Spoiler
As with most products, Dream Beauties went through many changes before the designs were finalized. This led to images in toy catalogs and the ponies’ boxes that differed from the final product.
The ponies in the toy catalog do not have proper mane beads; if they have any at all, they are a string of actual beads glued onto the base of the mane. A prototype version of Spritzy’s pose also appears, with smaller eyes and less muscle definition. It is possible that this was the first pose created, but there is little evidence to support this other than the difference in style.
Rainbow Beauties
In the catalog images, the ponies have short forelocks instead of having manes of one length. Morninglory is shown in Spritzy’s pose. The periwinkle sections of Skysplasher’s symbol are yellow and outlined in pink. Skysplasher has smaller eyes than the final product. The pink sections of Windsweeper’s symbol are more vibrant; the blue flowers are unpainted; and the white sections are outlined in pink.
Showtime Beauties
In the catalog images, the ponies have short forelocks. Circle Dancer’s body and the periwinkle sections of her symbol are much paler in color. The peach sections of her symbol are much pinker.
Mayfair’s brush is pictured next to Circle Dancer, and vice versa.
On the back of the box, a Showtime Beauty is shown in Spritzy’s pose. Her saddle is decorated with tassels and daisies. She has a short forelock. Her color scheme is similar to Mayfair’s. She has smaller eyes than a normal Dream Beauty.
The fact that this pony’s mold was based on the early Spritzy pose is the most likely reason it was never used; it would look out of place among released ponies. Most likely, it would have taken too much effort to recreate it in the new style to make it worthwhile. The presence of a third Showtime Beauty mold suggests this set originally consisted of three ponies, but without a third unique color scheme, it remains unproven. (And no, I don’t count proto-Circle Dancer’s color scheme as unique, as it was clearly reworked into her current one.)
The possibility of a third Showtime Beauty raises the possibility that there were initially only three Sweet Perfume Beauties, making these sets contain the same amount as every other set. Which Sweet Perfume Beauty is the “extra” will likely remain unknown; however, Colorglow and Songrider seem like the most likely candidates. Not only are they the only Dream Beauty setmates to share a pose, but they also share this pose with Mayfair.
With this third Showtime Beauty in mind, it is possible that Mayfair’s color scheme was intended for this unused pose, and Mayfair herself originally had a different color scheme (perhaps the colors of the “extra” Sweet Perfume Beauty?) that has yet to be seen on her mold. Assuming this was the case, the name “Mayfair” may not have been intended for her color scheme at all, but the pose. This would leave the prototype pony nameless.
Shimmering Beauties
In the catalog images, the ponies have short forelocks. Crystaline and Dreamgleamer both have the two colors in their symbols switched (so Dreamgleamer’s symbol is purple and white instead of white and purple). Stardazzle’s body is purple and her symbol colors are different: the blue sections are hot pink and the peach sections are white.
Crystaline and Dreamgleamer are shown with flower brushes instead of picks (but with proper colors).
The mock-up packaging contains a Dreamgleamer (with still-switched symbol colors) without glitter; instead, she has colorful hearts embedded in her plastic. She is also in the early version of Spritzy’s pose, with smaller eyes.
On the back of the box, Crystaline’s symbol colors are still switched.
Trim ‘n Grow Beauties
In the catalog images, the ponies’ forelocks are attached by the mane beads. Manewaves and Spritzy are more heavily pearlized and lack the heavier eyeshadow the final products had. Manewaves is shown in Spritzy’s pose and her tail is blue, matching her mane. Her symbol has different color distribution, with a yellow stool and glare on the mirror. Sheertrimmer’s name is by Manewaves, and vice versa. Spritzy has smaller eyes than the final product. Her symbol is also very different in design (although quite similar conceptually) and uses pink instead of aqua.
Manewaves is pictured with a flower pick instead of a candy comb. The brushes for Sheertrimmer and Spritzy are switched. Spritzy’s ribbon is purple instead of pink. Manewaves’ barrette is purple instead of hot pink, and Spritzy’s is aqua instead of lavender.
On the back of the box, Manewaves is similar to the catalog image, with different symbol and pearlier body, except her tail is shown in the proper white.
Sweet Perfume Beauties
In the catalog images, the ponies have short forelocks and much longer socks. Their medallions are more pearly than metallic, with less vibrant colors. Their tails are solid-colored instead of having stripes of a second color. Colormist is in Mayfair’s pose. Songrider has heavy eyeshadow like the Trim ‘n Grow Beauties.
The barrettes shown are wrong. Colorglow wears a mint green bird and lily barrette. Colormist wears a star barrette that appears to be pearlized. Fairflyer wears a bird and lily barrette. Songrider wears a lavender heart barrette.
On the back of the box, a similar Colormist is shown with the same pearly barrette.
Highflying Beauties
In the catalog images, the ponies have short forelocks and each symbol designs differ very slightly from the final release. Their socks are much longer. Glider’s socks have a pearly sheen, and her wings seem to be made of a pearly plastic. Skyflyer is in Spritzy's pose. She and Windwalker both have smaller eyes.
Glider’s barrette is pearlized. Windwalker’s barrette and ribbon are paler in color.
On the back of the box, a similar Skyflyer is shown.