MIAMI (WSVN) - A South Florida girl teased and bullied in Kindergarten, created an organization to inspire and motivate young girls going though the same thing. Her doll collection is not for her, it’s actually a generous gesture that’s impacting lives.
“I do Zoe’s dolls because I want little brown girls to know that their image is beautiful, and that they’re just special, just the way they are,” said Zoe Terry.
Zoe isn’t your typical kid. At just 9 years old, this South Florida girl is doing her part to make the world a better place, and she’s doing so by bringing joy to others one doll at a time.
“Every year, around Christmas time, my mom would make me give out one of my toys,” said Zoe, “and when I was 5, I told her I didn’t want to do that anymore.”
Zoe had a better idea — instead of just donating her toys, she said she wanted to start her own company in order to give little girls like herself, dolls made in their image.
Every year on her birthday, Zoe asks family, friends and community members to donate dolls of color. She said her inspiration came from being bullied because of the way she looks.
“It makes me feel very sad, and that’s one of the biggest purposes of Zoe’s Dolls,” said Zoe, “to make girls feel that their image is beautiful. That they are just special.”
From Oct. 19 to Dec. 20, Zoe and her family collect hundreds of dolls. Once the holiday season rolls around, the toys will be distributed to kids all around Miami-Dade and Broward counties, as well as Georgia, Texas, Haiti and even Africa.
“I love dolls, and I want to share my experience of having dolls with other people,” said Zoe.
While she’s already accomplished a lot in the past four years, Zoe said, this is only the beginning. “I just want to give my dolls out, make girls feel that they’re special and eventually have my own line. That’s my biggest, biggest goal.”
Since starting the organization, Zoe has given out more than 2,000 dolls to little girls in need. For more information click on Zoe’s Dolls.
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