Problema 1 · Inglés PAU Canarias Julio 2026

How Labubu dolls have conquered the world

No matter whether you think they are cute, ugly, or strange, you have probably heard of Labubu, the

small, furry collectable dolls that have become popular all around the world.

But what exactly is Labubu? Even those familiar with it are not entirely sure they can explain the trend.

Labubu is both a fictional character and a brand. The word itself carries no meaning. It is just the name of

5 a character in “The Monsters” toy series created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung.

Born a monster, Labubu was created by the Chinese toy maker Pop Mart and has become a viral sensation

loved by both famous people and regular fans. The vinyl faces are attached to soft bodies and have a

distinct, elf-like creature appearance with pointy ears, big eyes and a playful smile that shows exactly nine

teeth.

10 Online opinions are divided; people cannot decide whether Labubu dolls are adorable or just weird.

According to Pop Mart’s official website, Labubu is “kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often

accidentally achieves the opposite”.

Labubu’s popularity surged in April 2024, when Lisa, a K-pop superstar from Thailand, began posting photos on

Instagram with various Labubu dolls. Then, other global celebrities, such as Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Kim

15 Kardashian, turned the dolls into an international phenomenon that year. Even David Beckham got one from

his daughter!

Fans from cities like Shanghai and London wait in long queues to buy the doll, and sometimes even fight

to get one: “Collectors feel very proud when they are able to get their so much desired doll among such

fierce competition”, says fan Fiona Zhang, a woman in her 30s living in Canada.

20 Fiona started collecting Labubu toys in 2023 after hearing about them from some Filipino friends. She finds

them cute and remarks, “The more popular it gets, the more I want it”. Although her husband doesn’t understand

her interest, she points out that they are affordable, comparable in price to a bag accessory, making them

accessible to most people.

The Labubu brand also has other characters from its universe, which have inspired their own popular

25 dolls, such as the tribe’s leader Zimomo, her boyfriend Tycoco, and her friend Mokoko. To the untrained

eye, sometimes these dolls are hard to distinguish from one another.

The world’s fascination with Labubu has almost tripled Pop Mart’s profits in the past year. Labubu has

gained such popularity that other toys in the same collection are also selling very fast. For many people,

Labubu is more than just a toy; it is a fun and exciting hobby.

Adapted from BBC News, June 2025

1. Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE according to the text. COPY the evidence from the text. No marks will be given without the evidence. (1.5 points)

a)

The general perception is that Labubu dolls are cute.

TRUE

FALSE

b)

Labubu dolls gained significant fame thanks to an Asian artist.

TRUE

FALSE

c)

For those who are not familiar with the Labubu collection, differentiating the dolls may be difficult.

TRUE

FALSE