
Kansas Doll Show Contests
🎨 Kansas Doll Show Contests 🎨
We encourage artisans of all levels to enter their creations in our exciting contests!
This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your doll-making skills, attention to detail, and creativity.
✨ Who Can Enter?
Both vendors and guests are welcome to participate.
🏆 Contest Categories
-
Best Reborn
-
Best Silicone
-
Best Fantasy
📌 You may submit one entry per category.
🎖 Awards
-
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies will be awarded in each category.
-
Judging will be conducted by an esteemed panel of judges. (KDS staff does not participate in judging.)
🌟 People’s Choice Award
-
One trophy will be awarded for People’s Choice, voted on by the public attending the show.
-
Each attendee may cast one vote for their favorite entry across all categories.
-
The entry with the most votes wins the People’s Choice Award!
📢 Winners announced: Sunday at 12:00 PM (Noon) on the showroom floor.
📝 Contest Rules & Guidelines
-
Spaces are limited. Please reserve early before all slots are filled.
-
Entry fees are non-refundable, non-exchangeable, and non-transferable.
-
Contest entries must remain anonymous.
-
Entries must be fully covered before entering the staging area.
-
Dolls may not be published online prior to submission.
-
Do not touch your entry while it is on display.
-
Do not reveal which entry is yours until voting ends.
-
-
Entries must be posed/displayed Saturday morning before the show begins at the contest staging area.
-
Once judging begins, you may not return to your entry until judging is complete.
-
-
Contest entries must be picked up after judging on Saturday at the contest staging area.
-
Vendors may then display their entry for sale at their booth.
-
Non-vendors may not sell their entry at the show.
-
🚫 Failure to follow these rules may result in disqualification.
🧺 Display Information
-
The Kansas Doll Show will provide white baskets for displaying contest entries.
-
Please bring your own small blankets for posing.
-
The outer blanket must be white to properly display your baby.
💡 This is your chance to shine, gain recognition, and celebrate artistry in the doll-making community!
📋 Kansas Doll Show Contest Rules
Please carefully read and follow all rules in order to participate in the contests.
✅ Eligibility
-
You must attend the Kansas Doll Show on Saturday and Sunday to participate.
-
All entries must be 100% completed by you. No one else may work on your entry (clothing may be purchased).
-
Illegally produced or plagiarized kits will not be accepted.
-
Nude submissions are not allowed.
🧺 Display Requirements
-
The Kansas Doll Show will provide woven rectangular baskets for all entries.
-
Basket size: 14" L × 12.6" W × 6" H
-
Your entry must fit completely within this size.
-
-
Owners are responsible for bringing:
-
Small blankets to prop up the entry inside the basket.
-
One white blanket to cover the basket and display the baby.
-
🔒 Anonymity & Fairness
-
Entries must remain anonymous at all times.
-
Keep entries covered while waiting in the staging area.
-
Dolls cannot be published online before submission.
-
Do not touch your entry once displayed.
-
Do not reveal or mention which entry is yours until voting has ended.
-
-
Contestants cannot sell dolls during the contest.
⚠️ Failure to follow these rules may result in disqualification.
⏰ Judging & Pickup
-
Contest entries must be staged Saturday morning before the show begins.
-
Owners are responsible for picking up their entries after judging on Saturday at the contest staging area.
-
Vendors may then display their entry for sale at their booth or table.
-
Non-vendors may not sell their entry at the show.
-
📸 Media & Rights
-
The Kansas Doll Show has publication rights to all contest photographs.
-
Photos and information submitted may be used in promotional materials.
⚠️ Liability
-
KDS is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged display items or contest submissions.
📝 Registration
-
Contestants must complete contest registration forms at the contest staging area.
❗ Special Notice
If there are insufficient entries in any category, KDS reserves the right to cancel that category for this year’s competition.
➡️ In that case, the entry fee will be fully refunded via PayPal.
🏆 2026 Kansas Doll Show – Official Contest Categories & Rules
Welcome to the Kansas Doll Show Contest!
All entries must follow the rules below to ensure a fair and consistent judging experience.
Thank you for helping us create an exciting and inspiring competition!
