Barbie may have had Ken and a few assorted friends to pal around with, but Dawn, one of the many dolls to try her hand at competing with the blond icon, had a downright entourage of cohorts. This was one popular and remarkably groovy chick with a style all her own.

The “real” eyelashes and fashionable attire were only the tip of the iceberg. Dawn had the ability to walk and strike a hundred different poses, at least according to the folks at Topper, who manufactured the doll. She came packaged with a display stand, a mini-dress, and pair of white underwear. Unfortunately, she also suffered an unfortunate skin condition around her knees, thanks to discoloration caused when her vinyl skin came in contact with the metal bracket housed within her leg.  

 

But even greenish-blue knees weren’t enough to impact her social life. Dawn boasted more friends than Barbie could have ever dreamed of, including her African-American friend, Dale; Glori (the redhead) and Angie (the brunette.) A year later she would meet up with the likes of Jessica, Longlocks and so as to not neglect the opposite sex, Gary, Ron and Van.

Dawn and her friends would eventually be bestowed with more wardrobe choices, including majorette attire, fancy gowns, and the unforgettable Flower Fantasy line which consisted of floral prints and, strangely, a flower pot for her to stand in and strut her stuff. Equipped with the sleek Dawn’s Action Car, she could grab the gang and head over the Dawn’s Disco (you couldn’t really call yourself a doll in the late 70s unless you had the obligatory accompanying disco playset.)

She was a doll that gave it her best amidst the sea of competition, but it wasn’t enough to save Topper from going bankrupt in 1973, which meant the unfortunately demise of Dawn. Today, she lives on only in fond memory and amidst regrets of what might have been. Dawn, we hardly knew you but we loved you just the same.