American Girl Doll Influencers Protest ICE

Creators making content with American Girl dolls are using their platforms to stage political protests against ICE.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A growing community of American Girl doll influencers on social media are using their dolls to make political statements, particularly in protesting the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Creators like Caitlyn Cordova and an anonymous user named Jo have dressed up their dolls in anti-ICE clothing, staged protest scenes, and shared memes criticizing the government agency's policies. The influencers say the dolls' historical roots in fighting injustice make them a natural vehicle for modern political activism.

Why it matters

The American Girl doll brand has long been associated with wholesome, apolitical content for young girls. But as the dolls' millennial fanbase has grown up, some influencers are leveraging the brand's nostalgic appeal to make bold political statements, particularly around immigration issues that have become increasingly polarized. This shift highlights how pop culture touchstones can take on new meaning and become tools for activism, even in unexpected ways.

The details

Several American Girl doll influencers have started creating content protesting the actions of ICE. Caitlyn Cordova, who runs the Instagram account @backintimeag, posted a viral meme of the Kirsten doll with text saying "Kirsten will be happy when ICE gets the f*ck out of Minnesota." Another influencer, @hellicity_merriman, has posted a doll holding a toy gun with the caption "Fuck ICE." A third user, @agtv4life, dresses up dolls in protest gear and stages them in scenes of activism. An anonymous 60-year-old collector named Jo has also used her dolls to make anti-Trump and anti-ICE statements, staging protests and including political rally kits with her Etsy doll clothing sales.

  • In late January 2026, Caitlyn Cordova posted the viral anti-ICE Kirsten meme.
  • In August 2025, Jo staged an anti-ICE protest with her American Girl dolls.

The players

Caitlyn Cordova

The person behind the Instagram account @backintimeag who created the viral anti-ICE Kirsten meme.

@hellicity_merriman

A well-known American Girl doll influencer who has posted political doll content for years, including a post of a doll holding a toy gun with the caption "Fuck ICE."

@agtv4life

A doll collector who likes to dress up American Girl dolls in protest gear and stage them in scenes of activism.

Jo

A 60-year-old American Girl doll collector outside of New York City who has used her dolls to make anti-Trump and anti-ICE statements, staging protests and including political rally kits with her Etsy doll clothing sales.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We've been radicalized since the Nineties! And if you're not, you're not experiencing the historical side of American Girl and what they teach.”

— Caitlyn Cordova (Rolling Stone)

“With all of the despair that I was feeling, along with a lot of other people, I decided that I would voice how I felt through the dolls.”

— Jo (Rolling Stone)

“I've taken a wagon of dolls into New York City, I'll sit them on the seats in the subway. People look at me like I'm a little bit crazy, but I don't really care. Do what makes you happy.”

— Jo (Rolling Stone)

What’s next

The American Girl doll influencer community is expected to continue creating politically-charged content, with some creators taking their activism beyond social media and into real-world protests.

The takeaway

What started as a nostalgic hobby for millennial women has evolved into a platform for political activism, as American Girl doll influencers leverage the brand's wholesome image to make bold statements on issues like immigration. This shift highlights how pop culture can become a vehicle for social and political commentary, even in unexpected ways.