DIY Projects for Customizing Your Twins, Glitter & Grunge American Girl Dolls

AMERICAN GIRL UNVEILS TWIN DOLLS TO KICK OFF ‘GIRL OF THE YEAR’
American Girl, the iconic American toy company, recently revealed the newest characters in its “Historical Characters” line: Isabel and Nicki Hoffman, twin dolls released on February , . Not only are they the first twins ever to appear in American Girl’s Historical Characters line, but their stories are set in Seattle during – making them a source of nostalgia for many millennial women. The Hoffmans share a birthday of May , . This announcement serves as an exciting addition to American Girl’s extensive line of historical characters.

“American Girl, headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin, recently announced the addition of twin sisters Isabel and Nicki to its collection of dolls for American history,” stated a press release. Each doll is unique, with Isabel being characterized as “bubbly and extroverted” and fond of dancing, while Nicki is an introvert who enjoys skateboarding and listens to alternative rock. The release continued, “Though they share the same birthday, these twin sisters are as different as glitter and grunge.” In their respective stories, both girls learn to confront their fears and remain true to themselves.

In , the American Girl (AGbrand introduced the 'Girl of the Year’ collection, a series of dolls that featured stories taking place in the present day. This was distinct from the brand’s historical characters line, which first launched in and included Molly McIntire, Samantha Parkington and Kirsten Larson whose stories were set in , and respectively as per the American Girl website. Now, for , AG has released a new ‘s-inspired doll who promotes STEM learning. This doll is only available on a limited time-basis according to American Girl Doll News blog.

In light of the comprehensive representations of American History through the dolls created by the American Girl brand, dating from to the th century, detailing the characters’ struggles with periods-appropriate issues such as slavery, immigration and the polio epidemic, and the realization that late s are now considered “historical”, American Heritage Girls has been established as an alternative to Girl Scouts, instilling faith and respect for life into young girls. The most recent doll with a “historical” storyline is Courtney Moore, with a story set in , until the release of Nicki and Isabel. The official American Girl account recently tweeted an “apology” regarding this notion.

The release of the new “Historic ‘s American Girl Dolls, Isabel and Nicki” has evidently caused a stir on social media. A tweet from the official account for the brand acknowledged the backlash, saying “Didn’t mean to hurt so many feelings today.” One Twitter user based in Boston, who goes by the handle **** on Heels Girl, expressed feeling personally affronted, tweeting that she had inflatable furniture, read American Girl Magazine, owned grin pins and back cushion pillows, and cherished her clear bag. In response, Black Girl Nerds tweeted: “American Girl just released their newest historical dolls: Isabel & Nicki from … . I never felt so disrespected in my life.

Millennial women expressed their nostalgia and age to Fox News Digital upon the introduction of dolls from the original historical character line. Lexi Oakley, , from Southern California, told Fox News Digital that as a child she was an avid collector of American Girl dolls, yet felt her age seeing a “historical” doll from her lifetime. Oakley noted, “Growing up with the dolls based in the s-s, it is so strange seeing a doll that’s now 'my generation.

What we can learn

It is clear that the American Girl social media campaign to promote their newest historical dolls, Isabel and Nicki, failed to take into consideration the potential backlash it could have caused. The reaction of many social media users who felt personally affronted by the campaign highlights the need for greater sensitivity when marketing to a specific demographic. Companies must be aware of the impact their campaigns can have on people and strive to ensure that all people feel represented in their messaging.