Customizing Paola Reina dolls is becoming increasingly popular among collectors and artists. But customization is not just about repainting the face or sewing a new outfit—choosing a fully articulated body is now an essential part of transforming the doll. A well-designed BJD (Ball-Jointed Doll) body allows the doll to take lifelike poses, enhancing both realism and photography potential.
Unlike head modifications and outfit creation—skills that many artists can develop—designing a fully articulated body requires not only creativity but also technical expertise. Crafting a high-quality Paola Reina body demands knowledge of 3D modeling, material properties, and precision engineering. A well-made BJD body should feel pleasant to the touch, hold poses well, be durable, and maintain its color over time.
Why Not Use the Official Paola Reina Articulated Body?
Some may wonder: “Doesn’t Paola Reina already offer dolls with articulated bodies?” The answer is yes—but the official articulated bodies have limited mobility, with elbows and knees bending only up to 90 degrees. Creating a more flexible body would likely increase production costs significantly.
To give Paola Reina dolls the best range of movement, many collectors and artists turn to BJD-style articulated bodies, designed and produced by independent artists in small batches. These bodies use ball-jointed technology, meaning they consist of separate parts connected by elastic cords and ball joints, allowing for highly natural and expressive poses.
In this guide, we will review custom BJD bodies that fit Paola Reina 32 cm dolls. All of these bodies are handcrafted by independent artists, making each unique. Since many of these designs evolve over time, we are reviewing only the versions we have tested.
Each body has its strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to declare one as the absolute best. This guide aims to provide an informational overview, but for detailed specifications, we recommend reaching out directly to the creators.
In our review, we will compare how each Paola Reina BJD body performs in various poses, including:
✅ Standing stability
✅ Sitting on an object
✅ Sitting on the floor
✅ Ability to touch the face
✅ Weight and proportions
1. Darak Dolls – The Most Popular & Expensive BJD Body
Price: ~ $250 USD
One of the most well-known and premium-quality BJD bodies for Paola Reina is the Darak Dolls body, created by a Korean artist. This high-end polyurethane body is crafted using resin casting, ensuring durability and smooth articulation.
Key Features:
- Weight: 287g
- Height (without head): 260 mm
- Number of joints: 20
- Neck joint type: Ball joint inside the head (may pop out occasionally)
- Customization: Optional extra hands available
- Posing: Excellent due to strong elastic tension and anti-slip stoppers
- Durability: Previous versions experienced color changes under UV exposure, but the latest editions include UV protection
This Paola Reina BJD body holds poses exceptionally well, thanks to tightly strung elastic and built-in joint stoppers or friction pads. Its high price reflects its premium quality and craftsmanship.
2. Trudograd by Dmitry Kolosov – Best Price-to-Quality Ratio
Price: ~ $90 USD
Created by Russian artist Dmitry Kolosov, this body is known as Trudograd. Unlike resin-cast bodies, this one is 3D printed using photopolymer, making it significantly lighter.
Key Features:
- Weight: 240g
- Height (without head): 265 mm
- Number of joints: 20
- Neck joint type: Ball joint inside the head (may pop out)
- Customization: Optional extra hands available
- Posing: Very stable, but elbows do not fully straighten (may have been improved in later versions)
- Fit: Slightly taller than the original Paola Reina body, but clothing fits well
This affordable yet well-crafted body is a great budget-friendly alternative for those looking for good articulation without breaking the bank.
3. Gallaktik by Alina Karpova – Best Material Quality
Price: ~ $200 USD
Another Russian-made body, Gallaktik, is crafted by Alina Karpova. This body is unique due to its high-quality polyurethane-vinyl blend, which makes it heavier and more durable.
Key Features:
- Weight: 313g
- Height (without head): 255 mm
- Number of joints: 18
- Material: Soft-touch polyurethane-vinyl
- Posing: Stable, but lacks built-in joint stoppers
- Aesthetics: Slightly chubbier proportions, giving a more childlike appearance
While it has fewer joints than other options, the material quality and tactile experience are exceptional. The surface is not slippery, which improves posing stability.
4. Esha Dolls – Lightweight 3D-Printed Body
Price: ~ $100 USD
This 3D-printed photopolymer body, created by Esha Dolls, is another affordable option.
Key Features:
- Weight: 219g
- Height (without head): 270 mm
- Number of joints: 19
- Neck joint type: Full ball joint inside the head (does not pop out)
- Posing: Joints lack built-in stoppers, but are reinforced with hot glue
- Fit: Taller than the original Paola Reina body; fits standard clothing and shoes
This body is better suited for older-looking dolls, as its proportions are more mature. Some joints slip in certain positions, but overall, it provides a good balance between affordability and mobility.
5. A.T. Dolls – Gendered BJD Body (Boy & Girl Versions)
Price: ~ $180 USD (2024 version)
Unlike other Paola Reina BJD bodies, A.T. Dolls offers both male and female versions. This polyurethane-cast body is available in limited batches.
Key Features:
- Weight: 280g (girl) / 325g (boy)
- Number of joints: 20
- Customization: Optional extra hands and feet available
- Posing: Joints are reinforced with hot glue, but elastic tension is weaker than others
- Detailing: High level of sculpting detail
The 2024 edition had weaker elastic tension, but the newest versions are expected to improve posing stability.
Final Thoughts & Future Reviews
This review covers some of the most frequently used BJD bodies for Paola Reina dolls.
Key Takeaways:
- Resin-cast bodies (like Darak Dolls & Gallaktik) offer superior durability but are more expensive
- 3D-printed bodies (like Trudograd & Esha Dolls) are lighter and more affordable
- Each body has its own pros and cons, depending on preferences for posing, material, and aesthetics
With new materials and technologies constantly emerging, the world of Paola Reina customization continues to evolve. We will keep testing new BJD bodies and sharing our insights in future reviews. Stay tuned!