A woman known as “Britain’s biggest Barbie fan” has revealed that she now owns over 850 dolls in her collection worth a whopping £60items ,000.
Dawn Austin is completely “obsessed” with the iconic toy.
The 45-year-old has no intention of selling any, much to the dismay of her husband, Steve, also 45, who has one strict rule: no dolls in the bedroom.
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She has recently expanded her collection and now has over 850 stored in her home, including a few first editions.
It’s estimated she’s spent an eye-watering £30,000 in total over the years, though she believes her stash is worth over double that.
“As a child, Barbie was a character I could turn into anything I wanted her to be,” the artist, who lives in Belper, Derbyshire, told What’s The Jam.
“She represented to me the idea that I could be anything I wanted to be – through the power of play and imagination, I could explore being a rock star, actress, doctor, even a nun.
“Now, as an adult collector, I see her as a cultural icon of sorts.
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“I enjoy the hunt for the items and find the scrolling on eBay looking for them relaxing after work – it’s a nice way to wind down.”
Despite having spent thousands of pounds on her passion, Dawn doesn’t regret a penny – and would never part with her beloved collection.
She said, “I couldn’t bear to ever get rid of them.
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“They’re like family to me.”
Dawn, who restores old Barbies in her spare time, has the woman herself, Ken, Sindy and all their friends.
She’s also recently got her hands on the first Black Barbie, which she found at a toy show for just £10.
Her most expensive dolls include Ponytail Barbie number two, with box and stand, estimated at £6,000.
The Ponytail three edition is worth £1,200, and others, including an American girl with long hair, a Japanese exclusive skipper and a rare Korean wonder woman, are worth a couple of hundred each.
She said: “I’ve been lucky to purchase many dolls at incredible deals.
“But I’ve also paid a couple of thousand for rare Barbies I’ve hunted down.
“I use eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, thrifts, antique malls, conventions, toy shows and private dealers to find them.
“I have sold some dolls to upgrade, only if I’ve found one in better condition.”
Dawn first fell in love with Barbie after being bought a doll while at the airport as a child.
She quickly became “obsessed” and asked for them at every occasion.
As she got older, though, her interest wavered, and Dawn gave them away to new homes.
But then, a few years later, nostalgia kicked in when I discovered eBay.
Instantly, Dawn was “hooked” on buying back her childhood.
She said, “When the doll arrived, I was ecstatic.
“I bought more and more, and before I knew it, I had no room left.
“That didn’t stop me, though.
“When I met Steve, he drove me to conventions and spent weekends with me scouring markets and charity shops.
“I fell in love with the craftsmanship and their history.”
Dawn started sharing her collection on social media, racking up thousands of followers.
And her impressive efforts have been noticed by Mattel themselves, with her being sent gifts for Barbie’s 65th anniversary.
Now, she keeps the dolls in rolling cabinets behind glass, protected from dust and to prevent any damage.
The figurines are quickly outgrowing her home and so Dawn is faced with the prospect of moving – or giving some away.
She added, “Now I have reached a certain stage with my collection, and I am faced with
The dilemma of whether I should sell some items I am not as attached to anymore in order to make space, or just move?
“And that [moving] does seem like a more likely option.
“For new collectors, I recommend buying what you love and what makes you happy.
“Try to get the items as mint as you possibly can, learn how to restore well, and set budgets and stick to them!
“Life in plastic is really fantastic.”
