Ty Girlz

Last updated
Ty Girlz
TypeGirl dolls
Inventor(s) Ty Warner
Company Ty Inc.
Availability2007–2013

Ty Girlz were girl dolls manufactured by Ty Inc. [1] Similar to the Ty Beanie Babies, the Ty Girlz are on a limited release pattern with dolls being introduced and older ones retired at various times. [2] Ty Girlz are plush toys that are connected to an online virtual world [3] at TyGirlz.com. Introduced to the global market on April 13, 2007, Ty Girlz was one of only a few virtual worlds geared to girls. The line was discontinued in 2013 and the virtual world shut down on June 7 of that same year.

Contents

Advertising

When the Ty Girlz were debuted at toy fairs, Ty had posters and cut-outs of the Girlz to promote them. Ty even had a billboard in Atlanta, Georgia, showing Sizzlin' Sue saying "Who's that Girl?". That phrase soon became a popular tag for the line.[ citation needed ] In September 2007, the Ty Girlz got a MySpace and YouTube page.

In the Spring 2008 Ty retailer catalog, retailers were able to purchase clothing made exclusively for Ty Girlz.

Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia controversy

In January 2009, Ty released two new Ty Girlz, one named Sweet Sasha and the other named Marvelous Malia. [4] Media reports linked the names to Sasha and Malia Obama, daughters of President Barack Obama. On January 21, a Ty spokesperson told the Chicago Sun-Times that the Obama daughters were indeed the inspiration for the dolls. [5] In response to Ty, Michelle Obama's press secretary said that Ty did not ask permission to use the Obama daughters' first names, [6] saying "It is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes." [7] On January 22, when asked whether the new Ty Girlz were inspired by Sasha and Malia Obama, Ty's Senior Vice President of Sales said that the dolls were not made to physically resemble either of the Obama daughters and that the names chosen "worked very well with the dolls". [7] Ty said that the process of naming dolls is proprietary information and would not say how the names were given to the dolls. [7] In February 2009, Ty decided to retire the original dolls [8] and give them new names, Marvelous Mariah and Sweet Sydney. [9] The CEO of Ty said the name change was due to Michelle Obama's disapproval of the original names. [9] Ty stated that, while the original names were inspired by "this historic time in our nation's history", they were not named after the Obama daughters. [9] Ty promised to donate the profits from sales of the original dolls to a charity, the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation for youth education. [10] [11] [12]

Following the recall, dolls that had already been shipped to the marketplace sold on eBay for $3,000. [13]

