When I was a kid, American Girl dolls wore quaint dresses with plaited hair and told stories of child labor, poverty, slavery, animal abuse, and war.
Thirty years later, the manufacturer is introducing contemporary characters with modern maladies, including 2020 Girl of the Year Joss Kendrick.
Modeled after 17-year-old Olympic hopeful surfer Caroline Marks, Joss is a “fierce athlete born with hearing loss and a passion for surfing and competitive cheer,” Mattel said in an announcement.
She joins a growing lineup of characters who—through a companion book and sheer imagination—aim to help children grow with confidence.
Photo Credit: Mattel
Whether on her surfboard, at the gym, or playing with bulldog Murph, Joss shows kids the importance of trying new things, pushing past stereotypes, and being a good team player.
“American Girl has a rich legacy of creating timeless characters who encourage girls to reach for new heights and discover who they’re meant to be,” General Manager Jamie Cygielman said in a statement.
And while I don’t agree with the company’s limited gender scope, I appreciate what these dolls can do for young people learning about themselves and their capabilities.
To create Joss, American Girl worked with a team of experts, including Crystal DaSilva, Women’s Deaf Shortboard champion; Dr. Sharon Pajka, specialist in portrayals of deaf characters in adolescent literature; and Jennifer Richardson, educational audiologist and founder of Hearing Milestones Foundation.
In a two-book series, the California surfer girl accepts her brother’s dare to try out for the competitive cheer team, assuming it’ll be easy. But instead of pom-poms and chants, Joss enters a world of daring pyramids, flips, and jumps.
“By going all-in with cheer, Joss reaches new heights and discovers a whole new side of herself,” according to Mattel.
The 2020 Girl of the Year retails for $98, and comes with a swimsuit, hoodie, and shorts, plus removable hearing aid in her right ear. Other accouterments include a surfboard and win gear, cheer outfits and kit (backpack, slides, competition shoes), and her pet Murph and Surf Dog.
Photo Credit: Mattel
This spring, American Girl and partner Volkswagen Accessories will debut Joss’s VW Surf Bus, complete with storage bench-cum-bed, pop-up stove, fold-out table, and, I can only hope, a licensed driver.
“We’re proud to welcome Joss Kendrick, whose stories are sure to instill confidence and character in girls who are learning to think about possibilities in their own lives,” Cygielman said.
In honor of the new collection, American Girl has donated $25,000 to the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) to support the nonprofit’s education and awareness programs, as well as its 2020 Walk4Hearing event.
“What could be more exciting than to have an American Girl character be a role model for girls with hearing loss?” HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelly said. “I hope girls who read Joss’s inspiring story will help create awareness about hearing loss among their friends and family.”
The Joss doll and book retails for $98 via American Girl retail stores (brick-and-mortar and online) and specialty boutiques.
More on Geek.com:
- Mattel Launches Gender-Inclusive Doll Line
- Mattel’s New Barbies Use Wheelchair, Wear Prosthetic Leg
- Custom 3D-Printed Implants Could Treat Hearing Loss
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