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Walmart is raising eyebrows after cutting the price of a black Barbie doll to nearly half of that of the doll's white counterpart at one store and possibly others.

Aspiring night in the Mayhem nightclub in Southend. About a dozen girls, all in tiny hotpants and towering wedge heels, with dark fake tans and shiny, straightened hair, made their way over to a group of men who were standing by a large, empty bed. The men's job was to choose who should enter a Babes On The Bed competition. Of the hundreds of women selected to pose on beds in nightclubs all over Britain for this contest, one would be given a modelling contract with Nuts magazine.

One of the world's most famous children's toys, Barbie, has been given a makeover - wearing a burkha. Wearing the traditional Islamic dress, the iconic doll is going undercover for a charity auction in connection with Sotheby's for Save The Children. More than 500 Barbies went on show yesterday at the Salone dei Cinquecento, in Florence, Italy. Makers Mattel are backing the exhibition which is the work of Italian designer Eliana Lorena. The auction is part of Barbie celebrations for her 50th anniversary this year. The UK's biggest Barbie fan Angela Ellis, 35, has a collection of more than 250...

Stiletto Maker Louboutin Re-Designing Feet Of Fashion Icon Doll; New Yorkers Let Out Collective 'Are You Serious? A French shoe designer is being called on the carpet for a comment he made calling Barbie fat -- specifically her ankles. The iconic, incredible Barbie is now a bigger fashion symbol than ever. In fact, some in the fashion world seem to think she's too big. Stiletto maker Christian Louboutin is re-designing a fashion Barbie set to come out next year, and according to Women's Wear Daily, found her ankles a bit too fat for his taste, so he re-shaped the doll's...

Coming soon: a 6-inch plastic doll of Michelle Obama for $12.99, being billed as an "action figure." Sculptor Jason Feinberg of Brooklyn, N.Y., who's behind the dolls, admits the term "action figure" is used loosely. The first lady, after all, is featured in nothing more lethal than her trademark sleeveless dresses (and enviable biceps). Buyers may choose from among the purple dress she had on when the Obamas shared their campaign "fist bump," the red-and-black number from election night in Grant Park, or the black-and-white floral frock she favored for her appearance on "The View." Feinberg, founder and president of...

First Lady Michelle Obama is known for her toned arms and fashion sense. So it was inevitable that an 'action figure' doll showing off her trademark bare arms would hit the market. A US toymaker has released a 6in doll that is expected to be a big seller at Christmas - and outsell those of her husband.

St. Paul, Minn. — If U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's popularity was judged by the sales of her new action figure, she'd be in trouble. The Connecticut-based toy company HeroBuilders has sold only 50 copies of the unlicensed action figure since its release on Sept. 25. Bachmann, a Republican, represents Minnesota's 6th Congressional District and has been a high-profile critic of President Obama and the Democratic Party. "I'll tell you this, she's no Sarah Palin," said Emil Vicale, CEO of HeroBuilders. He said the company's action figure depicting Republican Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and former vice presidential candidate, sold...

Even action figure Michelle is fashion forwardMichelle Obama is now the first lady in action. The company that created the President Obama action figure announced it's releasing a miniature plastic version of the commander-in-chief's better half, according to the New York Daily News. Jailbreak Toys designed the Michelle Obama action figure to show off her toned arms -- and features the first lady in three different sleeveless dresses. The Michelle figurines retail for $12.99 apiece and are due to hit stores on Nov. 20. "Batman has nothing on Michelle Obama," Manhattan mom Eileen Ramos told the paper. "I bought the...

The toy company that created the Barack Obama action figure has done the same for his wife, Michelle - but don't even think about calling her a sidekick. Jason Feinberg of Jailbreak Toys says he thinks the First Lady doll will outdo the President's version, which has already racked up 200,000 sales.

