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There is a growing number of people who like to dress up as living dolls – and for many of them, it’s a fetish.
The term 'living dolls' refers to a subculture that consists largely of men who choose to dress up in latex masks and suits and put on wigs, women’s clothing and makeup to look and act like dolls.
If you’ve never heard of it before, it is an underground community that first gained popularity in Europe in the 1980s.
READ MORE: 'I've spent millions to look like Barbie – it costs a lot to look this good'
These men enjoy dressing up as living female dolls but the extent to which they do this varies from person to person.
Some reproduce the female form by donning full-body silicone suits with artificial breasts, a vulva, doll-like masks and extravagant costumes.
Others may simply use a mask, hip and rear pads, a padded bra, a corset and a flesh-coloured body stocking to complete the transformation.
And even though some spend a few hundred pounds to achieve their desired look, others spend tens of thousands.
One person who is a part of this community is someone known as Kerry Johnson, a man over the age of 50 living in Seattle.
He describes what he does as “Crossdressing fun with lycra, rubber masks, and boots”.
“I am a straight, male crossdresser who loves to make and wear lycra costumes along with high heels, wigs, and latex masks which I make myself,” he has written on his website.
“I am over 50, married, live in Seattle, and can frequently be spotted at local science fiction conventions wearing some of the creations you see here.
“My other interests include movies, British TV (especially comedies), science fiction, and computers. I am 5'6", 147 pounds, dress size 10, and women's shoe size 12 (though it's a tight squeeze).”
Kerry has a variety of alter egos that he has made, with different masks named Susan, Emeraald and Jessica.
And on his YouTube channel, which he has been posting to for 14 years, he shows what it’s like getting in and out of costume.
He also uses this platform to interview other members of the living dolls subculture, with his most recent video having been posted in December 2022.
While the community is active online and meets up in person to show off their creations, many feel the need to keep the habit secret from family and friends.
Before you dismiss them as weird or creepy, for some members of the community there isn’t a sexual component at all. For them, it’s about freedom and self-expression.
In an episode of TLC's My Strange Addiction that aired in 2015, producers spoke to a man named Joel who has been dressing up this way since he was 15.
At the time, he estimated he had spent £9,900 ($15,000) on suits and masks over the years.
“I get enjoyment out of it, I get a sense of escapism out of it. I'm just out to have fun. It's like the extension of another persona within me that just wants to go out and have fun,” he revealed.
“The conundrum is people ask: ‘What do you do when you get dressed up?’ And the answer is: not much.
“Sometimes I just take photos to put up on masking websites, other times it just happens to be who I want to be that day.”
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