List of dolls

NameHair Color:Eye Color:Special ClothingRelease DateRetired?
Lovely LolaBlondeLight BluePink fur coat, crop top with heart, white pleated skirt, pink leggings and sandals, gold hoop earringsApril 2007Yes
Sassy StarBlueGreenWhite trimmed blue fur coat and crop top with star, blue jeans, blue boots, pink or blue lipstick, silver hoop earrings (she along with Ruby are the only two Ty Girlz without a wire "skeleton" and a comb)April 2007Yes
Dazzlin' DestinyRedGreenBrown suede jacket, crop top, and cowboy boots, jeans, gold bracelet, ruby necklace (she is the first Ty Girl without earrings) (she is named after a Disney Channel star)April 2007Yes
Rockin' RubyBlack (occasionally dirty blonde)Light BrownBlack latex jacket and pants with a pink cat on the pants leg, black crop top, and sandals, pearl earrings (she along with Star are the only two Ty Girlz without a wire "skeleton" and a comb)April 2007Yes
Sizzlin' SuePink (occasionally rainbow)Light BrownPink suede jacket, tank top, boots, and pink leopard skirt, pearl earrings, silver necklaceApril 2007Yes
Punky PennyPurpleLight BluePurple jacket, tank top, and skirt, pink snakeskin boots, amethyst hoop earrings, gold braceletApril 2007Yes
Cute CandyRainbowLight BlueDenim jacket, gray striped tank top, and pink plaid skirt, blue and pink sandals, silver hoop earrings, and braceletJuly 2007Yes
Pretty PattiPink with pink streaksLight BluePink jacket, tank top and pink skirt, pink and white sandals, pink earrings, and braceletJuly 2007Yes
Jammin' JennaBrown with blonde streaksDark BrownRed and white striped shirt and jeans, red sandals, gold hoop earrings, and bracelet (she is the first Ty Girl without a jacket, and one of the only ones not to wear a belt holding up her pants)July 2007Yes
Classy CarlaGolden blondeGreenSparkle fur coat, black lace top and gold holographic pants, sandals, earrings, and braceletJuly 2007Yes
Bubbly BritneyBlondeDark BrownPink tank top and bolero and denim jeans, pink sneakers, and earrings based on Britney Spears. (she is the first Ty Girl not to wear a belt and the first to wear visible socks)October 2007Yes
Totally TrishPurpleDark BlueWhite tee with bedazzled hearts, miniskirt and purple leather jacket, purple sandals, and bracelet, silver earringsOctober 2007Yes
Supercool SerenaBlack with fuchsia streaksDark BrownPink crop top, silver and black leopard print jacket with pink interior, denim skirt with pink outlines, silver sandals, black earrings, and necklace. Serena is the only Asian Ty Girl.October 2007Yes
Lucky LindsayBrown with golden blonde streaksLight BrownFleece navy capris with pink stripes, pink hoodie with navy stripes, navy tank top, white sneakers, pink earrings (she is named after an actress)October 2007Yes
Precious ParisDirty blondeLight BluePink leather jacket with a white tank top and denim skirt, white boots, silver earrings and necklace (she is the last Ty Girl to wear a belt over her skirt/pants) (she is named after a model)January 2008Yes
Cutie CathyBrownGreenBlack flower jacket over a white shirt, distressed jeans, red shoes, bronze earringsJanuary 2008Yes
Happy HillaryBlondeDark BrownGrey sweatshirt with a pink sport shirt and plaid sweatpants, pink shoes, pearl earrings (she is named after a Disney Channel star)January 2008Yes
Sweet SammiStrawberry blondeLight BlueRed-orange sweatshirt with a white shirt and brown capris, beige sneakers, pearl earringsJanuary 2008Yes
Awesome AshleySandy blondeDark BrownPink polka dot shirt, denim skirt, black leggings, pink sneakers, sapphire bracelet, pink beret(occasionally, she is the first Ty Girl to sometimes wear a hat) (she is the second Ty Girl without earrings) (she is named after a Disney Channel star)July 2008Yes
Trendy TaylorBrown with pink streaksGreenGreen hoodie, white tank top, hot pink sweatpants, and flip flops, pink and green-striped beanie (occasionally) (she is the last Ty Girl to wear a jacket, and the third without earrings)July 2008Yes
Preppy PaigeBrownLight BluePurple shirt with dog print, plaid skirt, white socks, black sneakers, amethyst earrings, purple beret (occasionally)July 2008Yes
Lovable LilyPink with blue streaksLight BlueSilver striped hoodie, pink T-shirt, distressed blue jeans, gray sneakers, pink earrings, pink baseball cap (occasionally)July 2008Yes
Hip HannahBlonde with black and pink streaksDark BrownBlack skull-print shirt, pink plaid skirt, knee-high socks, pink sneakers, pink earrings, black baseball cap (occasionally)October 2008Yes
