Tonner Doll Company unveiled the first “transgender” doll at the New York Toy Fair over the weekend.
The doll is modeled after Jazz Jennings, who rose to fame at the age of six for reportedly being one of the youngest recorded transgender people. At sixteen, Jennings is now the star of her own TLC reality television show, “I Am Jazz.” On the show, Jennings struggles to understand why boys don’t want to date "her.”
In a press release on the doll, Tonner applauds itself for being “ground-breaking”:
With the Jazz Jennings doll, Tonner continues its history of ground-breaking doll line introductions based on socially transformational heroes, who have included the plus-size model Emme and Carmen Dell 'Orefice, whose first Vogue cover was in 1946 and who remains a working fashion model.
According to Robert Tonner, the CEO of Tonner Doll, “Jazz stands for everything I respect from a human nature point of view-she's incredibly brave, intelligent, warm-hearted and creative.”
In an Instagram post discussing the doll, Jennings spoke about how the doll is anatomically correct--for a “regular girl”--despite Jennings being trans:
For those asking: the doll is considered to be the first "transgender" doll because it's based on an individual who is trans. Of course it is still just a regular girl doll because that's exactly what I am: a regular girl!
Jennings said she hopes the doll “can place transgender people in a positive light by showing that we are just like all other people.”
The doll will reportedly be available online and in specialty stores in July.
Rolling Stone reports the doll will be $89.99 and a “red-carpet-ready” version will sell for over $100.
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