Photos by Linda Levine

DOLLS: What is the name of your club, and where is it based?

Linda Levine (club president and founder): Raleigh, North Carolina, is home to the Pink Heels of the Central Carolina Fashion Doll Club.

DOLLS: When was the club founded, and what inspired its creation?

Levine: The club was founded in 2009, and it coincided with the 50th anniversary of Barbie.

I had started attending the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in 2007. It was amazing to have the experience of being surrounded by so many fellow collectors, and I wanted to bring that opportunity to my community.

Originally, my club was limited to those in the Raleigh area. We opened it up to associate membership and now have mem­bers all across the United States, as well as international members.

DOLLS: What is the club’s current mission or main purpose?

Levine: Our mission is to provide a place for collectors to share their passion for dolls. We want to facilitate opportunities for collectors to form friendships with fellow collectors. We work to promote doll collecting in a positive way and have sponsored several doll exhibits.

We are very committed to charity projects and have donated over 1,000 dolls to local charities, in addition to donating toys through the Toys for Tots program.

DOLLS: Does the club focus on specific types or styles of dolls?

Levine: Fashion dolls, especially Barbie, are our main focus, but we welcome all doll collectors. We love to learn about other dolls through our club members.

DOLLS: What has been the club’s most significant challenge?

Levine: During COVID-19, we had to come up with new ways to keep members in contact, as we were unable to have local meetings for several years. We turned to tools like Zoom to al­low members to continue their involvement in the club. This provided all of our members with access to club events, includ­ing associate members who previously did not have this oppor­tunity to attend meetings. We have continued the meetings and they have been very popular.

DOLLS: Approximately how many members are in the club today?

Levine: 70

DOLLS: What events does the club host or attend together? Are there any upcoming activities or plans you’re excited about?

Levine: Many of us attend the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention. Our club was one of the sponsoring clubs of the 2023 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Orlando, Florida.

One of our club members hosts a local mini convention in Dur­ham, North Carolina, every year, which many of us attend.

We’re excited to be holding our annual Southern Event in June during the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. We have sponsored this annual event since 2011. It is an opportunity to bring collectors together for a fun meal, and many friendships have developed over the years.

DOLLS: Does the club hold regular meetings?

Levine: Yes, we have monthly Zoom meetings on Saturday eve­nings. We also have in-person meetings approximately every other month in Raleigh. These are held on Saturday afternoons.

Each meeting has a theme. Some of our most popular meet­ings are our annual birthday party, convention recap, and holi­day party. Members bring their dolls, and we set up displays based on the theme. There are craft projects and games at some of the meetings. We do gift exchanges at the birthday and holi­day meetings.