US EditionBrazil’s Life-Like Doll Craze Goes From Shopping Malls to the Country’s Legislatures
- Brazil has seen a surge in demand for hyper-realistic reborn dolls resembling infants, sparking national debate in 2025.
- This rise follows a trend originating in the U.S. In the 1990s, with increased online interest and social media attention fueling local popularity.
- Collectors, including 46-year-old Alana Generoso who runs a doll store in Sao Paulo, defend the hobby as emotionally comforting and insist buyers are mentally sound.
- Prices range from 700 to nearly 10,000 reais, while lawmakers have debated bills both honoring doll makers and restricting medical care related to the dolls amid growing controversy.
- The debate reflects broader issues including loneliness linked to the pandemic, sex-based criticism of doll collectors, and differing societal views on adult hobbies for women.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Brazil's life-like dolls obsession taking over, craze goes from shopping malls to state legislatures
The fascination for life-like dolls has sparked debate in Brazil, with videos featuring emotional moments with hyper-realistic baby dolls going viral and even lawmakers bringing the life-like dolls into legislatures. Influencers have staged situations such as birth simulations and strolls in shopping malls with the hand-crafted baby figures, known as “reborn" dolls, creating videos that have gone viral. In Rio de Janeiro, the city council has pa…
Los Angeles Times
Independent EspañolRealistic Doll Fever in Brazil Goes Viral and Generates Political Reactions
Videos that show emotional moments with hyperrealistic baby dolls have become viral in Brazil, generating fascination and controversy.
Brazil's life-like doll craze goes from shopping malls to the country's legislatures
Videos featuring emotional moments with hyper-realistic baby dolls have sparked both online fascination and political debate in Brazil, with lawmakers even bringing the life-like dolls into legislatures.
Associated Press News
Brazil's lifelike doll craze goes from shopping malls to state legislatures
Videos featuring emotional moments with hyper-realistic baby dolls have sparked both online fascination and political debate in Brazil, with lawmakers even bringing the lifelike dolls into legislatures.
ABC FOX Montana
Brazil breaks out in a rash over life-like doll craze
Gabi Matos looks the quintessential doting mum as she changes Ravi's nappy, cooing reassuringly as he stares up at her.
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