Overview
- Felicity, Addy, Molly, Kirsten, Samantha, and Josefina are reimagined as contemporary characters to mark the brand’s 40th year.
- The figures are about 14–14.5 inches tall using an all-plastic mold seen in WellieWishers, with slimmer proportions and features like glossier lips and darker lashes.
- Online reaction has been sharply critical, with fans objecting to perceived makeup, thinner bodies, and styling that feels too grown-up for the nine-year-old characters.
- Mattel executive Jamie Cygielman frames the line as celebrating beloved characters in a different form, noting younger buyers gravitate to modern stories while the original 18-inch dolls remain available.
- Industry voices describe the update as a bid to meet current play preferences, and coverage situates the debate within recurring nostalgia clashes seen in prior American Girl refreshes.