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Latest ME Doll Press Release: Below

Press Release 2: Black News.com

Press Release 1: South Florida Caribbean Times

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Black Doll Affair Launches “Crown ME™: A Soulful Beauty Search for the Queens of Humanity

Inspired by Mitochondrial Eve, A Pretty… Philanthropic™ Casting Call for Inner Radiance

Nationwide | March 2026: During Women’s History Month, The Black Doll Affair (BDA) proudly announces Crown ME™, a global search for the most powerfully philanthropic representations of the face of humanity, inspired by its newly introduced ME Doll™, a cultural art doll head celebrating Mitochondrial Eve, acronym ME, the African mother of humanity.

Using the hashtag #iamMEiam, during Black History Month The Black Doll Affair officially introduced the ME Doll to the world following its first private debut at Christmas 2025, when young girls were the first to receive the Mitochondrial Eve doll as part of BDA’s annual “Be a Doll, Give a Doll” USA Black Doll giveaways. The moment marked the beginning of a larger cultural conversation about racism, kindness, consideration, identity, ancestry, and humanity.

Founder of The Black Doll Affair and creator of the ME Doll, Dana “Mama Doll” Hill intentionally aligned the public launch with Black History Month as a nod of respect to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and its founder, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the visionary who established Black History Month. Hill, nominated by the organization as a Living Legacy, viewed the timing as an opportunity to honor Black history while expanding the conversation toward shared human origins.

Alongside the launch, The Black Doll Affair introduced ME + You, a collaborative global art initiative inviting communities and artists to participate in #YouPaintME, where participants receive a complimentary ME Doll, paying only for shipping and preparation. Each doll arrives with an archival handling glove and presentation elements designed to be painted, customized, and transformed into personal artistic expressions of humanity’s shared mother. As collectors and artists begin receiving their dolls and the first community renderings emerge this summer, The Black Doll Affair expands the movement during Women’s History Month with the introduction of #CrownME.

Crown ME is intentionally not described as a traditional beauty pageant. Instead, it is a cultural search and storytelling experience seeking individuals whose faces and journeys through life reflect the kindness and vast diversity of humanity. Participants are not judged by conventional beauty standards but by their overall essence, which includes presence, story, and philanthropic footsteps. The initiative challenges historic definitions of beauty by asking a larger question: How should the daughters of the Mother of Humanity rise into their queenship today?

The search is open to individuals 18 years of age and older of all backgrounds and identities. Black, white, brown, plus size, abled, disabled, traditionally beautiful, and nontraditional beauty alike are encouraged to apply. The Black Doll Affair is seeking faces and spirits that reflect humanity in its fullest and most beautiful expression. Applicants are invited to submit a 500-word bio and one photograph through blackdollaffair.com as part of the official Crown ME search.

“In a world increasingly divided by race and identity, after witnessing Black and white doll tests, in 2007 I created The Black Doll Affair self-esteem movement to care for and empower Blackness. In 2025, I created the ME Doll to further the discussion about who we truly are. In 2026, I present Crown ME to remind the world of who we are meant to become: family,” said Hill. “Crown ME is an extension of our brand and an invitation to see ourselves in one another. International examples of the type of beauty we are searching for include Celia Cruz, Cicely Tyson, Princess Diana, Harriet Tubman, MacKenzie Scott, Michelle Obama, Mother Teresa, Sonia Sotomayor, THE BLACK DOLLS, and Yoko Ono. There is a reason for the black heart in our logo. It is love. Crown ME is not about physical perfection. It is about beauty from the inside out. It is about stepping into one’s royalty as a daughter of humanity and embracing altruism, compassion, connection, philanthropy, peace, representation, and the scientific truth that we are one. One world. One family. One African mother.”

The search is on for the queen of Crown ME. After showing up with a beautiful presence and demonstrating a commitment to unity, cross-cultural understanding, and philanthropic engagement through high-profile ME public relations campaigns, finalists will take a trip to the Motherland. The woman who is crowned will become a Queen Ambassadoll of The Black Doll Affair and will go on to represent the organization through her unique platform.

Through Crown ME, The Black Doll Affair continues its mission of using dolls, storytelling, and community engagement to challenge bias, spark dialogue, and help dismantle racism by reframing how humanity sees itself.

Submissions are now open at:
www.blackdollaffair.com

About The Black Doll Affair

The Black Doll Affair is an award-winning self-esteem movement founded in 2007 to challenge the lasting impact of historic Black and white doll tests by promoting positive identity, representation, and belonging. For nearly twenty years, the organization has empowered women, girls, and communities through storytelling, philanthropy, and cultural programming. The movement partnered with Mattel’s Barbie brand for ten years, including initiatives that helped spark conversations about beauty, race, and representation, notably featuring Barbie in an Afro. A recipient of Congressional Recognition from the late Congressman John Lewis and President Obama’s Presidential Service Award, the organization is supported by cultural icons such as Beverly Johnson, Danny Strong, Gabrielle Union, Taye Diggs, Misty Copeland, and Anthony Anderson. The Black Doll Affair continues its mission through initiatives including the ME Doll, My Doll Talks, and global community partnerships.