Dolly (stylised in all-caps) was an Australian bimonthly teen magazine started in 1970 by Fairfax Ltd. in Australia and New Zealand, and purchased by ACP in 1988. The magazine produced over 400 issues and had a readership of 505,000 in 2007. The print edition ceased in December 2016, at which point the magazine became online only. In June 2020, the magazine was purchased from the Bauer Media Group by Mercury Capital. As of September 2023, the Dolly website ceased and now redirects to the website for Girlfriend.
Dolly was the basis and inspiration for Sassy Magazine (1987–1996) in the United States. The magazine was aimed at girls aged 13–17 and covered celebrity news and gossip, fashion and beauty and various feature articles aimed at or dealing with issues faced by teenage girls.
History The magazine was launched by Anne Goldie in 1970.
The editor was Josephine Rozenberg-Clarke. The previous editor was Lucy Cousins. The magazine had its headquarters in Sydney.
In November 2016 it was announced that the December 2016 issue would be the last print issue of Dolly.
In June 2020, Dolly was acquired by Sydney investment firm Mercury Capital as part of its acquisition of the Bauer Media Group's former Australian and New Zealand titles.
Dolly Teen Choice Awards
Dolly Model competition The Dolly Model Competition was a branch from the Dolly magazine. It is a competition held for teen readers to enter to have the chance to win a modelling career. The competition started in 1979, with Helen Moyes appearing on the December 1979 issue as the first winner and ended in 2002 when the then editor in chief of Dolly, Mia Freedman felt it gave a negative impression towards young teenage girls and the Dolly brand.Dolly model search is back, with 13-year-old winner Kirsty Thatcher In 2012 it returned after a 10-year hiatus, with the winner announced as 13-year-old Kirsty Thatcher from Brisbane, Australia. The winner was awarded a one-year contract with Chadwick Modeling agency, a trip to New York to meet with Chadwick's US affiliates, and a fashion and cover shoot on Dolly.
Past Winners Year Winner Finalists 1979 Helen Moyes 1980–1989 colspan="2" 1990 Danella Boyle Letichia Richardson, Monique Grobben, Jacinda Barrett, Simone Tassicker, Catherine Jenkins 1991 Rebecca Kelly Celeste Gibbins, Susan Bawden, Alexandra Pike, Cressida Wilson, Danah Mitchell 1992 Olivia Trick Daniela Bej, Tasha Olsen, Kate Lillicrapp, Valerie Anthonisz, Amanda Cruwys 1993 Emma Gorrod Amanda Tacey, Tracey Grose, Emma-Kate Harrison, Saara Hentschke, Joanna Stanaway-Becker 1994 Shannan Camilleri Tania Batur, Amy Erbacher, Bianca Denham, Rosanna Mabilia, Emma Harrison 1995 Elle Wright Natalie Decorte, Natasha Norton, Karen James, Nikki Okunev, Lydia Simunovic 1996 Renee Schwab Amber Lee, Heather Pennell, Tasha King, Wymeng Wong, Gemma Hamilton 1997 Miranda Kerr Carlie Draeger, Bekky Buchanan, Abbie Cornish, Cassie Hunter, Kirsty Short 1998 Pia Loyola Joline Lootsma, Sally Winnett, Anna Rawson, Kathy Zachwieja, Gemma Sanderson 1999 Cassidy Light Lisa Johnston, Paloma, Kathryn, Teresa, Jessica 2000 Jessica Hart Shadae Magdson, Emma, Kate 2001 Jessica Elsegood Natasha George, Tara Horsburgh, Rose Turner 2002 Eunice Ward 2003–2011competition not held 2012 Kirsty Thatcher Elodie Russell, Lucinda Crichton, Paige Garvey, Lillian Van Der Veen, Ayasha Alderson 2013 Samantha Garza Angel Larkin, Emelia Roberts, Lucy Kleinhans, Neema Young, Dayna Opitz 2014 Mary Stickley Tylah Morgan, Vienna Anderson, Emma Tenaglia, Jesper Ha, Sarah Danga
Dolly Doctor Dolly Doctor was a segment that ran in Dolly since its first issue to answer readers' health questions.
Dr. John Wright was the first Dolly Doctor. Dr. Melissa Kang served as the Dolly Doctor from 1993 until it closed in 2016. A Dolly Doctor standalone app was released in 2015.
A comparison of Dolly Doctor with other Australian magazines found that Dolly Doctor gave the most accurate health advice.
Controversy In 2005, Dolly came into media attention for taking advantage of young people wanting to get into the magazine industry. Dolly was accused of soliciting, publishing and ridiculing unpaid articles from hopeful young women looking for a job in magazine journalism.
In Dolly's May 2007, a picture of a runway model's genitalia was published in a section called Dollywood Gossip. The accompanying caption included an arrow pointing to the model's genital region, and said "Look Closer, Eww! Not that close" and "Umm, we think you forgot something".Dolly drops its knickers, The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 April 2007 Editor Bronwyn McCahon stated that "we did cover the area originally, and the little spot we used somehow fell off the page just before printing and we didn't notice".A big ooops! from us, Dolly Magazine, 12 April 2007
References
External links Dolly magazine website at the Wayback Machine