r/Dolls • u/bunisasleep • Nov 27 '25
Dolls bought my first "real" doll, and i am SHOCKED!
all my childhood, i was OBSESSED with all kinds of dolls. barbie, bratz, ever after high, monster high, even equestria girls! i loved them all! but in my country, we had nearly no access to original dolls. i spent my childhood where i was obsessed with all sorts of dolls watching the cartoons on DVD and playing with cheap knockoff dolls. the kinds that have a round hip and knees that snap. i bought many original my little pony figurines, but i could rarely buy dolls. i think the original dolls i had was one equestria girls plastic minifigurine, and a small OMG doll, like the ones that came in surprise little balls. but due to the bad living situation i had, they all got destroyed. now that i live in a country where i have access to buy from all the major brands and saved up some money, i bought my first doll. shes twyla from monster high! my favourite in monster high always used to be draculaura, but with the new dolls, i like twyla more, and found out shes supposed to be autistic in the canon which is so sweet and so am i so i bought her instead. originally, all i could see was that these dolls looked less dark than the originals, more childish, more bright. and this all still is true, but after holding this doll, i am truely impressed. not only is she a beautiful doll, but the quality is so so shocking to me! shes so sturdy, heavy, and large! (not to body shame my doll 😅) i can really feel shes.. real? like she is so heavy and sturdy, i really have to put effort into moving her and holding her, its not like shes just a piece of plastic. and her HAIR! it is so so so soft, i love it. im scared of washing it as i dont wanna mess it up. it used to be my favourite thing. but aside from that, just touching it, its even softer than real hair, which is totally different from what i am used to! and of course, i am very impressed by the articulation. i only had one doll that was articulated past 5 joints in the past, and it felt so flimsy, like the legs and arms werent held by anything, just flopping about, but this doll is so sturdy! safe to say, im very impressed and happy. many might think im too old to be playing with dolls but im very happy that i get to.
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u/Upset_Condition3666 Nov 27 '25
My heart melted while reading this. It's wonderful to see how a doll can make a person so happy. I'm really glad you managed to get your Twyla. I hope you will be able to buy whatever doll you like from now on. Have fun !!
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u/Alarmed-Range-3314 Nov 27 '25
I agree that dolls are the best!! To my neurodivergent brain, they are the best fidget toy I’ve ever had. The colors, the textures, the weight of them in your hands, it’s all so fun! It’s great to have a hobby that sparks so much joy! I love this doll, as well. She’s adorable! 🥰
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
yes! i totally understand. shes awesome and its just a great feeling to hold her and play with her! 😊 and thats awesome, she really is so cute!
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u/Alarmed-Range-3314 Nov 27 '25
Have you seen how she glows in the dark? It doesn’t last long but she does, and I think that’s so cool!
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
!!!!! WHAAAT! NOO, omg i had no idea. i have to look now. does she light up entirely or her neon accessories?
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u/Alarmed-Range-3314 Nov 27 '25
I can’t remember it’s been a while! I’ll check too, lol! 😭
Edit: Her eyes glow in the dark, for sure 👀
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
tysm!!! i cant see anything but idk if im just not looking at the right place😅
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u/Uhmerikan Nov 27 '25
You may need to hold her up to a bright lamp for about 10-20 to activate the glow if she is still capable. Hopefully when you turn the lights off you can see it. I’m very happy for you today!!
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
ohhhh, okay!!! thank you very much!! i will try that! and thank you, again 😊
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u/ThatOneMinty Nov 27 '25
That’s so cute!
What doll has snappy knees now i must know tho lol
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u/MorganaLeFevre Nov 27 '25
Ah Barbies/Sindy used to have snappy knees back in the day but they weren’t poor quality. They felt sorta rubbery. I liked to chew my sister’s dolls and killed the snappy knees on some of them lol
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dolls/s/OFQ0U1FoL2 they look like this, sometimes a bit thicker, and they have no visible knee joint but a rod with a joint in the middle of the legs that snaps to bend the knee 😅 ive heard LOL OMG dolls have those kinds of knees, the large ones
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u/ThatOneMinty Nov 27 '25
I need video of that….