✅ CONTEST CATEGORIES
1. Reborn Doll Division
-
Best Reborn – Beginner
-
Best Reborn – Intermediate
-
Best Reborn – Advanced
2. Reborn Fantasy Doll Division
(Reborn dolls with fantasy elements)
-
Best Reborn Fantasy – Beginner
-
Best Reborn Fantasy – Intermediate
-
Best Reborn Fantasy – Advanced
3. Silicone Doll Division
-
Best Silicone – Beginner
-
Best Silicone – Intermediate
-
Best Silicone – Advanced
4. Silicone Fantasy Doll Division
(Silicone dolls with fantasy elements)
-
Best Silicone Fantasy – Beginner
-
Best Silicone Fantasy – Intermediate
-
Best Silicone Fantasy – Advanced
5. Alternative Art Doll Division
(Non-Reborn, Non-Silicone Fantasy or Art Dolls)
-
Best Alternative Doll – Beginner
-
Best Alternative Doll – Intermediate
-
Best Alternative Doll – Advanced
6. Art Skill Categories
-
Best Painted Hair
-
Best Rooted Hair
-
Best Display
-
Best Seamstress Work (NOT displayed on dolls)
-
Best Clay Sculpture Doll (single category)
7. Show-Wide Award
-
People’s Choice Award
✅ GENERAL RULES
All contestants MUST follow these rules:
1. Work Must Be by the Artist
-
All work on the entry must be done completely by YOU.
-
No assistance, collaboration, or partial work by another artist allowed.
2. Required Clothing for Doll Categories
-
Reborn, Reborn Fantasy, Silicone, and Silicone Fantasy entries must wear a:
✅ Plain white onesie ONLY -
NO accessories:
-
No hats
-
No shoes
-
No socks
-
No blankets
-
No props
-
No clothing other than the white onesie
-
3. Judging Criteria
Judges will review:
-
Skill level
-
Realism or intended fantasy design
-
Paint work
-
Rooting or hair work
-
Sculpting / detailing (if applicable)
-
Clean finishing
-
Creativity and execution
4. Doll Eligibility
-
Doll must be complete — no unfinished entries.
-
Weighting and internal feel are NOT part of judging.
-
Artist level must match your category (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced).
5. Handling
-
Do NOT touch any dolls or entries.
-
Only staff and judges may handle entries.
6. Drop-Off & Pickup Times
-
Entries must be dropped off during designated check-in times.
-
Entries must be picked up at the specified time after judging.
7. Professional Conduct
-
Any arguing, disruptions, or attempts to influence judges may result in disqualification.
-
All decisions by judges are final.
✅ CATEGORY-SPECIFIC RULES
Reborn Fantasy & Silicone Fantasy
-
Fantasy elements must be part of the doll itself, such as:
-
Elf ears
-
Wings
-
Tails
-
Scales
-
Fantasy skin tones
-
Sculpted features
-
-
Clothing must still be a plain white onesie.
-
Judged on creativity, fantasy design, skill, and execution.
Alternative Art Doll Division
(Non-Reborn, Non-Silicone Mediums — fantasy or art dolls)
-
Dolls may be fully dressed or styled.
-
Props and accessories are allowed.
-
Judged on:
-
Craftsmanship
-
Creativity
-
Concept
-
Execution
-
Artistic presentation
-
Seamstress Category
-
Entries must NOT be displayed on dolls.
-
Sewing must be 100% done by the entrant.
-
No store-bought or altered clothing.
-
Entries may be displayed:
-
Flat
-
On a board
-
On a hanger
-
-
Judged on stitch quality, construction, finishing, and overall craftsmanship.
Clay Sculpture Category
-
Entry must be fully hand-sculpted (no kits).
-
Armature allowed but must not be visible.
-
Judged on sculpting skill, proportion, detail, and finishing.
✅ AWARDS
Each judged category receives:
🏆 1st, 2nd & 3rd Place Trophies
People’s Choice Award receives:
🏆 1 Large Trophy
Winners are announced during the Kansas Doll Show Awards Banquet.
✅ GOOD LUCK to ALL ARTISTS!
We are honored to showcase your creativity, talent, and passion.
