Well, well, well. What do we have here sitting on the lap of entrepreneur Carline Smothers, the CEO of Zoe Beautee. It’s none other than a doll…Carline…And not just any doll. It’s a Haitian doll…a Haitian-American doll! Look for it soon! In the meantime, see how it came about…
Kreyolicious: Growing up…were you obsessed with dolls?
I loved dolls! I remember my cousin getting the Kenya doll. We shared the doll, sometime she was at her house and other days the doll was at my house.
Kreyolicious: Some adults collect dolls. Do you?
I do not collect dolls. However, it wasn’t until having daughters of my own, I did not realize the importance of having dolls who has the same features as myself.
Kreyolicious: So now, you’re launching a doll of your own. What led to this?
My oldest daughter Nivea. When she was five years old, she told me she did not want a poster I was going to purchase. She said the girl in the drawing was ugly. However, the little girl in the drawing looked exactly like her. When prompted to create herself on video games, she never selected characters who looks like her, or the same features. I would ask her why she did not make herself brown and she replied, “Because the brown girl is ugly.” After creating Carline, she has not stopped talking about how beautiful she is, and how she looks so much like her.
Above: Another extension of the Zoe Beautee brand, Fanmi Mwen/My Family, a bilingual children’s books aimed at Haitian-American kids, created by Carline Smothers.
Kreyolicious: Once I read about this thing called the doll test. It was conducted in the 1940s by a sociologist. He gathered girls of color who were like seven, eight years old or something, and gave them the choice of a black and white doll. And they chose the white doll each time. This test was repeated again in other later decades…with the same results.
Sadly, my reaction would have been the same at that age. It has taken me Thirty-two years to notice the issue. I mean, everywhere you look, from the television to books the main characters all look the same. Our voices are typically represented as animal characters in movies and shows. We’re in the background on every cartoon show on television with the exception of maybe one. I asked my children who their favorite black character was, and they were unable to name one!
Kreyolicious: How does this Haitian doll fit into your overall vision for the Zoe Beautee brand?
She celebrates and teaches Haitian culture. I’ve always been proud of being Haitian. However, when I was younger, I was often teased for it. When other African-American children made fun of me, I wish I knew as much as I do now. I would have said, “Haitians were the first black people to free themselves of slavery! We paved the way for our fellow black brothers and sisters!”
Kreyolicious: What should we expect from you next?
I would love to add a few more books to the Zoe Beautee Little Reader’s Collection. Continue selling dolls and books celebrating culture diversity. I haven’t forgotten about my adult supporters, [so I will] possibly have new looks for my clothing line. I have something for the whole family to enjoy! I look forward to learning more about my culture while inspiring others to follow their dreams!
CLICK HERE to keep up with Carline Smothers, the founder of the Zoe Beautee and the creator of Carline, the Haitian doll!| ZOE BEAUTEE ON INSTAGRAM
CLICK HERE to read previous articles about Zoe Beautee-in-charge Carline Smothers!
