A Daily Smile Amidst the Pandemic – The Ken Dolls During these difficult times, we’re all looking for a reason to smile. “Thekencouple” Instagram account does just that, and delivers daily! Started two months into the pandemic, the account chronicle the life of Aidan Prince and his husband with a tongue in cheek “art imitating life” style, by using Ken dolls which resemble the real life couple. The series began with single photos of the dolls, often focused on the realities of living in pandemic lockdown. Added to the photos are comic book style captions and speech bubbles which bring the characters and situations to life. As the pandemic restrictions lifted and we were all able to return to our new normal, the focus of the posts followed suit. The “couple” documented their ability to venture out, day-to-day routines and the dynamics of their relationship. Aidan admits that the personalities of the dolls often mirror that of him and his husband. Friends who follow the posts have remarked that they hear his and his husband’s voices as they read the speech bubbles. The stories, however, are relatable and entertaining to people who don’t know the couple. The fact that the account has over 6347 followers from across the globe is a testament to that! The series has evolved from the typical single photo posts to be much like a comic strip, showcasing some light humour. One of the posts shares the origin of “thekencouple”
which dates back to 2014. A co-worker bought two Ken dolls for Aidan after a Christmas toy drive by their team. Over the holidays, Aidan posted photos on his Facebook of the dolls doing silly things and friend loved them! He continued the posts for a while, with an attempt to garner attention from Ellen. With that not working and running out of photo ideas, Aidan stopped the posts; much to the dismay of his friends. He was surprised last May to receive two new dolls from a friend who said she couldn’t resist because they looked more like the real couple. Prompted by this cue and having more time on his hands because of the pandemic, he started the new series as a hobby and creative outlet. While still posting on his Facebook account for friends, he also began to post on Instagram, curious to see what kind of following he could get. The huge response has been a pleasant surprise and continued motivator for Aidan. Given the regular enthusiastic comments followers post on the photos, it’s clear that “thekencouple” are definitely bringing daily smiles to lots of people.
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Page 5 Issue 6 • Spring 2021 To advertise here, please contact Barb@VillagerPublications.com
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