Yorkshire diversity dolls entrepreneur set to star in new Amazon Prime show
Olivia Thompson, 32 from Yeadon, Leeds, is one of 10 early-stage entrepreneurs from around the world featured on a new series, which highlights the challenges of starting up a business. There will be a global launch of Ready Set StartUp on Amazon Prime tonight.
She set up her business, Akila Dolls, over two years ago with money raised from crowdfunding.
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Hide AdMs Thompson, who is Afro-Caribbean, said: “Akila Dolls is a start-up which currently has prototype dolls that celebrate African and Caribbean culture.
"Our dolls are designed to inspire children of colour by reflecting their beauty and culture.”
Akila Dolls aims to make dolls in a variety of skin tones and hair textures, with a diverse clothing range, designed to celebrate different cultures and disabilities. Each doll comes with its own story book that educates children about the doll they are playing with.
Ms Thompson said: “Growing up I never had a doll that looked like me or reflected my culture. I wanted to create a brand that celebrates our beauty, and empowers young girls to be proud of who they are.”
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Hide AdMs Thompson left school at 16 and finished a National Diploma in Uniformed Public Services at York College.
She went on to university, but dropped out after a year. With no marketing background, she took part in the Prince’s Trust and subsequently NatWest startup programme and raised £6,000 to help make her prototype dolls.
A single mum, Olivia has two children, a one-year-old and 10-year-old autistic daughter.
While on a shopping trip she said her daughter got upset at the fact that all the dolls seemed to look alike, and nothing like her – and so, Akila Dolls was formed.
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Hide AdOlivia said: “Akila Dolls are inspired by my daughter’s obsession and love for dolls. Aged six, she was diagnosed with autism. She struggles with social interaction, restrictive behaviour, and many other symptoms.
"As a mother, it was important for me to support her, and a lot of her education was based on role-play learning. She loves to interact with her dolls.”
Ms Thompson added: “It has become apparent to me, and more so now as a parent, that diverse dolls were and are still massively underrepresented within the UK toy industry.
"I believe it is extremely important that not just my daughter, but that every boy and girl can see dolls on retailers’ shelves, that both look like them and relate to their cultures and beliefs. The only way we can do this is with new toys and books.
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Hide Ad"A greater diversity of the toy’s children play with will have a greater impact on how they perceive themselves, and others.”
Ready Set StartUp shows Ms Thompson competing in various challenges within the series, with judges including Tom Blomfield founder of Monzo.
Ms Thompson said: “We as women can be much more, we juggle childcare, we are mothers and care givers, and also business women.”