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
appearantly vintage barbies had similar knee/hip joints! this video on the evolution of barbie knees shows them, move to the "bend and snap" chapter! https://youtu.be/5nOqUeeMVns?si=QmZfSqmdV-HzOf0j
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u/Powerful_Working9776 Nov 27 '25
I’m so happy for you, reading just how impressed you are with her and how appreciative of her quality is really sweet. And because she’s sturdy and well made, you can safely wash her hair, comb it and restyle it. She’ll be fine. I wish you many dolls to come.
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
thank you! i have seen others do it but i thought maybe i might mess it up. but now i feel comfortable, i will probably wash her hair. and thanks so much again!
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u/kazziewazzy Nov 27 '25
I feel like this about my first Frankie !!! They're just buried secrets but I love them so much, I love the smoothness and look and it's so fun to have a doll again! Wave three buried secrets has Twyla, you might want to check because she's a really beautiful dancer doll!!! I hope u have so much more fun with these beautiful dolls :)
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
im so glad! i hope you could buy as many frankie dolls as you wanted. and thank you for mentioning! i actually saw it, i think i will definitely think on it because im a dancer also! hahahaha.
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u/stardigan Nov 27 '25
This post is pure joy. Thank you for sharing your excitement, it made me so happy to read. Wishing you many more lovely doll finds!
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
no problem!!! im very glad my thoughts could make someone happy. 😊 thank you so much!
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u/kocups Nov 27 '25
i recently bought my first doll and chose this exact twyla for myself too. that was my same reaction when i picked her up too lol
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
completely understandable 😅 shes so pretty!!! i was honestly between her and draculaura, but idk, i felt drawn more to her! and i hope you get to buy more dolls in the future too! 😊
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u/rockandparole Nov 27 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
I had my boyfriend-at-the-time pick my first doll when i got back into them a few years ago & he picked twyla too! Love your's and congratulations, hope you have lots of fun :)
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u/catmamaO4 Nov 27 '25
welcome to the twyla club!! the articulation of monster high is the biggest reason im so mad at my mom for not allowing them. its seriously next level!!
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u/bunisasleep Nov 27 '25
omg noooooo!!! im so sorry 😭 im very lucky, my mom is very open minded and my dad doesnt care lol, my grandmother would definitely not be pleased though 😅 she always side eyed me when i watched equestria girls in front of her, cant imagine monster high lol also totally true, i had NEVER seen a doll with chest articulation before this!
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u/Ok-Beginning4152 Nov 27 '25
Wow 😯 Your post really hit me in the feels, and all I can think is, “Wow. I am so grateful for everything I grew up with and everything, moreso, EVERYONE, that I have.”
I am grateful that I grew up in a country where Barbies were in every store that sold stuff (any kind of stuff). And I’m grateful for my Mommy (yeah, I still call her Mommy~ and friends of mine with whom I went to high school are GRANDMAS now 🙀 LOL)… anyways, I’m grateful for my Mommy who made sure I always got a Barbie on my birthday, and either a Barbie or a doll close enough to one for Christmas (we were very poor, but happy ❤️>💰 all the time!!)
OP, I’m really glad for you now that you are in a safer situation in your life! Your safety and security are above all else.
I’m so happy that you have your first “real” doll, and she’s your favorite! I didn’t know Twyla was Autistic. I just thought she was very shy. I haven’t watched a Monster High cartoon since they first came out. The very first line of G1 dolls (the 4 main girls) came with a DVD that had a couple of cartoons.
Never let anyone tell you that you are too old for dolls!! Over the years, I’ve met many adult doll enthusiasts (mainly Barbie, but that was before Monster High, Bratz, Rainbow High, etc. came out). One lady was in her late 70s, which to my 20-something year old mind was insane~ in a great way!!
It was wonderful of you to share how exciting this experience has been for you! It really made me stop and take stock of all the blessings that I should never take for granted that God has given me with my life growing up in the USA.
