American Girl Introduces First Doll With an LGBTQ+ Backstory | 22 Words

Oh, the good old days. You'd rush home from school to make sure your Tamagotchi was fed, the most important part of your day. You would frantically try to find batteries around your house so your Furby could still make those weird noises. Your American Girl doll was your BFF and she never left your side. You two were inseparable.

Those dolls were really such a treasure for anyone who owned one. But the latest American Girl Doll has the internet excited - for the best reason.

In 1986, the first American Girl doll was released, made by a company called Pleasant Rowland.

via: Shutterstock

 The original dolls were: Samantha Parkington, an orphan being raised by her grandparents in 1904 New York City (archived in 2009 but re-released in 2014 as a BeForever doll). Felicity Merriman, a Revolutionary War girl living in 1774 Williamsburg, Virginia (archived in 2011). Kirsten Larson , a pioneer girl originally from Sweden, living in Minnesota in 1854 (archived in 2010). Molly McIntire, the daughter of a WWII doctor who has gone to Europe to help wounded soldiers (archived in 2014). Josefina Montoya, a Native American girl living in 1924 New Mexico with her father and sisters (still available). Kit Kittredge, a Depression-era girl living in Cincinnati (still available). Addy Walker, a young girl living on a North Carolina plantation during the Civil War (still available).

Your own mini me!

Years after the original dolls were released, the company decided to embrace the unique qualities of each customer by offering customization. They wanted each girl to find a doll that they looked like.

Get in line...

via: Shutterstock

 People would wait in line for hours to get inside an American Girl doll store. It was serious dedication.

Slight obsession?

People were huge fans of the dolls because their uniqueness in style individuality. Plus, it was so cute if you got a doll that looked like you, so you guys could match your outfits.

Even Conan loves them!

Conan O'Brien visited an American Girl doll store where he created his own doll. It's a hilarious video where he gets a behind the scenes look of the doll. Basically, it's hard not to love these dolls.

Plus, those books!

Each doll came with its own book as well. The story revolved around the doll and her perspective, including talking about where they came from and what kind of adventures they lived through. It was a cute and creative way to make the dolls seem more real. They wanted to create "Strong Characters, Powerful Stories" as their website proudly states.

Serious stuff.

Some of the books covered serious issues like bullying or moving to a new city and making new friends. The stories created a detailed background for the dolls that hopefully kids could connect to.

Keeps getting better...

As you can tell, the dolls grew to have hundreds of more options in regards to skin tones, outfits, and hairstyles. They also embraced different lifestyles for the dolls, showing some being scientists or astronauts. They even made dolls that were in wheelchairs.

No girl left out!

American Girl really nailed inclusion and diversity for the dolls, showing that every girl deserves to have a doll that looks just like them, no matter what you look like.

A beautiful creation.

Basically, these dolls were amazing and lovable for many reasons.

But the latest American Girl Doll launch?

Well, it has the internet feeling excited!

Meet Kira!

She's a Michigan-based girl with a love for animals - and in her book, she goes to Australia to explore their native wildlife.

Her gay aunts, Mamie and Lynette, run an animal sanctuary in Australia, and Kira goes over to help them out.

We love this inclusive story.