Image: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images/Twitter/Nigydolls
#BlackDollsMatter: Uproar over Asian-look Zozibini Tunzi doll
African beauty made in China? South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi inspired a Sri Lankan artist to create a new look-alike doll, but fans are not convinced.
Image: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images/Twitter/Nigydolls
Sri Lankan celebrity doll artist Nigydolls has created a Zozibini Tunzi doll – but tweeps in Mzansi are not convinced that the doll looks like the longest-reigning Miss Universe.
Fans of Tunzi had been asking for Zozi dolls for years after she won the Miss South Africa 2019 title, and then again after she was crowned as Miss Universe 2019
Zozibini Tunzi-inspired doll
The doll features the striking Xhosa heritage dress Zozi wore in her final moments as the reigning Miss Universe at the pageant’s finale on Sunday 16 May 2021.
The ‘Wakanda Queen Loading’ dress designed by local designer Birgit Gibbs (or Biji as she’s known professionally) made headlines when Zozi walked the runway. But now, Mzansi social media users are not convinced that the doll looks like her and took to the comments section to share their thoughts.
ALSO READ: Beaded glory: How much did Zozibini Tunzi’s Xhosa heritage gown cost?
Nigydolls, which usually creates dolls inspired by Sri Lankan celebrities and beauty queens, posted the Zozi doll on social media.
“But the eyes…say the doll was made in China,” one Tweep replied. “Doesn’t look like her… no no no,” said another.
“The face is rather giving Jennifer Hudson playing mama Winnie Mandela,” another replied.
A picture perfect duplicate?
Others went on to defend the doll, claiming it’s always difficult to capture a person’s likeness.
“Can anyone provide any previous proof of dolls looking exactly like who they are intended to look like? Growing up with action figures, I’ve never seen a doll that looks like the person. What exactly are people expecting here? Picture perfect DNA duplicate of Zozi?”
Another Zozi doll
According to ZAlebs, just a week after she was crowned Miss Universe in 2019, children’s author Fatima Abdullah also created a doll line inspired by Zozi.
She had told Daily Sun at the time that the doll was named Akiki, which meant “ruby” in Swahili. “Akiki was inspired by wanting to consciously empower my daughter to grow up and embrace her African self. I’d been toying with the idea of a doll since my daughter was two,” she said.
“She is her natural self and she is an intelligent girl. I chose the name Akiki because the stone is associated with nobility and confidence,” she added.
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