Two amazing #InspiredByRealKids Lottie role-models – Taylor and Allie – have been honoured at the Teen Vogue Summit as two of their ‘21 under 21’ list. The Teen Vogue Summit was hosted by editor in chief of Teen Vogue, Elaine Welteroth, from 1st - 2nd December in Los Angeles, California. The 21 Under 21 class of 2017 were honoured with this title as they are tackling today’s biggest challenges with cutting-edge innovation, culture-shifting creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit. This is what Lottie was invented for! 

Taylor & Allie meeting for the first time at the Teen Vogue Summit 2017 event!

Taylor & Allie inspired are both hugely inspirational role models to Lottie, and it comes as no surprise to us that they have been awarded this honour. The Teen Vogue Summit was created to bring Teen Vogue to life; bringing ‘opportunities to learn new skills that'll help you achieve your goals from experts across fields like entrepreneurship, tech, and activism; and the chance to connect IRL with fans and readers who share common passions and interests.’

Proud to share #21under21 with my @Lottie_dolls buddy @RobotMakerGirl! #lottiedolls #teenvogue #STEMgirls pic.twitter.com/9WMymSY24I

— Taylor Richardson (@astrostarbright) December 2, 2017

Allie (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) inspired Robot Girl Lottie and Busy Lizzie the Robot following her own robot creation made completely from recyclable materials for a school science fair when she was just 6-years old. Allie, who also goes by ‘Robot Maker Girl’ or ‘Tech-nic-Allie’, is a true inventor; she does not see problems as obstacles, she sees them as opportunities to learn and create something new.

“I think Lottie opens up new horizons for girls through STEM. She's a doll that helps teach kids STEM through fun. Like people can play with her and they would still learn STEM and they can have fun through learning STEM.” – Allie

Allie was recently shortlisted for the 2017 Discovery Education Young Scientist Challenge, and made it to the top 10 finalists.  She entered the competition after encouragement from her science teacher, and her invention is a medical device aimed at children, called the incentive spirometer. This device helps patients improve lung functionality, and kids must use these multiple times a day in hospital - so Allie created her darts game to make this experience more fun for kids, which also records the data for the hospital!

Can’t forget that @Lottie_dolls Mia is tagging along with me at @TeenVogue #TeenVogueSummit and she about that @LIFEWTR! pic.twitter.com/YfBUsWAJCz

— Taylor Richardson (@astrostarbright) December 1, 2017

Taylor (Jacksonville, Florida) is an aspiring astronaut, and it’s no surprise that she inspired Astro Adventure outfit set. She aims to be the first African American woman on Mars, and her passion for astronomy, along with her volunteerism and literacy efforts has seen Taylor; meet her idol physician and NASA astronaut, Dr Mae Jemison, attend the UN Women’s Summit in the White House and become one of the youngest children to ever attend Space Camp. This weekend saw her meet another idol – two-time Academy Award Nominee Ava DuVernay, director of The 13^th and Selma for which she became the first black female director to have her film nominated for the Academy Award for best picture.

“To see so many people that looked like and to hear CEOs women I might add doing great things and wanting to help girls like me I’m just amazed. So I leave LA today with even more Drive, Determination and Focus to do more in my community!” - Taylor

Taylor recently raised over $20,000 to send over one thousand underprivileged youths to see the Hidden Figures film, and inspired similar campaigns in 72 cities raising over $120,000. Taylor’s mission to explore new opportunities and continue to pay it forward for girls while bringing more representation to the table, makes her the perfect Lottie role model - and the Inspired by Real Kids featurette, helps to share Taylor’s incredible story.

Six real girls inspired diverse Lottie doll designs to date – and now, we have committed that in all designs going forward, children will permanently play a role in the inspiration of all Lottie products. Monthly competitions online and in-store, which began in September 2017, all kids to have a say in what they want to see next in the Lottie line, with the aim to empower kids to create what they want to see, be, and play with. Find out more and enter the Inspired by Real Kids competition, here.

It is incredibly important that kids see themselves reflected in the toys they play with, and diversity and inclusion is at the heart of the business. The company invites families to participate on our website where they can enter their designs and become the next Lottie inspiration as well as in their local participating independent toy stores. 12 products will be launched per year, following the monthly themed ‘Inspired by Real Kids’ competitions. 10% of the profits from our #InspiredByRealKids products will be donated to Children’s charities.

Some of the other girls that have inspired Lottie products include Cadence, the inspiration behind Gone Fishing outfit set.

In 2014 when we noticed females were underrepresented we ran a competition to design a Superhero Lottie. Lily, then aged 6 years old, from Ohio provided the winning entry. 

In 2015 we developed Stargazer Lottie inspired by an idea by Abigail from Canada, after partnering with the European Space Agency to encourage more girls to develop an interest in STEAM Stargazer Lottie was included in Astronaut Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station.