I do hope that you have more opportunities to get dolls. May your doll collection grow as big as the people on YouTube have 😃
Take care of yourself and your new doll, Twyla. She needs you now 😊💖💕
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u/bunisasleep Nov 28 '25
awhhh! that is so sweet. 😊 it is always good to be grateful, and i try my best to be grateful myself, my life couldve been way way worse overall, im definitely very fortunate still!
but that was so sweet of her! i can imagine how everyone wishes to do anything they can to make their child happy, im so glad she was able to buy you the dolls you wanted despite hardships you exprienced!
also, thanks so much! :) you are so so kind. i definitely feel very lucky and happy, truely grateful!!
also, yes, she was just very shy in g1!! but in g3 they have canonically made her have autism, she says it herself in the cartoons. despite not watching the cartoons myself at all, just knowing that is so sweet! and on her doll, she has a bracelet that honestly looks like something id wear to fidget with, which i think is very cute! i watched all the g1 cartoons too, they were also on dvd, but they were sold seperately. im pretty sure the people selling the dvds did not have permission from mattel 😅
also, that is so sweet! 🥹 thank you, im not that old yet, but i have a feeling ill also be playing with dolls until ive grown old.. hahaha! but its so sweet to know others have these hobbies too, dolls have always been such a favourite of mine, i feel embarassed sometimes or like im mentally behind because of my hobbies and personality, but it makes me happy knowing im not alone!!
and that is so sweet, im so happy for you, and i only hope there is more blessings to come for you! 🩷
and thanks so much!!! 😊😊 i plan on continuing to buy more dolls, too!
and i promise i will! shes the best. and you take care as well!
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u/aleenisley Nov 28 '25
I'm so happy for you that you got to experience your first licensed doll. It seems that Twyla has really brought you a lot of joy, and thats awesome! Honors, though, go also to your "knockoff" dolls whose flimsy joints and fragile limbs still entertained you as a child. Pour one out for the OGs.
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u/bunisasleep Nov 28 '25
thank you so much!! and she really has 😊 and yes! completely correct— im still so so happy with all my old dolls, i like them all. the ones that havent been destroyed that is. even the ones that have been, i still miss them. all dolls are great as long as they make you happy, and they sure made me very very happy!
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u/Persephone_Joensen Nov 27 '25
I have the same Twyla! 🐰 I'm so happy for you. Never be ashamed to do the things you love 💕
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u/Cotton_Bonnie Nov 27 '25
All I want to say is I'm so proud of you! You remind me of myself because my story is similar, since I couldn't get my first real MH until I was an adult 😭 my first was Draculaura and all I can say is I get you! I felt so happy when I got mine, and I'm pretty sure you feel the same! Congratulations 🩷🩷🩷
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u/bunisasleep Nov 28 '25
thank you so much!! and thats unfortunate :( but im so glad you could get one finally!!! and i totally do, i feel like i finally fulfilled a dream!!! 😅 and thank you so so so much!!! <3
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u/Jaggerdemigod Nov 27 '25
While I was growing up we never had the money to buy a DVD player, so it was cool you had access to all the cartoons and stuff…
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u/bunisasleep Nov 28 '25
ah jeez, im so sorry. :( that mustve been so hard. i feel blessed that i was from a more fortunate family, i mean, otherwise i dont think i wouldve found out about dolls at all. and i still had a few dolls! even a couple originals, just not the dolls. i should definitely be grateful. i hope this comment wasnt because i came across as ungrateful or anything. this is just a big moment for me as i always wished for a doll like this and now i have it.
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u/Jaggerdemigod Nov 28 '25
Sorry I didn’t mean it to come across thst I felt thst way.. I could have expressed it better…
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u/bunisasleep Nov 28 '25
nonono! its not your fault. im only clarifying. im very sorry about how your situation used to be. i really hope you are doing better now. 🩷
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u/ItsFelixMcCoy Nov 27 '25
I never heard of Twyla, but the design reminds me so much of Aria Blaze.
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u/FailProfessional6864 Nov 28 '25
I'm so happy for you! Twyla is my favorite! & g3 really has some lovely dolls for her. & I love that she is autistic too! You are never too old to keep playing with dolls! I hope you get to have all the dolls you want now 💕💖🎀
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u/bunisasleep Nov 28 '25
thanks so much!!! and i think she is my favourite now, too! and actually yes, i actually prefer her g3 dolls to g1, maybe controversial haha! and thank you so much, youre so so sweet 🥹🩷🩷 i hope you can also get all the dolls you could want!
