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Olivia Thompson, 32, never had a doll like her as a child. Her two-year-old toy line was inspired by that encounter. She crowdfunded Akila Dolls, which celebrates many cultures and disabilities with dolls of varied skin tones, hair textures, and outfits.
Olivia from Yeadon will appear in the Amazon Prime series “Ready Set StartUp” after all her hard work. Each episode will feature hurdles as she starts a new business. Judges include Monzo founder Tom Blomfield.
Olivia, an Afro-Caribbean, said: “Akila Dolls is a start-up with prototype dolls that celebrate African and Caribbean culture. Our dolls empower youngsters of color by expressing their beauty and culture.”
A Leeds entrepreneur’s diverse dolls will appear in a new TV program.
Crowdfunding funded her startup. Each doll has a storybook to teach kids about it.
Olivia added: “Growing up I never had a doll that looked like me or reflected my culture. I wanted to establish a brand that celebrates our beauty and teaches young girls to love themselves.”
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The entrepreneur quit school at 16 after completing a National Diploma in Uniformed Public Services at York College. She left university after a year. Olivia raised £6,000 for her prototype dolls through the Prince’s Trust and NatWest startup programs. She is a single mother of a one-year-old and a 10-year-old autistic daughter.
Olivia said: “Akila Dolls are inspired by my daughter’s obsession and love for dolls. She had autism at six. She has social anxiety and other issues. As a mother, I supported her role-play-based schooling. She enjoys playing with dolls.
As a parent, I see that diversity dolls are still underrepresented in the UK toy business. It’s crucial that my daughter and all children can find dolls that look like them and reflect their cultures and values on store shelves.
New toys and books are the only way. More diverse toys will affect children’s self-perception and others’.
“We as women can be much more, we juggle childcare, we are mothers and caregivers, and also business women,” she said.