We have collaborated with our friend, filmmaker Elena Rossini (remember Lottie in Space?!) to create the Lottie ‘Inspired by Real Kids’ video series, which champions the real girls who have inspired Lottie! The incredible Ann O’Dea, Founder of Inspire Fest will launch our Lottie Inspired by Real Kids campaign, to open the festival tomorrow morning. We connected with Elena two years ago at the very first Inspire Fest, and are excited for our latest project with our Inspire Fest family! 

Inspiring and empowering kids to be themselves, one doll at a time – Lottie is true to childhood, and the ‘Inspired by Real Kids’ campaign celebrates the remarkable real girls that have inspired Lottie Dolls. Inspire Fest, now in its third year, is Europe’s leading sci-tech and arts festival, with diversity at its heart –  Anne O’Dea will open the festival by presenting a short featurette focused on Lottie role model, Taylor Richardson. 

 

Thirteen-year-old Taylor Richardson became part of the Lottie story last year, when she and her mother, Toni, were looking for a diverse STEM doll and came across Stargazer Lottie. Aspiring Astronaut Taylor aims to be the first African American woman on Mars, and her passion for astronomy, along with her volunteerism and literacy efforts has seen Taylor; meet her idol physician and NASA astronaut, Dr Mae Jemison, attend the UN Women’s Summit in the White House and become one of the youngest children to ever attend Space Camp.

Taylor recently raised $20,000 to send over 1000 youths to see the Hidden Figures film, and inspired similar campaigns in 72 cities raising over $120,000. Taylor’s mission to explore new opportunities and continue to pay it forward for girls while bringing more representation to the table, makes her the perfect Lottie role model - and the Inspired by Real Kids featurette, helps to share Taylor’s incredible story.

The Lottie 'Inspired by Real Kids' campaign tells the stories of the girls who have directly inspired Lottie Dolls through their dreams and designs – submitting their ideas to us and watching then unfold in doll form. The follow-up featurettes will be made available over the Summer via Lottie social media.

The girls include; Abigail (B.C, Canada, age six) her Stargazer Lottie doll ended up spending #264 days on the International Space Station last year as part of Tim Peake’s mission, Allie (Sioux Falls, USA, age twelve) who inspired Robot Girl Lottie doll following her own robot creation made completely from recyclable materials for a school science fair and Allie was recently shortlisted for the 2017 Discovery Education Young Scientist Challenge. Cadence (Ridgefield, USA, age ten) inspired a fishing accessory based on her love of the outdoors and fishing with her Dad along the river, and Lily (Ohio, USA, age eight) who designed her dream superhero Lottie outfit as part of Lottie’s international competition, to demonstrate that girls can be superheroes too!

Lily on Lottie: “Lottie has the power to be anything, to do anything and to make the world a better place. She is unique and special in her own way!”

Enter Your Ideas!

Many of the Lottie, Finn and Friends collection of dolls, outfits, accessories and playsets come from the amazing, awe inspiring imaginations of children – we invite families to participate on www.lottie.com where they can submit their designs and become the next Lottie inspiration! This week celebrates Lottie’s latest competition winner, Irish fan, Eithne (Dublin, age 10) who designed the ‘Ultimate Den’ for Lottie! Well done Eithne!

 - Team Lottie! 

Be Bold, Be Brave, Be YOU!