Mother-of-one with crazy troll obsession owns over 3,000 dolls and even has her own 'troll sanctuary' where she dresses up like her pink-haired collectables

• Michelle Kerrins owns over 3,000 trolls
• 38-year-old began her crazy obsession when she was just 10 years old 
• Spends four days a week scouring flea markets and thrift stores for more
• Gymnastics instructor spends several hours a day in her 'troll sanctuary' 
• Evens wears a troll outfit to flirt with husband

Ugly, flame-haired plastic dolls became one of the United States' biggest toy fads in the early 1960s.

And although they are usually the plaything of small children, one grown woman is so obsessed with trolls dolls that she owns over 3,000.

And mother-of-one Michelle Kerrins' obsession shows no sign of abating.

My crazy troll obsession: Michelle Kerrins owns over 3,000 toy troll dolls, which she showcased on TLC's My Crazy Obsession

Sanctuary: The 38-year-old even has her own troll sanctuary - the spare bedroom she has transformed into a showcase for her trolls

The gymnastics instructor from Los Angeles spends several hours a day in her 'troll sanctuary' - the spare bedroom she has transformed into a showcase for her trolls. 

Drawing the line: Her husband draws the line at getting close to her when she is wearing her troll outfit

Collection: Michelle usually buys at least 3 new ones a week to add to her ever-expanding collection

Tasks: She even has the mammoth task of cleaning the trolls - and photographing each of them so they can be catalogued

Wide range: From clothing to actual plastic dolls, Michelle has every kind of troll item imaginable

And whenever long suffering husband Dean complains, Michelle puts on her special troll patterned bikini - which she 

refuses to wear in a pool for fear the chlorine will ruin it - and flirts with him.

However, Dean draws the line at getting close to Michelle when she puts on her troll mask. 

Troll lover: The LA based gymnastics instructor loves hanging out in her troll sanctuary

 

Big kid: While trolls are usually the choice of plaything for children, Michelle's obsession shows no signs of slowing down 

Family support: Daughter Delaney, 14, even helps her mum undertake the mammoth task of cleaning the trolls

Cute: She said: 'I think they are so ugly they are cute. I like the odd things in life. I can never have enough troll dolls'

 

Started young: She began he crazy obsession when she was just 10 years old and now spends at least four days a week scouring flea markets for items

Daughter Delaney, 14, is more understanding and even helps her mother undertake the mammoth task of cleaning the trolls and photographing each of them so they can be catalogued. 

Speaking about her love of trolls on TLC's My Crazy Obsession, Michelle said: 'Trolls make me really happy when they are all looking at me. 

'I think they are so ugly they are cute. I like the odd things in life. I can never have enough troll dolls.'

Happy place: Speaking about her love of trolls on TLC's My Crazy Obsession, Michelle said: 'Trolls make me really happy when they are all looking at me'

A HISTORY OF THE TROLL

Troll dolls were originally created in 1959 by Danish fisherman and woodcutter Thomas Dam who used his creative talents when he couldn't afford a Christmas gift for his daughter

He then sold them as Good Luck Trolls and they became a huge fad in American between 1963-1965

The fad spread to video games, a Trollies Radio Show and music hits based on trolls

After several companies copied the trolls, in 2003 a Congressional law allowed the Dam family of Denmark to restore their original U.S. copyright, allowing them to become the only official manufacturer 

The brand was modernised by DIC Entertainment and became 'Trollz' in 2005 but was soon dropped after a lack of success

 

DreamWorks Animation recently announced that it has acquired the intellectual property for the Trolls franchise from the Dam Family and has 'big plans' to redevelop the toy