Fulla (doll) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fulla
Fulla Princess character
A 2016 Fulla doll
First appearance	November 2003
Created by	NewBoy FZCO
Information
Aliases	"A Girl's Dream Doll"
Gender	Female
Occupation	Teacher Doctor
Family	Father, mother, twin brother & sister (Nour and Bader), twin sisters (Basma and Nasma)
Age	23

Fulla (Arabic: فُلَّة) is a popular fashion doll, similar to Barbie. She was created for children in Islamic and Middle Eastern countries. The idea for Fulla started around 1999, and the doll first went on sale in late 2003.

Fulla was made by a Syrian company called NewBoy FZCO. In 2015, the company moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Fulla dolls are sold in many places, including China (especially to the Hui people), Brazil, North Africa, Egypt, and Indonesia. Some are also sold in the United States.

Even though other dolls with a hijab (headscarf) existed before, like Razanne, Fulla became much more popular. This was because she launched with a big advertising campaign on the famous TV channel Spacetoon. Fulla is seen as a role model for many Muslim girls. She shows how some Muslim parents prefer their daughters to dress and behave.

Fulla's Appearance

When Fulla was first made, she had long black hair with some reddish-brown streaks and brown eyes. Later, dolls with lighter hair and eyes were also introduced. The people who designed Fulla tried about 10 different faces before choosing her final look.

For the Saudi Arabian market, Fulla wore a black abaya (a loose robe) and a head scarf. In other countries, she did not wear a veil. For more open-minded countries, Fulla came with a white scarf and a light-colored coat. Her outdoor clothes have become more colorful over time. However, her shoulders are always covered, and her skirt always goes below her knees. This is because Muslim women traditionally dress modestly. Fulla can also wear dresses with half or quarter sleeves, but never sleeveless outfits.

Fulla's Values

Fulla is named after a sweet-smelling jasmine flower found only in the Middle East. Her personality was designed to be loving, caring, and honest. She respects her parents and is a good friend. She loves reading and enjoys fashionable clothes.

Fulla has two best friends named Yasmeen and Nada. She also has a younger brother and sister. Her creators thought about making an older, protective brother for her, but he was never released. There are also Fulla dolls that show her as a teacher or a doctor. These are two careers that Fulla's creators believe are very respectable for women.

Fulla does not have a boyfriend. This is because traditional Muslims do not believe in romantic relationships before marriage. Fulla's creators wanted her to show traditional Islamic values and social order. She has many different outfits, including the hijab. These clothes reflect what Muslim girls wear today in some Middle Eastern countries. They follow Muslim values but are still seen as stylish.

Advertising Fulla

In Saudi Arabia, animated TV commercials show Fulla's daily life. For example, they show her saying her morning prayers, baking a cake for a friend, or reading a book before bed. These scenes are made to show Fulla's good values and the kind of behavior she promotes.

Often, her commercials start with her singing in Arabic: "She will soon be by my side, and I can tell her my deepest secrets". Other commercials show Fulla as being family-focused. They feature Syrian actresses showing off Fulla silverware, stationery, and accessories. Fulla's commercials often encourage modest dressing. One commercial even warned, "When you take Fulla out of the house, don't forget her new spring abaya!"

Fulla and Barbie: A Comparison

Fulla and Barbie are about the same height. However, they have different lifestyles and appearances. Fulla's activities usually include shopping, spending time with friends, cooking, reading, and praying. Barbie dolls, on the other hand, come with many different hobbies and careers. The brand manager at NewBoy said that there would be a doctor Fulla and a teacher Fulla. This is to encourage young girls to follow these respected careers.

Both dolls have a wide range of clothes, furniture, jewelry, and other items. But Fulla's outdoor clothes do not include swimwear or anything that shows too much skin. Her skirts are always longer than knee-length, and her shoulders are always covered. Fulla's body has a vest and shorts painted on. Fulla is thinner and might look younger than Barbie. While the typical Barbie has blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, the standard Fulla has dark hair, brown eyes, and olive skin.

Despite their differences, both dolls have been criticized. Some people say they both show an unrealistic idea of beauty. They present a certain image that women are expected to look like. Fulla was even described as the opposite of Mattel's Barbie in terms of looks.

Fulla was created to promote Muslim values and be a role model for Muslim girls around the world. Barbie is mainly aimed at children in the Americas. Fulla does not have a male companion, while Barbie has Ken.

Fulla's Popularity

Fulla is sold with many accessories. These include umbrellas, watches, bicycles, corn flakes, cameras, CD players, inflatable chairs, and even swimming pools. She was designed to be different from Barbie. She represents a traditional Muslim woman whose life centers around her home and family. Some Muslim parents believe that if girls dress their dolls in headscarves, they will be more likely to wear a hijab themselves. Fulla has been praised for giving girls a Muslim role model.

In many countries where the doll is sold, Fulla is quite expensive, costing about $10 for the standard doll. Because of this, NewBoy created a cheaper version of the doll called Fulla Style. In 2015, NewBoy released a new version of the Fulla doll, known as Generation #5, which has been sold since 2016.

Fulla Magazine

NewBoy library is an online place where you can find educational materials like books and electronic magazines related to NewBoy products, such as Fulla.

The monthly Fulla magazine started in October 2006. It is published in Arabic and is for young girls up to twelve years old. The magazine has 48 pages and covers many topics, stories, and activities. Over 45,000 copies are given out each month across the Persian Gulf region and the Levant area.

Images for kids

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  A 2016 Fulla doll