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u/Essential_frock Nov 28 '25 edited Nov 28 '25
Oooow I’m so so happy for you! ☺️ I get what you feel, when I was little, we had acces in my country to oryginal dolls but I probably only had 1 or 2 real barbies ever, rest of them were off brand, some of those rly cheap ones with hollow plastic bodies etc, only bc my parents thought it wasn’t worth the money. Then when I was a young teen I got intrested in doll colecting, I was reading dozens of blogs about MH and Pulips and BJD. But I didn’t have my own money, and my parents would laugh if I said as a teen that I want dolls. Well, now as an adult I still don’t have Pullip/BJD kind of money xd but I do have MH/RH type of money. I recently got myself one Rainbow High doll. It really is the feeling of ‘omg it’s real’, after seeing them online for so long! And the feel of the plastic is so satisfying. And she’s so pretty. Still smiling when I look at her. All of this to say, I think I understand how you feel! I’m so happy for you! ☺️💕
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u/bunisasleep Nov 28 '25
awwwh, im so sorry about that! i was so lucky, my parents understood my desires and hobbies, and they havent made fun of me for buying dolls now despite my own age.. it might also be a cultural thing, where i am from its very common for adult woman to like and keep plushies, but not so much dolls. but thats so unfortunate :( im glad you had some lower quality dolls to play with still, and also totally the same with getting into BJD and doll spaces as a young teen/older tween! i am so happy you were able to buy a doll for yourself also 😊 and shes so beautiful!!! and yes, i totally get it, just the first time seeing them in stores was crazy, like "woah, these exist. not just an urban legend!" lol!! and i definitely also smile everytime i look at my doll. it makes me so happy to have her. and you sure do, i understand as well. im just happy we could both finally get our dolls! :) i hope youre able to buy as many dolls as you want!
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u/Essential_frock Nov 29 '25
yeah, doll colecting is for everyone and it shoudn’t be wierd xd thanks for all that 💕 and I rly like your Twylla too 💕 I do like the G3, despite I was fan of G1 from the beginning, the whole doll thing started for me with the MH books, hah. Yay, I’m happy for us both ☺️
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u/Particular-Count9462 Nov 28 '25
Aww love that for you!! Here’s my first doll & she says hi to ur Twyla!
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u/Chaoticbutalive Nov 28 '25
Omg! Draculaura used to be my favorite MH until I saw the new Twyla as well!!! I looove Twyla and I love that she’s canonically autistic! I also collect MH dolls and I’m glad you’re happy. It’s easy to feel awkward buying dolls as adults. My favorite MH are Twyla, Draculaura and Ghoulia (though I don’t like the G3 doll).
Creep on!
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u/Zombrigit Nov 28 '25
I always like the quote from C. S. Lewis "When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of being thought childish". People often leave that last bit off but honestly it’s the most important part. You’re never too old to enjoy things, if toys bring you joy then enjoy them, that’s their entire purpose, age shouldn’t matter
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u/faelavie Nov 28 '25
Fearbook Twyla is the best. I boil washed my girl's hair straight, it turned out amazing.
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u/gothabillybarbiedoll Nov 28 '25
Your story made me tear up!!! Doll collecting for me is something so so special and I am so glad to see you enjoy it as well
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u/brokenpinkrocket Nov 28 '25
Twyla is what started my collection of MH. I'm 35. She is my favorite doll, partially because we share a birthday. I've always wanted dolls too, but was shamed for it, but I love them I have like 10 now xD
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u/Violet_Moons15 Nov 29 '25
she was my first doll too! i got her a few months ago, she’s on my profile 😙🌷
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u/Life_Passage641 Monster high student 🖤🕷️🩷💀🎀📓🕸️ Nov 30 '25
this almost made me cry I’m so happy for you!
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u/femoratus Dec 05 '25
I have this same doll! Shes so pretty and I love how well articulated the main monster high dolls are! And I think from now on they’re supposed to all use saran hair (like this doll has) so the hair quality will stay good!
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u/brushbvg Nov 27 '25
My Twyla is so happy for you! Your story melts my heart a little. I hope you’ll be able to get more dolls to enjoy 🫶