American Girl Dolls Get Modern Makeover

Iconic historical dolls updated with contemporary styles, sparking debate among loyal fans.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Mattel recently unveiled a 'Modern Era' line of its popular American Girl dolls, updating the classic historical characters with contemporary hairstyles, clothing, and features. The move has generated a mixed response online, with some loyal fans criticizing the changes as a departure from the dolls' original purpose of immersing children in different eras of history.

Why it matters

The American Girl dolls have long been praised for their ability to spark children's interest in history and social issues through immersive storytelling. The modern makeover raises questions about whether the brand is moving away from its educational roots to cater to younger consumers' preferences for more contemporary styles.

The details

The updated dolls feature characters like Kirsten Larson, Felicity Merriman, and Addy Walker styled with modern touches like space buns, jeans, and gold hoop earrings. Mattel says the changes are meant to 'celebrate the original historical characters in a different form' and appeal to younger consumers who may not be as interested in the dolls' traditional period settings.

  • Mattel unveiled the 'Modern Era' American Girl dolls earlier this week.
  • The original American Girl dolls were first introduced 40 years ago.

The players

Mattel

The toy company that manufactures the American Girl dolls.

Jamie Cygielman

Mattel's global head of dolls, who explained the reasoning behind the modern updates.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The American Girl doll brand has long been praised for its ability to spark children's interest in history and social issues, but the modern makeover raises questions about whether the brand is moving away from its educational roots to cater to younger consumers' preferences for more contemporary styles.