4th of July 2016

Happy 4th of July!

Calista's Diary Entry - The Cut

Dear Diary,

The time came for the tryouts for next year's Junior Spirit Squad.  For an entire week, there were practice sessions which lasted for a couple of hours every day after school.  Girls from the Varsity Spirit Squad taught the Junior hopefuls a brand new routine, and we all had a week to learn it and practice for the tryouts.  I was pretty confident that it would be me, Kana, and Briana Joy again.  I missed a couple of days of practice because I felt that I could learn the routine fast, and that I had an advantage in knowing all of the old routines and already being a member of the squad.

Besides the three original members of the squad, Jenna, Big Janet, Gabriella, and Kiara also tried out.  I was shocked that Big Janet was able to tear herself away from her boyfriend Dylan long enough to try out.  The tryouts took place in the gym, and the Varsity SQ girls watched and judged, along with Miss Jones, the squad sponsor.

They split us into small groups and had us perform the routine.  I knew the routine well and I did a good job.  Big Janet did a pretty good job from what I could tell.  Gabriella was awful.  I felt kind of bad because I know that she worked really hard.  But I knew that she wouldn't make it.  Big Janet and Gabriella were cut after the first round.

For the second round, I performed the new routine with Kana and Briana Joy.  We all did a good job, and I had no doubt that it would be the three of us together again next year. Then Jenna and Kiara performed the new routine, and I admit that they were really good.  I still felt like the 3 original members had a big advantage, though.  Then Jenna announced that they wanted to perform some additional routines.  They performed some of our old routines, and they were great!  I had seen the 2 of them hanging around at our practices, but I had no idea what they were up too.  Me and Briana Joy looked at each other, and our jaws just dropped.

The VSQ and Miss Jones got together to go over the scores that they had given each of us, and to discuss their final decision.  It seemed like they talked forever.  I could hear their voices but I could not make out what they were saying.  Finally they came back, and Miss Jones announced that she would call out a girls name.  She said that the name would be for the girl who was eliminated from the squad, and that the girl should leave the gym immediately.  I was standing there thinking that it would be a hard decision on who to eliminate between Jenna and Kiara, because they were both so good.  I was absolutely shocked when Miss Jones called Briana Joy's name.  WHAT?  Briana Joy looked so sad as she walked out of the gym.  I knew that she would be crying later.  I was SO MAD!  How could they do that to her?

I stood there furious for a few moments, and then I heard Miss Jones say my name.  I looked at her.  She said my name again.  I didn't understand why she kept calling my name.  I heard some of the girls giggling behind me.  After calling my name again, she came over to me and said "Let's go."  That's when I understood that I was also cut from the finals.  I did not make the squad.  It felt like my cheeks were burning up and I felt humiliated.  As Miss Jones escorted me out, I turned around and looked at the other girls, and Jenna was smiling and waving at me. 

Once I was outside the gym, I heard Miss Jones announce "Congratulations, Ladies, you are the next Junior Spirit Squad to represent this school!"  I heard squeals of delight.  I looked into the small window on the gym door and I saw the girls jumping up and down and hugging.  Kana looked a little too happy if you ask me.  How could she be that excited when her 2 best friends had just been cut?  I was so mad.

I have been reeling from the experience ever since, feeling shocked, saddened, and angered all at once.  And then I heard that the girls would be performing at our final assembly of the school year today.  WHAT? Shouldn't they be performing NEXT YEAR?  What is the rush?  And how could they even have a routine together that quickly?  I sat in the audience and I felt sick as I watched them perform the new routine that we had learned for tryouts.  It was almost surreal watching them wear the uniform that I used to wear.  I was the one that was supposed to be out there performing, not sitting in the audience observing.  How did this even happen?

So I'm just thinking about all of the time and effort that I put into that squad.  What am I supposed to do now?  What does this mean for my friendship with Kana and Briana Joy?  We spent so much time hanging out on the squad, going to games, etc.  I mean, I'm just so sad about this and I don't know what to do.

Teen Girl Doll Comparisons

Here are some teen girl doll comparisons.  A couple of them were in previous comparisons, but I wanted to put them with other similarly sized dolls.  They are from left to right:  Wee Three Friends Janet, Super Model Bel doll with Calista head, Hispanic everGirl, Flavas Kiyoni Brown, V.I.P. A.N.T. Farm Chyna, and Sashabella Paws.

Calista is the only one that can stand on her own in bare feet.  The others can stand in certain shoes.

