Quick! Name a fashion doll. Did you say Barbie? Did you Bratz? Or, how about MyScene?
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Whenever we think about dolls, people usually think about the Barbies and Bratzs of this world. They still hold such cultural relevance to this day, both usually cited as major style inspirations for so many fashion lovers. Who can forget the big Bratz comeback in the pandemic? Or when Barbenheimer was the big event of Summer 2023?
However, there is another contender that also deserves their flowers: MyScene.
Released in 2002, the MyScene doll line was Mattel’s answer to Bratz’s success. Their main inspiration for this Barbie spin-off? Teenagers in New York. Taking on a slightly more mature look to appeal to an older audience, they proved to be quite popular. They also gained popularity through their webisodes and computer games. With lead designer Lily Martinez being inspired by what women in NYC wore then, they reflected all the NYC trends of the time.
With Y2K fashion serving as a major inspo for many of today’s trends, MyScene deserves a spot on the conversation on the it doll lines of the past.
THE LORE IS LORE-ING
The original line-up consisted of Barbie, Madison, and Chelsea. Another core member, Nolee, eventually joined the group. With the exception of Barbie, all the other core members were named after iconic places in New York. Madison was named after Madison Avenue, Chelsea was named after the Chelsea neighborhood, and Nolee was named after the Nolita neighborhood.
They were a group of highschoolers that simply loved fashion and friendship, and without a ton of responsibilities (no really, they barely went to school) they simply were just living their best lives (a vibe, tbh). Dare I say, they were Gen Z’s Sex and the City! With their deep love for style, the girls were decked head-to-toe in some of the decade’s coolest pieces that still remain in-demand today.
KEEPING IT COOL
The girls stood out as a middle ground between the classic Barbie look and the edgier Bratz aesthetic, looking to be a little softer but still mirroring past trends. This can be seen with how they style denim pieces such as bootcut jeans, chunky boots, and bold accessories. These pieces continue to be making the waves in places such as Pinterest, proving that the girls were ahead of their time.
Chelsea in particular was one to make her clothes more unique by personalizing them herself (Barbie even asking her if she had been “altering on the subway again”). As the seamstress of the bunch, she came and served unique ‘fits. The other girls often wore outfits that matched their lifestyle, ensuring that their looks represented them best. Nolee would wear a lot of active wear since she is the sporty one of the group. Barbie is the party girl of the bunch, wearing heels and dresses that were dancefloor-approved. Madison is the aspiring musician and main shopper of the group, and those are evident in her wardrobe.
With personal style becoming much more relevant in 2025, the girls lowkey set the bar for making our clothes truly unique and to represent us best.
AHEAD OF THEIR TIME
When MyScene was released, they introduced a website as well. The website featured their “All About Me” pages to get to know the girls, mini-webisodes, and games. Coming out when flash games were still alive (oh… those were the days), they were ahead of their time with this idea. This allowed for the girls to gain popularity, even if people didn’t have the actual dolls.
True to their everlasting popularity, in 2024, Mattel brought back MyScene, but this time as Collector Edition dolls. The original trio of Barbie, Madison, and Chelsea returned with an updated look that featured trends of the 2020’s, but kept their remaining 2000’s flair. Many were excited to see the girls back, proving that they still have their fans waiting for them.
While not brought up often in discussions about iconic doll lines from our childhoods, MyScene has remained a favorite for those who grew up with them. With outfits that look like they came straight out of a NYC fit check, MyScene deserves more recognition for their influence in fashion. Here’s to manifesting a MyScene summer this 2025!
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