Out of the Box: Paola Reina Las Amigas Carol (FCB version)

I don't know how many of you were like me and spent all of yesterday watching the three Euro matches and then the Copa America final with all their highs and lows (from Batshuayi's celebratory backflip to Messi hiding his face in his shirt), but if you did, I'm sure you can understand how I felt the need to share a football/soccer-related doll.

And it's not completely random because we're also continuing with the smaller playline doll theme, as being unboxed today is a doll from Paola Reina's Las Amigas line - in particular, the FCB version of Carol, complete with jersey and cap.


The Las Amigas dolls are a line of 12.5"/32cm vinyl dolls with rooted hair and inset eyes. The prices of the dolls vary depending on their outfits, generally ranging between €50-60/$55-65 CAD.

This particular doll came packaged on a open-faced stand-type box decorated in Barcelona's team colours:

In the box.

She is held to the box with elastics at the neck and ankles which are attached to front-facing hooks, making her very easy to remove from the box.

The text behind the doll ("more than a club")

As an aside, there are two other faces available with the Barcelona kit, and there are also dolls available that are dressed as Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid supporters.

She comes wearing her team jersey, shorts and cap, as well as white socks and converse-style shoes. Unlike most of the other dolls I've seen in this size, she's not wearing underwear.

Out of the box.

This particular doll has brown inset eyes and medium length brown hair, which was held in two low pigtails with clear elastic.  As with all of the Paola Reina dolls that I've seen, this doll has extraordinarily detailed sculpting of the mouth and nose.

Without the hat, and with her hair down.

When taken down, the hair is a little bit uneven, but not too sparsely rooted and otherwise of decent quality.

Back view of the hair immediately after removing
the pigtails.

These dolls have four points of articulation - neck, shoulders, hips - and have good swinging motion but limited to no movement in other directions (although she is able to tilt her head somewhat.  Interestingly, since the doll is shorter (by 1.5"/4cm) than the similarly styled Hearts for Hearts and Wellie Wishers lines, this body seems to have a slightly more shapely torso.

Unclothed

Despite the height difference, I think she doesn't look out of place with those slightly larger dolls.

Next to Wellie Wishers Ashlyn and Hearts for Hearts Surjan

And some more size comparisons:

Between AG mini Josefina and Island Doll Kevin (who is Yo-SD sized)

Next to American Girl Cécile.
Given the background, one might assume that Cécile is attempting
to convince Carol to say "Allez les diables" (I'm sure Carol has her
own allegiances though ;) ).

With Sasha Caleb (who has borrowed the hat) and a seated Volks SDC Miko.

Despite being quite a bit taller, Miko can fit
into the jersey (although it's a bit short on him).

Overall, I think Carol (and the line in general) have fantastic facial sculpts, and while the bodies are fairly lightweight and standard, the faces more than make up for that. And as for this doll in particular, her outfit is of decent quality, and she just strikes me as being an overall fun doll (although it would have been even more fun if she'd come with a ball).

A parting wave.