realise I don't have to be severely underweight again to feel pretty. In a way, I feel like DD / DDdy is becoming my idea of beautiful, not a tall, underweight model... Which can only be a good thing with an eating disorder! Part of the reason why I want a DD (maybe a DDdy, if I could only reduce their bust size!) is to remind myself that I don't have to be ill to feel pretty... That's the theory anyway.

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?

I don't own any yet... But yes in the case of DD / DDy! They may be plastic and not flesh but they are a more healthy ideal than underweight. And if so many other people see them as beautiful, I think I should too! ^_^; I have always loved anime aesthetics, but their bodies aren't that far off a healthy female.


Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?

I'm slowly trying to shift my ideals of beauty towards the DD kind, rather than the waif thin kind... So no, to DD's and DDy's! ^_^;


Do you feel that there is too much pressure to conform to how these dolls look and in effect, the way that our society sees beauty?

Yes... But maybe not dolls in particular, more to do with photoshopping and very tall / underweight models.

 

What an interesting topic- love reading all the entries (haven't read them all, but will have to subscribe).

Have you ever felt that you wanted to look just like your dolls?
-I would love to look like any of the SD Supia girls (new body not old- wayy too skinny). Many of the one I've seen on DOA have such gorgeous faceups (I can never do my makeup like that!) And can wear such beautiful clothes effortlessly! I know I can wear that stuff too, but I can't "wear" that stuff, if you know what I mean. Its how you wear clothes that makes Supias so appealing to me. I'm slim and I don't think I have such a bad face, but I can't make an outfit "work" on me. Most of the time I'm in jeans and sweatshirt Ha!
Have you done anything about it?
-I've bought some really cute skirts and tops, but I haven't worn them yet. They're still hanging in my closet with there tags. I look good in them, but I guess I just don't have the "finesse" to rock in them. I guess I need to wear them when there is a special occasion...

Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
-Not really, other than they can have perfect makeup all day long, without their mascara running or their face going shiny late in the day. And that they are very photogenic! I would love to churn out great photos!

Do you feel that there is too much pressure to conform to how these dolls look and in effect, the way that our society sees beauty?
-I guess it depends on who you are? I see beauty in everything; I love looking at my doll(s) the same way I love looking at Vogue, Marie Claire's, and other fashion magazines. But when I'm out there with society I see pass any physical "flaws" and seek character. People who are very personable and easy to talk to (and who are also knowledgable) are the kind of people I'd like to emulate. To me they are amazing and I want to hang around them and learn from them. If someone is drop-dead gorgeous but is painful to talk to (like if they're rude or hateful) that is all I see in them and I just want to avoid them. I guess what I"m trying to say is: I love looking at beautiful things but I don't feel the need to be like them if it means sacrificing your character. Some people have both and I envy them

 

I like this topic! ^^

Like most girls, there are definitely some times where I wish certain parts of me look better, but I actually never wish to look like my dolls. I might think like I wish I have a dress that look good on me as this one on her! But that's pretty much it.

I think of my dolls as a beautiful piece of art, which I can make my own, so I can't really resent them. They're too cute!

I can't say that society have absolutely no influence on my taste/preference in what beauty is because that's a difficult lie ^^;; but I can say that I didn't like dolls because they look like that model on those magazines.

 

No, not really. However, I do sometimes wish I could go back to when I was seven years-old and maybe that correlates to why I'm attracted to dolls on the younger spectrum. o_0

My body is not perfect but I'm satisfied with it. I'll never be a size 0, but I am healthy and at the best of what I can be right now.

 

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?
I have never felt that way because my dolls are different from me
Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification)
I want piercing so most of my dolls have piercings
Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
Not at all my dolls are different in their own way and I'm different in mine

 

Who doesn't want to look like a doll? Especially these works of art. Although what we have to keep in mind, is that we are beautiful the way we already are. Im very happy for you because being thinner is not just a question of beauty but of health, and that's very commendable. You can decide who you want to be or look like, not society. they can all go to hell for all i care, if they have the nerve to judge me for what I look like. I look at these dolls like a blue print of everything I'd like to look like but only as an idea. If they inspire you, that's fantastic. My body is not perfect, but Im ok with it. we cannot look at a dolls and feel envious because even if they perfect, there's nothing inside their head. they don't know how beautiful they are.
Inanimate objects only have the power we assign to them. We have the power to see ourselves the way we want to. If a doll helps you get to where you are, fantastic. But we have to remember that so can an idea. And a doll is nothing more than an idea materialized. Im glad you feel better about yourself. that's the best feeling in the world.

I like the way you think.