Marvelous MadisonBrown with blonde steaksDark BlueBlue thermal shirt, navy blue jeans, floral print fur boots, pink earringsOctober 2008Yes
Exciting EmilyReddish-brownGreenLavender varsity tee, aqua sweatpants, grey gym shoes, lavender, and aqua beanie (occasionally)October 2008Yes
Oo-LaLa OliviaBlonde with pink streaksLight BrownPink Eiffel Tower tee, grey denim skirt, pink Ugg boots, pink earrings, pink beret (occasionally)October 2008Yes
Beautiful BriannaBrownLight BlueBlue and green argyle print shirt, blue twill skirt, blue and green flats, sapphire earrings, green baseball cap (occasionally)January 2009Yes
Lovely LaurenBrown with pink streaksDark BrownPink and white striped shirt, skinny jeans, floral print shoes, pink earrings, gray beret (occasionally)January 2009Yes
Amazing AbbyChocolate brown with chestnut steaksDark BrownHeather grey hoodie, pink plaid shorts, pink socks, chestnut Uggs, pink earrings (she is the only Ty Girl to wear shorts) (she is the only Latina)January 2009Yes
Kool KaylaBlondeDark BlueNavy athletic tee, striped ruffle skirt, high sport socks, navy sneakers, pink earrings, navy baseball cap (rare)January 2009Yes
Marvelous Mariah (formerly Malia)BlackDark BrownAqua shirt with butterflies, capri jeans with plaid cuffs, aqua sneakers, turquoise earrings, pink baseball cap (occasionally) (she and Sydney are the only black Ty Girlz)January 2009Yes
Sweet Sydney (formerly Sasha)BlackDark BrownWhite and pink babydoll dress, aqua leggings, plaid sneakers, pink earrings, aqua beret (occasionally) (she and Mariah are the only black Ty Girlz)January 2009Yes
Totally TroyBrownDark BrownForest green varsity shirt, dark blue jeans, black sneakers, blue striped beanie (occasionally) (he is named after a Disney Channel star) (he is the only "Ty Guy")February 2009Yes
Joyful Justice BrownLight BluePeace shirt, black leggings, purple scarf, purple and white sneakers, ruby earringsJune 2009Yes
Joyful JusticeBrownLight Blue4th of July outfitSeptember 2010Yes
Ty Girlz Clothing AccessoriesDescriptionRelease DateRetirement Date
Cool PreppyKhaki pants with a pink plaid belt, white collar shirt with a black vest, and a pink plaid bagFebruary 2008May 30, 2008
Fairy Princesspurple dress with purple wings, sequined headbandFebruary 2008May 30, 2008
Girlz Night OutPink ruffled dress with a white boa and silver clutch bag February 2008May 30, 2008
Super Sportywhite ski pants, blue and white striped shirt, and white ski vestFebruary 2008May 30, 2008
Uptown Girldenim skirt, green jacket, pink hatFebruary 2008May 30, 2008
Beach BashHawaiian dress, green hoodie, hot pink tote bagJuly 2008February 7, 2013
School Coolgraphic tee, velour bag, denim skirtJuly 2008December 12, 2012
Hangin' Outvelour tracksuit, star-printed duffle bagJuly 2008December 18, 2012
Best Dressedred ruffle dress, black and white polka dot cardigan, black bagDecember 2008December 18, 2012
Sweet DreamsIce cream and candy themed pajamas, screen printed pillowDecember 2008December 12, 2012
Cool-n-Cozywhite hoodie, aqua corduroy pleated skirt, striped scarfDecember 2008December 18, 2012
Peace, Love & Cozy (Justice Store exclusive)Peace sign-themed loungewear and cozyJune 20092013 cancellation
Polo Prepster (Justice Store exclusive)Green-and-black-striped layered polo shirt, denim skirt, and black messenger bagJune 20092013 cancellation
School Rock (Justice Store exclusive)3-in-1 matching pink plaid shirt and tie, pleated skirt, and backpackJune 20092013 cancellation
Ty Girlz AnimalsDescriptionRetired?
Fabulous FluffyFluffy white dog with pink houndstooth carrier, removable collar, and leashYes
Little LuckyBrown dog with a blue plaid carrier, removable collar, and leashYes
Peppermint PrincessPink-and-white cat with teal floral-print pattern carrier, removable collar, and leashYes
DalmatianSold with some releases of Awesome AshleyYes
Cocker SpanielSold with some releases of Beautiful BriannaYes
HuskySold with some releases of Exciting EmilyYes
Black CatSold with some releases of Hip HannahYes
ChihuahuaSold with some releases of Lovable LilyYes
Gray-and-White CatSold with some releases of Lovely LaurenYes
BoSold with some releases of Sweet Sydney and/or Marvelous MariahYes
PoodleSold with some releases of Oo-la-la OliviaYes
SheepdogSold with some releases of Preppy PaigeYes
Labrador RetrieverSold with some releases of Trendy TaylorYes
BulldogSold with some releases of Totally TroyYes

