Tanning Mom Inspires Tanorexic Doll

Oxford-based Herobuilders was inspired by Patricia Krentcil, the New Jersey mom accused of putting her 5-year-old in a tanning bed long enough to get burned.

The New Jersey mom accused of child tanning abuse is still riding her 15-minutes-of-fame wave, thanks to Herobuilders in Oxford.

She's inspired the Tanorexic doll, which HeroBuilders.com is selling for $29.95.

"Yes of course she inspired it," Hero Builders founder, Emil Vicale, said. "Why would I make something as hideous as this?!

"This is our first ugly doll," Vicale said, laughing. Maybe this is a new genre for us!"

Patricia Krentcil, who admittedly loves to tan, was charged with child endangerment.

She pleaded not guilty to that charge last week and said her daughter got sunburned while hanging out in the yard without the proper protection.

Vicale, who runs his spoof-doll operation out of Connecticut, thinks ugly might just pay off. "Maybe this is our new thing. Maybe ugly is in this year."

Other dolls Vicale has created include Balloon Boy's dad, Herman Cain and New York's "The Rent is Too Damn High" candidate. 

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