Dolls and your own body image

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

I think the dolls I admire look like how I wanted to look like as a young child, but at the moment I'm quite content with how I look.

Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification)

I'm only slightly overweight, but I do have an hour glass figure I'm proud of, and would only lose weight for health reasons. (And maybe fitting into nicer clothes)

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

No, I've accepted I have a different kind of beauty compared to the dolls. I'm far from pale, and I'm not very doll like. I am very curvy and my limbs aren't delicate.

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 a lot of these dolls represent the Asian standard of beauty. Pale, delicate, youth like. And if anything they seem to represent the western concept of pale is pretty. You hardly see any dolls sold as non white unless it's a custom job.

 

Questions: Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?
A bit. Not a big deal, but having a perfect body and looks wouldn't be a bad thing.

Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification)
I think it's important to try and look your best--if only from a health point of view. Exercising, eating well and not being over-weight is all good. I'm not so good at doing what is good for me, however!

And... I like nice clothes and looking good, if at all possible. I don't put a huge effort into it, but now and then I like to dress up, wear contacts instead of glasses, and have fun. And I like to look OK if I'm out and about. At home I'm a total slob, so change is nice.

I live vicariously through my dolls most of the time. They look so much better in all the clothes and wigs--and they are more comfortable than I would be wearing all that stuff!!!

Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
Not at all. I enjoy them a lot because of that. It's fun. But I'm not envious of others in that way. You are what you are. I'm realistic about things and not all that concerned. Being resentful of how dolls or others look is very negative and doesn't do anything for anyone.

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?
No. The dolls are not real! I don't think there's any pressure to conform to how a DOLL looks. I do think people have unrealistic views of beauty, though! I think society is a bit messed up that way. It annoys me when my sister will say a certain actress looks ugly when that actress probably looks better than 99% of people just to get where she is... What does that say about her views on "normal" people? I'm sure she doesn't hold them up to the same standards, but then, what does THAT say? Nothing good, I think... Oh, well...

ANYWAY--if the dolls can inspire someone to losing weight and feeling a bit better about themselves, that's all good, I think! Although it's even better when people don't look outside themselves that much and just try and be healthy and do what is best for them.

 

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

Erm.. No. Because we have the same eyes, hair... I like mine. Even a doll wig want to find! We dressed alike even ahaha!

Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification)

Do tennis. Make-up is the same as that of my dolls. Count?

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

No.

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?

The concept of "beauty" is very broad. So many people, so many opinions. I love my look and I know that there are dolls that look like me very much. So I'm not worried about it.

 

Have you ever felt that you wanted to look just like your dolls?
No. I have never felt the need or desire to look like my dolls. Sometimes I think it would be fun to have long, flowing blue hair but that's not a serious desire. I am very happy with who I am and how I look. I don't want to look like anyone else but myself.

Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification).
No. I am currently losing weight, but it's not because of my dolls. Also, I dyed my hair blue once, when I was in law school, but I didn't have the blue-haired doll then.

Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
No.

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 a lot of pressure on younger people to "look" a certain way and to conform to certain styles, but I don't think this is necessarily influenced by dolls. I think the media and advertising have more to do with spreading ideas and messages about "ideal" body image. Advertising influences people to want to look a certain way, or to think they should look a certain way in order to be seen as beautiful, successful, smart etc.

 

In my case I think it's quite the contrary, I don't resemble my dolls, they resemble me and my tastes of clothes and esthetics. How they look like and how they dress resemble what I wear or would wear. Even the detailed fancy doll clothes, been there done that, I have those, I wear those. Their makeup is always something I would wear myself.

I don't do that on purpose, it simple comes naturally to me.

 

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

I am envious of their fashions, body, etc. But no more so than any other person with a great body and clothes.

Have you done anything about it?
I have tried and tried to diet and lose weight. I used to be very skinny and fit, but nine years ago I developed an anxiety disorder, and my whole life turned upside down. I became addicted to MMORPG's and essentially based my entire first marriage on them because that's all we did together. I gained 120lbs =/ I can lose 15 or so, but then it just stops coming off because I just lack the willpower or energy.

Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
No more so than any real person with a great body. I wish I had it still.

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 don't think it's the dolls. I think it's society. Not only telling women that they should be thin and pretty to be successful at life, but telling men that that's what they desire. It has taught me to hate myself, and not offered me the tools to learn to love myself. I generally like my personality most of the time, but i have such poor self image it's not even funny. Couple that with several mental health disorders and it's just a downward spiral =/

 

No, I think my dolls represent some fantasy ideal, but I know I could not ever look that way, nor would I try to. Maybe some minor modifications, like hair or whatnot, but anything surgical, no way.

 

Tetradeka, thanks for sharing your story and starting this topic! Using a doll as motivation/inspiration for physical change is an intriguing idea.