 

Wow, interesting topic!

I have to admit being resentful to the way my dolls seem to have not an ounce of "bad" fat on them (just fat deposits where it counts...*wink, wink; nudge, nudge*) I am in the process of changing my weight and outlooks on life health wise and I do think that the addition of a healthy looking girl in my house has helped that quite a bit. I always sit my nicest shaped doll in the room with me when I am exercising or have her as a background when I am at the gym as a reminder of an IDEA of a good shape. I haven't gone so far as to say, "I wish I looked like this doll because I'm just gross and she's so beautiful!" No, its more like, "If they can, I can too!"

 

I wanted to look like Barbie when I was younger. It has nothing to do with losing weight or being tall. I lack in both. I'm a size 10-12, not fat, not thin and i'm average weight for the population of Portugal.
What I mean by being like Barbie, is that all that style, and glamour that was shown to me as a girl, made me want to take care of myself, my hair, my skin, my clothes, in a way I didn't before. I dont think it's bad. Dolls are not models to me, but can be an inspiration.

 

I do actually have a self body image problem, I think most women do actually. I don't think my BJD's have contributed to them (mostly because I have boys) but I do find I like the female dolls with a more curvier set to them.

 

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls? Most of my dolls are what I would consider fanart: Lumpi is from The Little Vampire (the 1985 tv show by Norflicks), Shuten is from Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, Emily is based on an old and recently-removed effect from The Haunted Mansion WDW, and Claire is from Galaxy Express 999. I typically choose characters that I find attractive or adore for other reasons to make dolls off. It can be said that I want to look like my doll Mini, but only because she was designed to look like me, so basically it would be saying that I want to look like myself. The only potential downside I would find to resembling Mini is that she's a zillion times thinner than I ever want to be.
Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do? Not at all, why should I hate them for being exactly what I wanted them to be?
Do you feel that there is too much pressure to conform to how these dolls look and in effect, the way that our society sees beauty? There definitely is and always has been pressure in this society to conform to a specific image, but I don't think dolls are what's setting the standard.


I've noticed that in several posts in this thread that many people have said things to the effect of "I'm old enough to be comfortable with my image." While it's great that you're comfortable with your body and how you look, I doubt that age has anything to do with it. I say this because as a pasty-faced 24y.o. with a small bust who weighs about 260lbs and stands only 5'4", I'm very comfortable with my body and appearance. Sure, I have to dress differently from other people to look my best and it's hard to find make-up pale enough to match my skin. I digress. I just want to say it doesn't matter how old you are when it comes to being comfortable with yourself.

 

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?

As a fashion designer, I would love to have have some of the bjd clothing. Maybe I haven't looked hard enough, but I haven't found much Stateside that resembles the stuff I'm seeing. Nor would it be practical to wear some of the opulent costumes for every. Still I am inspired.

As for basic aesthetics, I would not necessarily want to look like a doll. I enjoy being a part of humanity's diversity.

Have you done anything about it?

I have lost weight in the last couple of years, but the dolls are not the reason. Improved health and modeling better habits for my kid are my reasons. I admit to some vanity. I discovered one day that I couldn't get into the costumes I had worn for the last decade.

Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?

Nope, I don't look half bad for my age, better than most, if my hubbie's reaction is any indication.

Do you feel that there is too much pressure to conform to how these dolls look and in effect, the way that our society sees beauty?

I think there is too much pressure to conform to an impossible standard of beauty, but the dolls are a reflection, not a contributing cause. If anything I'm glad for the growing diversity in doll body shapes.

 

Well I have mostly boys here but I know that one of them has piercings and tattoos not only because that's his character but because I would like to get some piercings or tattoos myself. But I'm allergic to ink and metal, so I can't have the look I desire T__T

In a way, I made some of my dolls the way I'd like to be. For example, I'm waiting my first MSD girl and I chose her only because her mold kind of looks like ME! haha and I thought I could have a mini me! but then "nah! that's boring!" so I'm going to make her different.

I chose for her the glamor bust size because...I'm flat-chested and I hate being that way so I'm not giving my girl tiny boobs! seriously, I envy those girls who are skinny and have natural big boobs! I'm super skinny because I'm a vegan (due to health reasons >_<) and I can't eat fast food, sweets and all that wonderful, yummy stuff so I'm kind of portraying what I would like to have but I can't! on my dolls.

As for clothes, I'm a tomboy, I don't like girly clothes and I still don't know if my MSD girl is gonna be girly or not but I do enjoy dressing up my boys!!! I think this is why I love boy dolls so much because I LOOOOVE the fashion style for boys/men.

