• by Tanya Gazdik , Yesterday

Several celebrities are putting the Labubu dolls in the spotlight.

“Most notably, a singer-rapper extraordinaire mentioned them in a song,” according to USA Today. “Lizzo gave a shoutout to the Pop Mart's popular toy, Labubus, on a verse she rapped for a remix of the song "Whim Whamiee," by Pluto and Ykniece. Her Labubu even made an appearance in the video, wearing a blue bucket hat, matching overalls, and a crossbody bag.”

The dolls began as characters in "The Monsters," a 2015 picture book series by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. His childhood in the Netherlands inspired these Nordic folklore creatures, according to a Blippo report.

“You’ve probably seen a variation of the Labubu doll, a grinning Gremlin-like plush collectable toy hanging from the bags of your favorite influencers,” according to Glamour. “Whether you think they’re cute or little creepy, is beside the point, because the Labubu has become a viral sensation, and it’s just a matter of time before you also fall under the spell. Dua Lipa and Rihanna certainly have.”

Blackpink’s Lisa, Simone Biles, Kim Kardashian and Emma Roberts all have shown off their dolls. 

“Their participation in the Labubu dolls trend has upped the craze about the same, as these dolls give a different charm and edge to their looks, and their fans are simply going gaga,” according to Mint. “Today, over 300 variants exist, from keychains to plush dolls.”

Initially, Hong Kong company How2Work produced figurines from 2015 to 2019. A major shift came in 2019 when Lung partnered with Chinese toymaker Pop Mart. They mass-produced blind-box collectibles, boosting accessibility, according to Mint. 

“The viral Labubu plush toys are taking over social media with people waiting in hourslong lines across the country to buy them — and some being sold for hundreds of dollars on resale sites,” according to Today.