Meet Shaneisha Dodson, a trailblazer whose passion for representation and storytelling is reshaping the world of toys and literature. Inspired by her own childhood experiences and the desire to see every child reflected in the dolls and books they cherish, Shaneisha created Brilliant Girl and the Adventures of Sugamama. Her journey began with a simple but profound mission: to bring diversity and empowerment into the realm of play. Through the creation of the first Black 18-inch superhero doll and a beloved book series, Shaneisha has not only addressed a significant gap in the market but also touched countless lives. Join us as Shaneisha shares her inspiring story of overcoming challenges, celebrating victories, and making a lasting impact on the next generation.
- What motivated you to create Brilliant Girl and the Adventures of Sugamama book?
I created Brilliant Girl to bring more representation in the doll industry. I think it’s important that every child sees themselves represented in dolls, books, and animation. I have a niece that I nicknamed Sugamama. She has always loved a good bedtime story, so I wrote a book titled The Adventures of Sugamama. It’s about a little girl who wakes up in the middle of the night and finds out that she is a superhero.
2. How did your childhood experiences with representation influence your decision to start a business focused on dolls and toys?
I grew up in a small town in Arkansas and there were not many dolls on the store shelves that looked like me. Majority of the dolls were white dolls. There was not a lot of representation. As an adult, I understand the importance that representation can have on a child’s self-esteem. All children need to feel like their lives matter.
3. Can you share the story behind the creation of the first Black 18-inch superhero doll and the impact it has had?
After I wrote The Adventures of Sugamama, I would get numerous DMs from parents about how much they loved the book or read it to their child every night. So I came up with the idea to create a doll so every child can have their own physical Sugamama. When I created the doll, I didn’t realize that it would be the first black 18-inch superhero doll. The impact has been indescribable. I’ve so many adults talk to me about their experiences of it only being one black doll in the store when they were growing up, or how they would have loved to have a Sugamama doll when they were growing up.
- What challenges did you face in bringing your vision to life, and how did you overcome them?
The challenges I faced was finding the right companies to create my prototype and final doll. When I started the process to create a doll, I didn’t have a mentor. I started everything from scratch. After doing a deep dive on the internet, I was able to locate companies in China that could bring my vision to life.
- What has been the most rewarding aspect of seeing children connect with your dolls and stories?
The most rewarding aspect is being able to donate to children in need and having a child see my doll and says, “she looks like me.”
- Can you describe a moment when you felt particularly proud of your work with Brilliant Girl?
One day I was looking at my website and realized how one book turned into numerous projects. It made me feel proud of my work.
- What advice would you give to other women who are passionate about creating products that reflect their own experiences and values?
Do think too hard about it. Just do it. You just never know the impact your products could have on the world.
- How do you envision the future of Brilliant Girl, and what goals do you have for the brand?
I plan to be an international brand. My goals for the future is to create a robot and to turn the Sugamama series into an animation.
- What message do you hope to convey to young children through your dolls and stories, and how do you see this evolving over time?
I want children to know that the sky is the limit. And, that they can become anything that they want to be in life. I want children to look at my life and say if she can do it so can I.
IG: @the_brilliantgirl and @blkgirlz12
