The first ever Asian American Girl of the Year is a new doll named Corinne Tan who loves to ski.
The accompanying books feature her story about being a Chinese American and dealing with her parents' divorce and new family members. She has a little sister, as seen in American Girl promotional materials. Wendy Shang is an Asian American author.
It's possible that Tweet has been deleted.
Jamie Cygielman, general manager of American Girl, said in a statement that the dolls reflect what it means to be an American girl today. A day devoted to teaching Asian history and culture in schools was one of the things the brand and AAPI Youth Uprising collaborated on.
The brand had previously introduced Asian characters into the American Girl universe, but had retired them. Ivy Ling, a Chinese American girl who lived in San Francisco in the 1970s, was removed from the company's Historical Character line. The Korean American Girl doll named Z Yang was added in 2017, but has since been retired.
It's possible that Tweet has been deleted.
While Ivy was sold as a companion to her white best friend, Julie Albright, the first Asian American Girl of the Year is a limited edition feature doll named Corinne.
The new doll's story is a lot to deal with for a young girl, and some other users commented on it.
It's possible that Tweet has been deleted.
In a post on the American Girl website, Shang explained that she wrote the story to help other people see themselves in the American girl line, as well as reflect on her own experiences. When readers feel seen, they realize that they matter, and that they are meant to be the stars of their own stories, wrote Shang.
The topics are relevant. The #StopAAPIHate and #StopAsianHate campaigns were started in 2020 after a rise in racist rhetoric against communities. The campaigns brought together advocates, celebrities, and even major companies to support and protect victims.
Even if her days are spent on the slopes of Aspen, her story introduces young kids to the harsh experiences of Asian American communities in the U.S. over the last two years.
The books and doll are available for pre-order online.
