Toy Company Founder Creates Michelle Yeoh Doll To Honour Her Historic Oscars Moment
Elenor Mak's latest creation celebrates both the actress and the importance of representation.
For Elenor Mak, creating a doll inspired by Michelle Yeoh's historic 2023 Oscars win wasn't just a project — it was a dream come true
"The child in me would have never believed it," said the doll company founder, who hopes to one day pass the doll to Yeoh herself.
Growing up in '80s America, Elenor shared with SAYS that she rarely saw Asian representation in mainstream media, let alone in dolls.
Watching Yeoh's films with her parents — her mother from Singapore and her father from Hong Kong — made the actress a cherished figure in her life.
So, when Yeoh made history on the Oscars stage, Elenor felt compelled to honour the moment in a unique way.
Image via EL Mak (Facebook)
Image via EL Mak (Facebook)
As the founder of Jilly Bing, a company dedicated to creating dolls that authentically represent Asian American children, Elenor set out to craft a doll in Yeoh's likeness, dressed in an outfit inspired by her elegant white feathered gown from the awards ceremony
Within a year, and with help from her mother, she brought the vision to life.
A skilled schoolteacher in Hong Kong handcrafted the intricate dress, while the doll's hair was meticulously styled in Los Angeles.
Image via EL Mak (Facebook)
Image via EL Mak (Facebook)
Image via Elenor Mak (Provided to SAYS)
Jilly Bing was born out of Elenor's frustration at the lack of Asian representation in the toy industry
In 2022, after struggling to find a doll that truly resembled her then three-year-old daughter, Jillian, she decided to create her own.
Too often, Asian dolls were just modified versions of white ones, given stereotypical features or accessorised with pandas to signify their ethnicity.
Determined to change this, Elenor launched her company to celebrate Asian heritage through dolls with authentic Asian features.
Her efforts quickly gained traction, and by August 2023, Jilly Bing dolls were selling out within weeks!
Elenor Mak (middle in orange) went on CBS Mornings to talk about the story behind Jilly Bing last year.
Image via EL Mak (Facebook)
"In a world where most dolls still have blonde hair and blue eyes, we now have the chance to create a doll for Michelle — one that reflects our Asian faces," Elenor shared with SAYS
"I'm so proud that we got to create this doll, and even prouder that we have someone like Michelle Yeoh to inspire it — and our children. Because solidifying identity and belonging at a young age? That's always in style," she wrote.
Image via Jilly Bing/Dartmouth Alumni Magazine
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