Ps. I also can't wear make up >_> but my girl is going to have a very cutesy make up!

 

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?
No, but I do dress them in things I would love to wear if I were brave enough to. It's probably why all of my dolls have non-natural hair colours too.

Have you done anything about it?
No, I haven't tried dyeing my hair. Most dyed hair I see on people in unnatural colours doesn't tend to look good (although wigs for people I've seen in odd colours do look good...). I should buy myself a wig.

Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
No. They look much better in those clothes and wigs than I ever would.

 

Tetradeka, first congratulations on your weight loss. I'm glad that you found a way to motivate yourself to lose weight, which is, as I know too well, very hard.
I have always been heavy. I was a large baby (9 pounds at birth), a large toddler, a slightly overweight young child, and I have struggled with obesity periodically since I was a young adult. Several years ago, I went on a medication for chronic migraine and lost 50 pounds and was delighted. Although I thought I would never regain the weight, after caring for my dying mother and losing her, the weight started to creep back on.
I have never wanted to look like any doll I ever owned, but I have wanted dolls that looked like me. When I grew up in the 50s, dolls were blonde and blue eyed, and I wasn't. Very much, I wanted a doll that looked like me - brown hair and eyes - because all my cousins and many of my friends were blonde, blue eyed children. I have a picture of a Sunday School class where I was the only non blonde. My mom splurged one year and bought me a brown-haired, brown eyed Terri Lee doll, and I adored her. With my BJDs, I find I still like brown hair and eyes although they are not all like that. So I guess I'm not making myself to look like them, I'm making them to look like me.

 

well, if one has in mind all the doll body types out there it will be a bit crazy, specially when dolls have unreal proportions like bigger heads little limbs and big hips, i specially like dolls with quite artistic body shapes like the one mentioned before, specially when they are all different between them (i do appreciate regular ones to tho.) so Nah, i don´t, at least not in those aspects, but it do always gets me to think and take some care of personal appearance, to be clean tidy and so.

indeed!

 

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?
I wish I could, they're so beautiful. But ultimately I know I can't without surgery. But I've always had self esteem issues.

Have you done anything about it?
Nope, I know it's out of reach because I'd need a nose job etc and I just won't do that. Plus I just stopped dying my hair so I'm not keen on damaging it again.

Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
No, I love them (or I will). We can't all look the way we want no matter how hard some people try. Their personalities are what is important (as characters) and their appearance is usually a reflection of that.

Do you feel that there is too much pressure to conform to how these dolls look and in effect, the way that our society sees beauty?
I'll try to avoid being too controversial or offensive here since this can be a delicate subject. I don't actually think society does put pressure on being slender etc look at some of the current famous people, Adele, the lead singer of Gossip etc they're not like Barbies. I'm petite (but within the healthy weight range) and I really struggle to find clothes since in my town there are 3 plus sized stores and only one store that stocks clothes small enough and fitting enough to work for me without alterations. People go on and on about the pressure to be thin when I don't really think that's the case, companies like McDonalds etc make sure of that anyway. -I hope this won't offend anyone-

 

People have different reasons when collecting .. just about anything. With the dolls, some reflect the inner sub consciousness of the owner and really , some just no reason at all . I collect blythes before i got into BJDs, and somewhere along the way , i adopted a doll who looked just like me. And shes a custom doll. It is just amusing .. but she does get all the nice accessories i buy for my dolls. Call it favoritism LOL

 

Well... >_> I suppose I could say yes to this question, in the sense that I choose female dolls with small boobs because that is the look that I prefer. (Yes, mine are big.)

 

Oddly, I choose dolls who I think reflect my own body shape, just on a smaller scale.
Let me explain. I've always been curvy. Since I hit puberty, my hips got quite wide, and I am very full in the bust. Even when I was at my smallest (and a little anorexic), I wasn't any smaller than a NZ/AUS/UK size 12. Now, I'm a size 18 NZ/AUS/UK, and I am still happy in myself at this size. On the same scale, all my dolls are what I'd term curvy (except the tinies). My DoD DoT girl is on the new body, with a full bust and wide hips, and my MNF girl is a large bust and cutie legs. While they aren't as comparitively 'pudgy' as I am, I couldn't ever have a very thin or straight up and down dolls. I just don't like the look of them. I've often been told that I wear clothes that by rights aren't for me - and I always ask why! I love the way I look, I know I could do with a little toning, but since I'm happy this way, I don't see why I should change, and its the same for my dolls. Except one planned MNF, who I want to have model legs, and a small bust, simply because it would fit her character better. But in general, I wear what my dolls wear, and they wear what I wear XD