Meet American Girl's 2018 Girl of the Year
American Girl has just announced its 2018 "Girl of the Year" and she has some pretty inspiring ambitions. At just 11 years old, Luciana Vega dreams of being the first person on Mars.
The makers of the popular dolls teamed up with female NASA employees to create the 18-inch doll with brown eyes and dark hair. The aspiring space traveler comes dressed with STEM-inspired outfits and accessories, including a flight and space suit fully equipped for intergalactic travel.
"Luciana is a role model for today's girls - empowering them to defy stereotypes, embrace risks and failures, and chart their own course in life - whatever the goal," Katy Dickson, the president of American Girl said in a press statement.
The creators consulted with Dr. Megan McArthur Behnken, a NASA Astronaut; Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA chief scientist; Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center; and Maureen O'Brien, the manager of strategic alliances at NASA, to make sure that every part of Luciana was just like a real Astronaut.
"I was able to follow Lucy through all of her story and adventures, and provide feedback from an astronaut's perspective on the authenticity of her story and the activities that she participated in," Behnken told ABC News. "I've been in space and fixed the Hubble space telescope, so I have some perspective on how we use robotics, how we train for robotics."
Scholastic will also publish a three-book series following the space-loving character after she wins a scholarship to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
Big props to American Girl for creating a character that reminds little girls everywhere they can achieve their wildest dreams. The full product line launches in stores, online, and in American Girl's catalog on January 1.
Follow Redbook on Facebook.
You Might Also Like