Notes

  1. About.com mention .
  2. PlayZak Magazine
  3. Virtual Worlds News
  4. "Ty denies Obama girls inspired Sweet Sasha, Marvelous Malia". CNN. January 23, 2009.
  5. Herrmann, Andrew (January 23, 2009). "Mrs. Obama: Don't exploit my daughters with dolls". Chicago Sun-Times.
  6. Olkon, Sara (January 22, 2009). "'Marvelous Malia' and 'Sweet Sasha' dolls are not the Obama girls, Ty says". Chicago Tribune.
  7. 1 2 3 "Ty denies Obama girls inspired Sweet Sasha, Marvelous Malia". CNN. January 23, 2009.
  8. de Nies, Yunji (February 3, 2009). "'Marvelous Malia' and 'Sweet Sasha' Retired". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2009-02-05. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
  9. 1 2 3 "Dollmaker withdraws Sasha, Malia names". Associated Press. Chicago Tribune. February 3, 2009.
  10. Streit, Meghan (February 3, 2009). "Ty renames Sasha, Malia dolls". Chicago Business News. Crain Communications Inc.
  11. "Topic Galleries". Chicago Tribune.
  12. Brown, DeNeen L. (January 25, 2009). "First lady: Ty's Sasha, Malia dolls 'inappropriate'". Chicago Tribune.
  13. "Sasha and Malia dolls selling for $3,000 on eBay". www.parentdish.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2018.


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mattel</span> American multinational toy and entertainment company

Mattel, Inc. is an American multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment company founded in January 1945 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. The company has presence in 35 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 countries. The company operates through three business segments: North America, International, and American Girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bratz</span> American fashion doll and media franchise

Bratz is an American fashion doll and media franchise created by former Mattel employee Carter Bryant for MGA Entertainment which debuted in 2001.

H. Ty Warner is an American billionaire toy manufacturer, businessman, and former actor. He is the CEO, sole owner and founder of Ty Inc. which manufactures and distributes stuffed toys, including Beanie Babies and other lines. He is also the owner of Four Seasons Hotel New York, which he bought with profits earned selling Beanie Babies during a fad in the late 1990s. In 2020, he was No. 359 on the Forbes 400 list of the richest people in America, with a net worth of US$2.3 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Carter</span> Daughter of United States president Jimmy Carter

Amy Lynn Carter is the daughter of the thirty-ninth U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his first lady Rosalynn Carter. Carter entered the limelight as a child when she lived in the White House during the Carter presidency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Obama</span> First Lady of the United States (2009–2017), attorney and author

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American attorney and author who served as first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. She was the first African-American woman to serve in this position. She is married to former President Barack Obama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MGA Entertainment</span> American Toy Company

MGA Entertainment Inc. is a manufacturer of children's toys and entertainment products founded in 1979. Its products include, Bratz, L.O.L. Surprise!, Num Noms and Rainbow High. MGA also owns Little Tikes.

The Spice Girls Dolls are celebrity dolls based on the popular girl group the Spice Girls. They were released by Galoob Toys from 1997 to 1999. With sales of over 11 million, they are the best-selling celebrity dolls of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindy</span> Fashion doll made in the United Kingdom

Sindy is a British fashion doll created by Pedigree Dolls & Toys in 1963. A rival to Barbie, Sindy's wholesome look and range of fashions and accessories made her the best-selling toy in the United Kingdom in 1968 and 1970. After Marx Toys' unsuccessful attempt to introduce Sindy in the United States in the late 1970s, Hasbro bought the rights to Sindy and remodelled the doll to look more American. As a result, the doll's popularity declined; in addition Barbie manufacturer Mattel filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement, which was settled when Hasbro agreed to remodel Sindy's face. During the 1990s, Barbie's share of the doll market continued to grow while Sindy's diminished, which led to Sindy being delisted from major retailers in 1997. Hasbro returned the doll's licence to Pedigree, and the doll was relaunched in 1999, manufactured by Vivid Imaginations. Sindy's 40th anniversary in 2003 saw a new manufacturer, New Moons, and another relaunch and redesign.

