'Marvelous Malia' and 'Sweet Sasha' dolls are not the Obama girls, Ty says.

Photo: Chicago Tribune handout by Ty

In one of the first apparent attempts to profit from the star power of the new First Daughters, Ty Inc., the Beanie Babies empire based in Westmont, has come out with Sasha and Malia dolls. Or has it?

Part of the company's Ty Girlz collection, "Marvelous Malia" and "Sweet Sasha" are plush dolls priced at $9.99 apiece. The dolls debuted this month in stores around the country, said Tania Lundeen, Ty senior vice president of sales.

On Monday, Lundeen said the company did not seek permission from the First Family to use the Obama sisters' images. Two days later, the Ty executive said the dolls were not even based on the Obama girls. Well they are right. These dolls don't look like the girls and look more like twins than sisters three years apart.

Source: Chicago Tribune