Here they are showing their elbow flexibility.  They all have jointed elbows.  Sashabella Paws has the most flexibility in this pose.

Here they are sitting on the floor trying to cross their arms while showing their feet.  Sashabella Paws comes the closest to being able to cross her arms.  Janet has very large feet and can share shoes with Ken.  The others have doll friends that they can share shoes with.  Calista has arched feet and articulation at the ankle, so she can wear flat or heeled shoes.

Here they are doing a side stretch.  Calista and Sashabella have articulation at the lower torso, while  Kiyoni and Chyna have articulation at the upper torso.  Kiyoni's side arch is the most impressive.

Here they are in the "walk like an Egyptian" pose.  Calista and Sashabella have articulation at the wrists, while the others do not.  As previously stated, Calista also has articulation at the ankles.  I think that Sashabella does this the best.  What do you think?

Here they are attempting kneeling back bends.  Janet, Hispanic everGirl (does anyone know which one she is - Joy, Hope, Skye, or Starr), and Kiyoni have clicky knees and can not kneel.  Chyna does this pose the best.

Here they are showing off their hands.  None of them are able to grasp objects in their hands.  I like Calista's hands the best.

Here they are attempting to sit cross-legged on the floor.  Calista does this the best.

Here they are attempting to do middle splits.  It's close between Calista and Sashabella, but I think that Calista does this slightly better.

 Here they are doing front splits.  Kiyoni does this the best.

 Here they are doing a leg lift.  Janet does this the best.

Here they are sitting down.  Since Calista, Chyna, and Sashabella have articulation at the knees, they look more natural in seated positions.  

 Do you have a favorite among these dolls?  What makes that particular doll stand out for you?  Which ones pose the best?  Which ones look the best?  Which dolls are the most realistic?

Large and Lovely Doll Comparisons

Not all dolls are skinny.  I like having 1:6 scale dolls of all shapes and sizes.  This post features some of my larger than average dolls.  They are from left to right:  American Teen Dominique, Gone with the Wind Mammy (with Jazz Diva Barbie wig), singing Tracy Turnblad, Happy Family Grandma, Girls Explore Bessie Coleman, and Big Beautiful Dolls Dasia.

They all have very limited articulation.  Dominique swivels at her upper arms and thighs, and bends slightly at the elbows, knees, and ankles.  Mammy's body is stuffed and has no articulation.  Tracy's arms move forward and back.  Grandma has joined elbows and clicky knees.  Bessie has a stuffed body, her arms and legs are made of soft vinyl and they bend slightly.  Dasia's arms and legs move back and forth.

They have feet of various sizes, and most can share shoes with other dolls.  Dominique can wear flat shoes or shoes with a slight heel, since she has clicky joints in her ankles.  Mammy has molded on shoes.  None of them can cross their arms, but Grandma and Bessie come the closest.

Dominique and Mammy can stand on their own, the others can not.  Bessie is the only one that can bend to the side, and she can also arch her back slightly.  None of them can kneel.

 Here they are showing off their hands.  Bessie is the only one that can grip objects in her hands.

Here they are attempting to do splits, any way that they can.

 Here they are doing a let lift.  Grandma and Bessie do this the best.

Tracy, Mammy, and Dasia do not have knees that bend, so they do not look good sitting on furniture. Dominique's knees bend only slightly.  Grandma and Bessie look good seated on furniture.

Honorable Mentions

My Booty Babe statue is not really a doll had has zero articulation, but I wanted to mention her here anyway. 

 

 

I also wanted to mention Sideshow Mandy's fat suit, which has allowed me to have plus sized dolls with articulation.  The suit is made for a male action figure, so the suit looks better on taller figures.  Here is Sideshow Jinx showing off part of Mandy's fat suit.

 

The suit has 2 pieces.  Here is Jinx showing off the full fat suit.

And here, Jinx shows off the full fat suit while wearing Mammy's dress.

Which plus size dolls are your favorites (whether they are featured here or not)?  Are you aware of any plus size dolls with articulation?  Would you like to see manufacturers make more larger than average dolls?

**4/26/2017 Edit**
This post continues to receive numerous reads, so I wanted to add an update that includes other Large and Lovely dolls - including Martini Beach Monica, Madam LaVinia Curvy Barbie, and Lammily Photographer. See my video below.

He Needed It More

My Hot Toys TrueType Slim AA figure (or Terrence, as I like to call him) needed the Ken fashion pack more than Steven.


The clothes and the shoes are tight, but I don't mind.

Here's a group shot of some of my action guys.