Rainbow Play Systems is a manufacturer of children's play equipment which are available through a network of over 200 retail outlets throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, Spain, Panama, Italy and Belarus.

Beanie Babies 2.0 were a brand of stuffed toys, a spin-off of the popular Beanie Babies line, announced by Ty Inc. on January 2, 2008. The group was introduced following the retirement of all retail Beanie Babies that had been produced prior to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerie Jarrett</span> American businesswoman and a former government official

Valerie June Jarrett is an American businesswoman and former government official. She served as the senior advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama and assistant to the president for public engagement and intergovernmental affairs from 2009 to 2017. Before that, she served as a co-chair of the Obama–Biden Transition Project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family of Barack Obama</span> List of members of the family of Barack Obama

The family of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, is a prominent American family active in politics. Obama's immediate family circle was the first family of the United States from 2009 to 2017, and are the first such family of African-American descent. His immediate family includes his wife Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha Obama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Wu</span> Taiwanese-Canadian artist and fashion designer

Jason Wu is a Taiwanese-Canadian artist and fashion designer based in New York City. Born in Taiwan and raised in Vancouver, he studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design, and trained under Narciso Rodriguez before launching his own line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marian Shields Robinson</span> Mother of Michelle Obama and the mother-in-law of President Barack Obama

Marian Lois Robinson is the mother of Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, and Craig Robinson, a basketball executive. She is also the mother-in-law of 44th U.S. President Barack Obama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bo (dog)</span> Former First Dog of the Obama family

Bo was a pet dog of the Obama family, the first family of the United States from 2009 until 2017. President Barack Obama and his family were given the male Portuguese Water Dog as a gift after months of speculation about the breed and identity of their future pet. The final choice was made in part because elder daughter Malia's allergies dictated a need for a hypoallergenic breed. Bo was occasionally called "First Dog". In August 2013, Bo was joined by Sunny, a female dog of the same breed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moxie Girlz</span>

Moxie Girlz were a line of fashion dolls introduced by MGA Entertainment in 2009. These dolls are targeted at girls ages 6+. The four original 10.6-inch dolls are named Lexa, Bria, Avery, and Sophina, with others named Sasha, Kellan, Monet, Merin, Ida, and Amberly.

<i>Barack and Michelle</i>

Barack and Michelle: Portrait of An American Marriage is an unauthorized "tell-all" biography about Barack and Michelle Obama, focusing on their marriage, written by No. 1 New York Times best-selling author Christopher Andersen and published in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clique Girlz</span> American girl group

Clique Girlz was an American girl group consisting of sisters Destinee and Paris Monroe, alongside their friend Ariel Moore and later, Sara Diamond. The original group consisted of Destinee, Paris, and Ariel. In 2009, Ariel left the group for unnamed private reasons which resulted in Sara joining the group. The group split up in 2009 when Sara Diamond left the group.

Monster High is an American multimedia-supported fashion doll franchise created by toy designer Garrett Sander and launched by Mattel in 2010. Aimed at children aged 7 to 14, the franchise features characters inspired by monster movies, sci-fi horror, thriller fiction, folklore, myths and popular culture, centering around the adventures of the teenage children of monsters and other mythical creatures attending a high school of the same name.

<i>Becoming</i> (book) 2018 memoir by Michelle Obama

Becoming is the memoir of former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama, published in 2018. Described by the author as a deeply personal experience, the book talks about her roots and how she found her voice, as well as her time in the White House, her public health campaign, and her role as a mother. The book is published by Crown and was released in 24 languages. One million copies were donated to First Book, an American nonprofit organization which provides books to children.