The dolls are the brainchild of Rebecca Roth, an American who moved to Puerto Vallarta in 1998.
From then until 2006, she lived as a shop owner in the city.
At age 47, Roth was arrested by Mexican authorities and from 2006 to 2010, was in a prison just outside Guadalajara while her case went through the system.
 The Mexican legal process is very long, with much time passing before a case is resolved.
In the meantime, those arrested must stay in jail.

While the prison has a pleasant common area with orange and lime trees as well as roses, along with a court for volleyball, tennis and basketball, she lived with thirteen other women in a prison cell meant for six people.
The stress of prison life and legal limbo moved her to re-explore her creative interests as a coping mechanism, working on painting, drawing and writing poetry, as well as taking classes in Spanish and teaching English.

One of the people in her cell block was a 15-month girl named Lupita, born at the prison because the Mexican prison system allows conjugal visits.
It also allows the mothers of such children to keep them there until age three.
 However, the little girl had no toys, except for two empty plastic Coke bottles to kick around.
Having taken some basic sewing classes, Roth made a doll for the girl, which had orange yarn hair, painted purple eyes, red lips, and freckles; and had a white blouse, with a multi-colored skirt.
She was nothing like the later dolls, but Lupita immediately named her “Mia” (mine) .
Mother and child were later relocated to another facility, and then released.
They now live ina small town outside of Puerto Vallarta.
When Roth made the doll for Lupita, she had no idea that it would become something more.

In 2008, one of her cellmates, Esmeralda Hernandez Jose, stated she needed to find a way to make money.
Prisoners must earn the money they need for basic supplies.
There are jobs at the prison but they pay very little.
Roth’s suggestion was to make ten dolls similar to Lupita’s and put them in the upcoming prison art show to try and sell.
This they did, and the first one of several sold was bought by the prison director.
After that, guards, visitors and others began to order them.
This success persuaded the women to continue the work and name the project Original Friends Dolls, at Hernández José’s suggestion.

While she was still in prison, over 100 dolls were sold.
 The making of the dolls served as an outlet for her depression and frustration.
 Released in 2010 after an appeals court overturned her sentence for lack of evidence.
As of 2015, Hernández José has not been sentenced.
The dolls are the brainchild of Rebecca Roth, an American who moved to Puerto Vallarta in 1998. From then until 2006, she lived as a shop owner in the city. At age 47, Roth was arrested by Mexican authorities and from 2006 to 2010, was in a prison just outside Guadalajara while her case went through the system.  The Mexican legal process is very long, with much time passing before a case is resolved. In the meantime, those arrested must stay in jail.
While the prison has a pleasant common area with orange and lime trees as well as roses, along with a court for volleyball, tennis and basketball, she lived with thirteen other women in a prison cell meant for six people. The stress of prison life and legal limbo moved her to re-explore her creative interests as a coping mechanism, working on painting, drawing and writing poetry, as well as taking classes in Spanish and teaching English.
One of the people in her cell block was a 15-month girl named Lupita, born at the prison because the Mexican prison system allows conjugal visits. It also allows the mothers of such children to keep them there until age three.  However, the little girl had no toys, except for two empty plastic Coke bottles to kick around. Having taken some basic sewing classes, Roth made a doll for the girl, which had orange yarn hair, painted purple eyes, red lips, and freckles; and had a white blouse, with a multi-colored skirt. She was nothing like the later dolls, but Lupita immediately named her “Mia” (mine) . Mother and child were later relocated to another facility, and then released. They now live ina small town outside of Puerto Vallarta. When Roth made the doll for Lupita, she had no idea that it would become something more.
In 2008, one of her cellmates, Esmeralda Hernandez Jose, stated she needed to find a way to make money. Prisoners must earn the money they need for basic supplies. There are jobs at the prison but they pay very little. Roth’s suggestion was to make ten dolls similar to Lupita’s and put them in the upcoming prison art show to try and sell. This they did, and the first one of several sold was bought by the prison director. After that, guards, visitors and others began to order them. This success persuaded the women to continue the work and name the project Original Friends Dolls, at Hernández José’s suggestion.
While she was still in prison, over 100 dolls were sold.  The making of the dolls served as an outlet for her depression and frustration.  Released in 2010 after an appeals court overturned her sentence for lack of evidence. As of 2015, Hernández José has not been sentenced.
Original Friends Dolls