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Brazil's Growing Obsession with Reborn Dolls
Brazil is experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity for hyperrealistic baby dolls known as "reborn babies." These incredibly lifelike creations, costing between €200 and €1500, are captivating women across the country who find comfort, healing, and nostalgia in caring for these artificial infants.
The Emotional Connection
Gracinha Maria de Lima from Jacarepacua, Rio de Janeiro, represents the typical reborn doll enthusiast. She proudly walks through her neighborhood with Laurinha, her three-month-old reborn doll that looks so realistic it causes passersby to do double-takes. "I cherish her and care for her like a real baby, though I know she's not alive. I'm not crazy," Gracinha emphasizes.
Her collection of fourteen reborn dolls began as a coping mechanism after her daughter passed away in 2019. "I noticed it gave me comfort, and that's how my hobby started. When I feel sad, I talk to my dolls. I cuddle them and even give them bottles."
The Artists Behind the Magic
In workshops across Brazil, skilled artists like Janaina Affonso meticulously paint vinyl limbs with tiny brushes, creating astonishingly realistic features including visible pores, eyelashes, and miniature fingernails. These artisans are affectionately called "ooievaars" (storks) because they "deliver" the babies to their new families.
Janaina explains the diverse motivations behind the trend: "Sometimes women couldn't have children and miss that experience. There are mothers with grown children who yearn for the baby years. I even get requests to create baby models from photos of clients' now-adult daughters."
Addressing Childhood Deprivation
In a country with significant wealth inequality, many women from impoverished backgrounds are reclaiming stolen childhoods through these dolls. "Often women tell me they never had dolls growing up because there was no money," Janaina notes. "Or they had to work as children to help support their families. Now as adults, they want to make up for that lost time with these realistic dolls."
When Fantasy Meets Reality
The phenomenon has occasionally led to unusual situations. Some women have taken their "sick" reborn dolls to hospitals expecting medical examination. Others use baby priority privileges in stores, while one man mistakenly slapped what he thought was a doll in a stroller—only to discover it was a real infant. Fortunately, the baby was unharmed.
Political and Cultural Recognition
Brazilian politicians are now considering regulations to prevent misuse of reborn dolls, while Rio de Janeiro's city council proposes establishing a "Day of the Stork" on September 4th to honor the artists. Despite criticism from the mayor, enthusiasts like Janaina plan major events celebrating the growing community of reborn doll lovers across Brazil.
