The popular doll manufacturer unveiled Corinne Tan, a Chinese American skier, as its 2022 Girl of the Year on Thursday. “Girl of the Year” dolls, which were introduced in 2001, differ from other American Girl dolls by being based on modern characters with contemporary stories, rather than characters linked to different periods of American history.
To develop Corinne, American Girl enlisted children’s author Wendy Wan-Long Shang to create two books on the character, “Corinne” and “Corinne to the Rescue.” Shang said she hopes others see themselves in the new doll.
“What I really hope is that there is some part of Corinne’s story that makes readers feel seen, whether it’s because they are Asian American, or because they’re part of a blended family, or because they love skiing,” Shang said in a statement. “I think when readers feel seen, they realize that they matter and their experiences matter, and that they are meant to be the stars of their own stories!”
The Corinne doll, plus a book, retails for $110, with other accessories also available for purchase.
As part of this year’s launch, American Girl also announced it would partner with AAPI Youth Rising, a nonprofit made up of young people raising awareness about xenophobia against Asian Americans. The company said it donated $25,000 to their cause.