American Girl’s Doll of the Year Is South Asian—and Big into Broadway

American Girl is making history with its pick for the 2023 Girl of the Year

Ever since 2001, when American Girl released its first ever Girl of the Year, the annual announcement of a limited edition doll celebrating diversity has been something to celebrate. And this year, that’s more true than ever. American Girl is making history in 2023 with its first ever South Asian Girl of the Year. Meet Kavi Sharma.

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American Girl describes Kavi as an “Indian American girl growing up in New Jersey who loves singing, dancing, and performing with her friends.” Her story was brought to life by New York Times bestselling author Varsha Bajaj, who said that Kavi provides a “welcoming window for girls who might be unfamiliar with Kavi’s world. It was a gift to include Kavi and her family celebrating magical festivals like Diwali and Holi.”

Kavi loves music, especially Broadway. She also writes her own songs and dances. In her book, she learns to share her incredible talents to the world and be proud of who she is and where she comes from—all while learning to balance her passions with her responsibilities.

“Kavi joins the company’s long line of contemporary characters, introduced more than 20 years ago, that represent a wide range of backgrounds to reflect what it means to be an American girl today,” American Girl said in a statement announcing the newest Girl of the Year.

“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,” American Girl General Manager Jamie Cygielman added. “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.”

Since the Girl of the Year was first introduced in 2001 with Lindsey Bergman, American Girl’s first Jewish doll, these limited edition annual releases have frequently made history. 2021’s Girl of the Year was Corinne Tan, the first-ever Asian American selection. Last year’s Girl of the Year was Claudie, a doll from the Harlem Renaissance era.