John Russo

Gabrielle Murray likes to keep up with trends.

While swiping through videos on TikTok, she noticed people posting about these 6-inch plush toys with pointy teeth. It turns out, her 7-year-old niece, Aria, was asking for one.

A family trip to the Ocean City Boardwalk resulted in Aria getting her first Labubu, a Chinese collectible that is all the rage. Unfortunately, the toy monster she got from a Boardwalk vendor was fake.

So Murray turned to a coworker with a budding collection for advice. Not only did Aria get the real thing that she adores, but Murray jumped aboard the Labubu train as well.

"I think they're cute," said Murray, 30, of Folsom. "I like that it's something I can connect with my niece on. It's a cute fashion accessory. My 2½-year-old daughter has no idea what

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