The First Imani

The First Imani!
This is the first Imani done by Olmec Toys. She was also called Naomi.


I have posted the second version of the doll in an
earlier post. This first head sculpt was supposed to look
like the company’s owner- Yla Eason.



Close-up --A little scary. The second version had a better
makeup job.



Owner Yla Eason
To me, it vaguely looks like her but it doesn’t really
capture her beauty. (I guess I would say the same about
Mattel’s and Hasbro's scary versions of Beyonce too 

along with several celebrity dolls.)


Often when you send an item out of the country for
reproduction, it doesn’t return the way you expected.
With the cost of manufacturing, sometimes you must 

accept it and move on.

Naomi was the original name given to this 11-1/2-inch
fashion doll made by Olmec in 1988. There were some
legal problems regarding the name and it was
changed to Ellisse in 1989. The name then changes to
Imani but used the same head sculpt in the early 1990s’.
This company is no longer in business. Some of the
websites containing information about the company
are no longer posted but if you look you can find some
info. If you are interested in the male dolls please visit
my post on Olmec Men.

Olmec Dolls --Olmec Men!

Hey Gang!

Olmec Men!
After producing the Imani doll, Olmec produced a boyfriend
for her. (If you are unfamiliar with Imani, please see my
earlier post on her.) His name was Menelik. The name
Menelik was an Ethiopian emperor.
As with Imani, they produced him in three complexions.
Unfortunately, I only have two of them.

Here is the Evening Gear Menelik and

the Kwanzaa Menelik. One point of interest is that the fabric

lots for these dolls must have been limited. Many of the

same issue dolls have slightly different clothing fabrics.

Close-up on the face.

They have a "box" or "high top fade" haircut that was big 

at the time and made popular by the rap group Kid 'N Play.  

It is horrifying what used to pass for cool! The Box and the 

Jheri Curl has, for some reason, returned in 2024.

The comparison

Warning nude dolls

Here is the doll out of the clothing. The body isn't Ken

quality or the quality of many action figures like World Peace

Keepers. The legs are narrower than Ken's and

The feet are narrower,  too.

Menelik Ken

Arms can move forward, but not sideways

and hands are curved.

Menelik hand Ken hand

I have had problems with the arms breaking off from the body,

and I have replaced 2 or 3 doll bodies when I can locate them

for a reasonable price. The head knob is different from Ken's, so their

head can not be placed on a Ken body.

Some parts of the Olmec doll line were used again in the

beginning creations of the Janay and Jordan/Tariq line.

Both dolls were made in China, and that might be why.

That line was done by Integrity Toys. In the early years of

the line, the body from Jordan could make a suitable replacement

for the original Olmec body. As a matter of fact, many male

doll heads can fit on that type of body that can fit on a Mattel

Ken's body. Many action figures have the same neck opening.

Sadly, the body on the Integrity doll has changed, and

can no longer be used for this or other dolls.

OK, Thanks For Looking!