(AP) Mattel has launched a new line of black Barbie dolls with fuller lips, a wider nose and more pronounced cheek bones - a far cry from Christie, Barbie's black friend who debuted in the 1960s and was essentially a white doll painted brown. etc.

Looking for the perfect gift for the little girl who has everything, from her own pet llama to dramatic ski and swim vacations? If the little girl happens to be Chrissa, a character in the American Girl doll series, a homeless friend may just be the perfect accessory. And if you're a real little girl, wouldn't you just love a homeless friend, too? Or, better yet, a homeless friend doll, for a mere $95? Gwen, a limited-edition doll, is part of the backstory for Chrissa (what, you didn't know dolls had backstories?), who proves her worth by standing up for...

San Antonio, TX - San Antonio Living Show - Entertainment Stories -- Homeless 'American Girl' doll part of new collection

"I just hate the image that we give to our kids that if you're beautiful, you're beautiful and you don't have to be smart," said Del. Jeff Eldridge, (D) Lincoln County. Delegate Jeff Eldridge introduced a bill to the house on Tuesday asking lawmakers to stop the sales of Barbie in the mountain state.

Here's one mom who won't be buying those new Sasha and Malia dolls produced by Westmont-based Ty, Inc.: First lady Michelle Obama. On Thursday, her office gave the toys the raspberry. "We believe it is inappropriate to use young, private citizens for marketing purposes,'' Katie McCormick Lelyveld, the first lady's press spokeswomen said in an e-mail to the Sun-Times. A spokeswoman for Ty did not return a call Thursday. On Wednesday, company spokeswoman Tania Lundeen told the paper that Ty, Inc. founder H. Ty Warner was inspired by the Obama daughters. "How can we resist?" she said. Crain's Chicago Business...

(Crain’s) — First lady Michelle Obama is not pleased about the marketing of a pair of dolls that bear the same names as her daughters. “We believe it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes,” Ms. Obama’s spokeswoman said. Ty Inc. released its “Sweet Sasha” and “Marvelous Malia” dolls this month. Both dolls have bronze skin and dark hair. The dolls are part of the Westmont-based toymaker’s TyGirlz line. The company is also the creator of Beanie Babies, which have reportedly generated more than $6 billion in sales since their debut in 1994. You May Also Like...

Dressed in yellow pajamas and a soft felt cap, the Fisher Price “Little Mommy Cuddle ‘n Coo” doll is not unlike many other toys on sale this holiday season. That is, until it talks. Centralia resident Linda Stewart was shopping for Christmas presents for her 7-year-old granddaughter when she spotted the dolls, on sale at Kmart in Chehalis for $5 apiece, she said. The baby elicits soft cooing and gibberish common in such toys, but one phrase “freaked out” Linda and her husband. The doll, which responds to movement, says “Islam is the light,” the couple claim. “It’s pretty clear,...

LOS ANGELES — The rowdy Bratz dolls have been evicted. Barbie has regained control of the dollhouse. Toy giant Mattel Inc., after a four-year legal dispute with MGA Entertainment Inc., touted its win in the case Wednesday after a federal judge banned MGA from making and selling its pouty-lipped and hugely popular Bratz dolls.

Ebay is auctioning Cabbage Patch dolls of all four candidates. I think they are hilarious! Some of the bidding is going quite high and the profits go to Toys for Tots. Many of you fellow ladies who like dolls may get a kick out of this. Sarah Palin doll: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200267359418

For sale in Target stores...

When Iranian toy seller Masoumeh Rahimi thinks of Barbie and Ken dolls, she thinks of heavy artillery — only worse. “I think every Barbie doll is more harmful than an American missile,” Ms. Rahmi told the BBC back in 2002. In April 2008, Iran’s top prosecutor and religious cleric, Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi, upped the anti-Barbie campaign by calling for a ban on the sale of all Barbie dolls from the country. “Barbie is an emissary of nudity and promotes moral corruption,” wrote the hardliner newspaper Kahyan.... (Photos at link)