American Champions Venus Williams

I purchased American Champions Serena and Venus Williams dolls several years ago. They remained in their boxes for years, but I purchased them with the intention to release them from their boxes one of these days.

Last year, I was able to get a Sideshow Art S. Buck figure for a price that I was willing to pay.

I wondered if the Art S. Buck body would be a good match for Venus. So finally I released Venus from her box to find out.

The Art S. Buck body was a little darker than the Venus head, and rather skinny, but I did love the articulation. Venus finally had fun playing with all of her gear.

Venus came with a tennis racket, sun visor, athletic bag, tennis balls, trading card, trophy, and water bottle (not to mention her tennis outfit, sneakers, watch, bracelet, necklace, and beads in her partially braided hair).

Her new body made it possible to grasp all of the items that came with her.

Venus was happy to be released from her box, but wanted her sister Serena to be released, as well. I didn't want to put Serena on an Art S. Buck body. In fact, I wasn't entirely satisfied with Venus being on the Art S, Buck body. I looked around to see if I had any other action figure bodies that may be a better match for Serena.

I think that the body of the Triad Alpha figure would be a good body match for Serena, but it is not a good skin tone match. So, Serena stays in her box for now.

I became aware of some Sims dolls being sold on eBay for a great price (thanks Dawn!), so I purchased a couple. These dolls use Herobuilders action figure bodies. I thought that this body might be a better match for Venus.

And I was right. Venus looks much better on the Herobuilders body. The skin tone is a much better match, and the body looks more athletic. Also, both hands are able to grip items of various sizes.

I was glad to see that Venus' outfit is stretchy enough to fit on the larger Herobuilders body. 

Now Venus is ready to be the champion that she is, and play to her fullest potential! 

I'm not entirely satisfied with the Herobuilders body. It has weird elbow and knee joints, and something just looks a little off about it. But this is a better choice than Venus' other two bodies. Serena is still in her box for now. I want her to have a different body than Venus, so I'm going to wait until another option comes along for her.

Evidence

Today my husband and I were in the car together after I got off from work, and he asked about my Venus Williams doll. I left Venus on my bookshelf above my desk yesterday after shooting some photos (I'm way behind on my blogging, but the Venus photos are coming soon, along with others). I told my husband that I was surprised that he recognized Venus. He said "What? I watch ESPN!" I told him that the doll represents Venus in 2000 when she was only about 20 years old, and I told him that I was impressed that he recognized her. He said that she was fairly easy to recognize, since she had on her tennis outfit.

When we finally made it home, I noticed that my dolls that I'd left out had been re-positioned. The way that I left them, Venus was sitting alone, and Buckwheat was standing by Addy. So check out the photograph below for evidence of my husband's doll play (a rarity indeed). Venus is now holding Buckwheat on her lap, and she has her arm around Addy. When I saw this, I couldn't help but to say "Awwwwwwwwww!"

Alpha Skin Tone Comparisons

I am so pleased with the Triad Alpha figures that I'm planning on buying more Alpha bodies (African and Hispanic).  These figures come in small, medium, and large bust versions.  I want to get a couple of small bust figures.  The figures pictured below are medium bust.  I grabbed a few dolls with similar skin tones to get an idea of which dolls may get a new body.

 I think that my On Location: Milan Barbie will get a new body.  She's been stuck on the model muse body for long enough.

 Close, but no cigar.  I'm not sure which doll I will use for the Hispanic Alpha (none of these).

I even contemplated de-boxing my Princess of South Africa doll, but she is a little too dark for the African Alpha body.

I REALLY wanted to de-box my Venus and Serena dolls to place them on Alpha bodies!  But they are little too light for the African Alpha body.

OMGoodness I have good news!!!  Triad will be releasing more ethnic head sculpts for the Alphas!  Check out the forum on the Triad website - Louie posted a photo of an AA PVC head that is in the works.  I.CAN'T.WAIT!