Bratz doll prom outfit

Bella Simpson (born 1996) is a young trans woman who came out socially as a transgender girl when she was 11 years old, and began a public life as a trans advocate when she was 12.

From an early age Bella loved playing with dolls. She particularly loved Bratz dolls, amassing a large collection of dolls and accessories, including a house, car, motorbike, pool, hair salon and cafe.

Bella remembers when she was six years old watching a group of girls playing with Polly Pocket dolls and not being allowed to play. A year later in a different city, she saw a girl playing with Bratz dolls who didn't allowed Bella to play with them. But at that point, Bella had a younger neighbour she could visit and play with her Bratz and Barbie dolls. After playing for a year, Bella thought 'I need one of these in my life' (Simpson 2020). Her parents bought her a boy Bratz doll at first, then eventually gave her a Bratz doll called Yasmin.

Bella later gave her large collection of 150 dolls to a young trans person, but kept her favourite outfit from the Bratz doll Dana, called 'Formal Funk (Prom 2003)'. These are the last pieces she kept.