American Girl is making history. For the first time ever, the brand has released a South Asian doll as their Girl of the Year, and fans are calling it a major win for representation.
American Girl made the 2023 Girl of the Year announcement on December 29 with help from Metuchen, New Jersey, Mayor Jonathan M. Busch. The doll’s name is Kavi Sharma, and she’s described by the brand as a “Jersey girl” from a close-knit Indian family who is passionate about Broadway tunes and Bollywood.
“We are so excited that American Girl chose Metuchen. Our Borough is a diverse, vibrant community with residents and programming that reflect the world around us,” Busch writes on Twitter. “Kavi is a welcome addition to the ‘Brainy Borough’ and we can’t wait for the children in our community to share her and their Metuchen stories with the rest of the country.”
The 18-inch Kavi doll retails for $115 and comes with an illustrated paperback journal. Her collection also includes outfits and accessories that reflect her South Asian heritage and her many interests. Later this year, American Girl is releasing It’s Showtime, Kavi, a hardcover book about the doll that’s being written by bestselling author Varsha Bajaj.
“As we ring in a new year, we’re excited to have Kavi Sharma take center stage in our popular Girl of the Year lineup,” says Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl, in a press release. “Just like all our beloved characters, Kavi’s culturally relevant and aspirational stories help inspire kids to shine bright in their own way and be proud of who they are.”
American Girl fans celebrate representation
American Girl fans are ready to welcome Kavi with open arms. Not only are they excited to share her with the kids in their lives, but many adults also say that seeing a doll like Kavi is a childhood dream come true.
“My inner child is SCREAMING for joy! American Girl’s 2023 Girl of the Year is Kavi, a South Asian Jersey girl,” Syma Chowdhry, a New Jersey news anchor, writes on Twitter. “Never in my dreams could I imagine seeing myself in dolls and TV/films in the U.S.! Between this and ‘Ms. Marvel’ (a Jersey girl too!) — I feel ‘seen.’ #RepresentationMatters”
“The American Girl of the year is an Indian-American theatre kid? My brand has never been stronger,” another person adds. “Also, who is taking me to the American Girl Store?”
Why diversity in toys matters
American Girl introduced its Girl of the Year line more than 20 years ago as a way to showcase contemporary dolls that depict what it means to be a real American girl in the modern world. The brand has used the line as an opportunity to showcase dolls that represent girls with diverse backgrounds, stories and abilities.
Last year’s Girl of the Year was Corinne Tan, American Girl’s first-ever Chinese American Girl of the Year. In past years, the brand has also released Girl of the Year dolls who are Black, Latina and Hawaiian. 2020’s Girl of the Year, Joss Kendrick, wore a hearing aid in her right ear.
Research shows that playing with dolls builds empathy in kids. That may make dolls an especially important vehicle for teaching kids about diversity. Other brands, like Barbie, have changed their lines in recent years to include different skin tones, body types and abilities. Kavi Sharma is one more way for kids to see themselves represented by the toys they play with and to learn about people from different backgrounds, and the excited response to her debut proves just how much representation matters.