I don't know that I want to look like my dolls. Aside from (waaaaay too much) weight gain after quitting smoking, I'm pretty happy in my middle-aged body. I did body mod and punk rock makeup and perpetual floating hair color and outre fashion in my twenties and early thirties, so I don't feel like I'm missing out in those respects.

I don't resent my dolls for their beauty or their youth; but sometimes, after I've been playing with them, I catch sight of myself in the mirror and am shocked by the contrast (this happens, too, when I'm watching Bollywood movies ... "You mean I don't look like Aishwarya Rai????!!!!????").

 

Hmm. I was looking through some pics of Supia bodies and found an SD girl nude pic. My ex boyfriend, still friend, said "wow. That is beautiful. She looks just like you, but with bigger boobs!"
So, I have no hang ups about my body. I don't really see myself wanting to look like a BJD.
But.
When I was six, my mother had me get eye surgery to make my eyes look closer to "normal people's" eyes. Mine are very off centre due to very low vision and she didn't want me to get bullied. When I was 15, I myself asked for the procedure to be done again to make it look even less abnormal.
I think I grew up loving the cd covers of artists like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and the pictures of barbie. I love how fake and airbrushed and perfect and un-human they looked and I guess I'm even now, still chasing that image, though with anime.
The thing I love about BJDs is that they embody, not what I wish I looked like, but more what I love looking at and wish to see more of.

Another thing I'd like to say is that I've always felt more like a male than a female on the inside. There. I said it. Ok, nothing to see here. I became a lot more comfortable with it in high school, but then decided I also wanted to change some things. Like my dress sense. I was then hanging out with a lot of guys who just accepted me as one of their own. But a few of my teachers got together and sort of had this talk with me. It was all serious and they thought I was a really graceful, pretty young woman and they felt that I had lost a lot of my grace and kind of, charm, I guess, in becoming more boyish. I ended up just putting the dress back on and wearing the nice clothes. But I really want to get a boy BJD because I could almost sort of have it both ways and be the pretty girl and also the pretty boy, if that makes sense? Like a form of expression.
But I'd never feel resentful towards my dolls. I made them the way they were and that wouldn't be fair, I think.

 

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?
Yes, like my Limhwa girl. She is so pretty and everything looks good on her. But then I realize she is a doll and I'm human and no human can look like a doll without creeping other people out. At least I get creeped out by those living doll people. My dolls aren't perfect either though. Some have have outstanding ears or noses that are too small. I like it that way. They still look way better than I do, but that is the whole point right? Costumizing gorgeous dollies.

Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification)
No. Before I got into dolls I did have desires like odd colored hair and eloberate outfits. It costs a lot of money and it is highly unpractical. Unlike dolls, my hair does grow out and I do need to use the restroom and things like that. One doll has snake bite piercings in my place, because I don't want to risk my teeth. It balances out pretty well.
Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
No, though, I do find myself longing for the period in my life when I was slimmer from time to time. I could dress like my dolls and not in boring mainstream clothes. I am losing weight for health issues, but after that I'm okay with being fat. I am done with self shaming.

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?
No, not BJDs. Barbies maybe, but mostly culture, media and advertising. Those factors may contribute to a person's perception of beauty. In effect, dolls are created to be beautiful and thus we see a lot of hourglass shaped, slim, perky boobed girl dolls and muscular men in the bigger size range. However, there also limitations to sculpting, which is why there isn't a truly fat doll yet. Asymmetry, scars and thin bodies are also there. because people want it there. If we, as a society, are more open to a broader view of beauty, the dollmakers will follow the demand.

 

Generally, no. I take more of an interest in fashion and hair styles because of them, but at the same time, I know dolls are very stylized and there is no physical way to look like most of them.

 

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?
Not really. Although I would like to be tall & willowly i've felt like that since I was about 8 and had no idea about BJDS. I do admire many dolls figures but it's the more unusual ones e.g. Doll Chateau or fantasy sculpts that i most admire, and i could never look like those since i'm human. I do often wish i could have my hair the way some dolls do or wear some out their outfits, but i've always loved those styles and they can cost loads for people and not be suitable for work.
Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification)
I've been attempting to diet on and off most years since i was 9/10, unfortunatly I have a sweet tooth and love baking, and have felt seriously uncomfortable and selfconcious exercising. I love walking and swimming though so try to do as much of that as I can when can. I'm not properly overweight or anything, just not as fit & healthy as i could (and would like to) be.
Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
Nah, not seriously
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?
Not with BJDs really but there is pressure from a lot of different sources in our society. However, i think the current push to be more active and think about what we are eating so we can be more healthy is a good thing.

 

Have you ever felt that you wanted to look just like your dolls?
Yes, in fact I can help but admit that my first dollie, Kerli, is everything I can't be. Long orange hair with some freckles, light blue eyes and a great body who can wear anything I want and looks beautiful.


Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification)
I haven't done anything yet, I mean, like a year ago I started to go to the gym daily and certainly lost some weight but I had to quit due to an incompatibility with my university's timetable, and I love sweets, I can't resist to chocolate. In matter of clothes or cosmetics I haven't started because I'm not economically independent and my mum has a lot to say. In matter of surgeries I would never do such kind of things, I love myself too much xD


Do you feel resentful of your dolls that you may never look the way that they do?
No, definitely no. I love her because in her I can express what I want to be, and maybe one day I will achieve it. Till that day I would express my ideal of beauty in my dolls, and I would be grateful to them for existing and being able to do it.


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 pressure in lot of things, not only BJDs and other dolls, but clothes made only for really slim girls and etc. In the case of dolls I think that some dolls represent stereotypes that are impossible for a girl to achieve (ex. Disney princesses) but what we have to learn is the strength to love ourselves the way we are, and if we want to improve our body there are nutritionists and personal trainers who can help us to achieve this goal safely.

 

This is quite an interesting thread about body issues. Kudos to those of you who were inspired by your dolls to improve yourselves!
I agree with some of the posters that priorities change as you get older. When I was 20-30 years younger, I did want to look more like a 'doll' or an ideal figure, but it was never going to happen. Interestingly, now that I'm over 60, I've lost weight and look quite good for my age.
At the moment, my only doll is male and of course I don't want to look like him, but I enjoy looking at him--he's really an ideal male specimen! I have a female doll on order and again, she's an ideal specimen that I will very much enjoy making costumes for.

 

Maybe I'm odd, but I'm actually quite happy with my body image. I have zero desire to look like my dolls, and I'm not inspired by their looks at all. I mean... they're dolls. Somewhat realistic dolls, but dolls nonetheless. People aren't supposed to look like that. People are supposed to look like people. That means having flaws, idiosyncrasies, lumpy bits, lint on their clothes... if everyone were trying to look like dolls, we'd have a real problem on our hands.

As far as the makeup and fashion sides of things, all but two of my dolls came with faceups, so I didn't make them look a certain way. I'm pretty into makeup myself and there are a lot of things I like doing with it, but they have nothing to do with dolls. Again, I guess I'm just a realist? With fashion, I do trend a bit toward how a couple of my boys dress, but for financial reasons have never been able to dress like that. I'm not jealous of the boys. They're dolls.

 

Not really inspired, actually I'm thinking that my wanted doll grant my wish in a mini size. She has a beautiful figure like model, with long legs and slim body, and she can wear any clothes without looking awkward.
I just looking ordinary and like you, jeans & ponytail is what describe me the best. But I don't think I like my body to be same as my wish doll, cause I already feel enough with myself

I do wish to be as tall as SD girl (Around 170cm in human size) but it's hard when you're already stop growing lol

 

Have you ever felt that You wanted to look just like your dolls?
No, not really. They look like dolls, and I look like a human, so I'd prefer to keep it that way

Have you done anything about it? (Whether that is weight loss or gain, cosmetic surgery, clothes, hair, or other body modification)

Not because of my dolls, but I do my hair (style/dye it), try to wear nice clothes, do my make-up, etc.

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

No, not at all!

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 more pressure for women to look like super models than dolls such as BJDs, but in general I do think there is too much pressure for women to be perfect. I do believe that it does in turn affect the way society views beauty.

 

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

One of my dolls is a character that is a very important longtime oc of mine with a large part of myself in him. We have the same hair color and style and dress alike. If it was possible and I could afford it yeah I would change some things to look more alike.

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

No never because I want them to look as they do. I can create the perfect look I want with them.


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?

Sure there is pressure from friends through to the media who try to tell us how to look but I don't subscribe to that. I have always been rather individual with how I dress (pretty much all black since long before emo's or goths were around), my hair style and color (I've been platinum blonde, hot pink, purple + many other colors) and I like to make my own choices with what I think looks good or suits me, not what someone else says.
Do what you feel is right for you and if that is looking like one of your bjds then that's ok. So long as you do it for what you want and not just to please others is what's important. Just remember though each individual has their own idea of what is beautiful and it's not just the way you look

 

I don't feel that humans can be compared to dolls. They are just in a different ballpark. And they have different proportions. There is a place for reality, and fantasy..

 

This is an interesting aspect I have never really thought about.
It made me think, and even if I realized it some time ago, it is such a startlig conlusion for me. I never thought I would be a "fashion victime", Someone concerened about looks and aesthetics. Incorrect, I love to show of, in my very own style.
Do I want to look like my dolls?
No, they are male, I'm female. I do not want to change that. All other aspects included.
But do I draw inspiration from them?
Yes. When I started doing fantasy face ups, I just rediscovered (because I already did it years before but just forgot about it in time) the beauty of face paint. Makeup can be soooooo much more. (just one example)
As I style my dolls, my creativity flows into them. They reflect me in a way. When I see them, this creativity flows right back into my own styling.
Don't know if it makes sense to you, but it does to me....