Community Corner

American Girl’s 2023 Girl Of The Year Doll Is From Metuchen

Kavi Sharma is the first South Asian American Girl of the Year doll. Metuchen will welcome Kavi on Friday with a Bollywood block party.

Kavi Sharma is the first South Asian American Girl of the Year doll.
Kavi Sharma is the first South Asian American Girl of the Year doll. (American Girl Doll)

METUCHEN, NJ – The official American Girl doll for 2023 is from Metuchen! Kavi Sharma is the very first South Asian American Girl of the Year doll, who lives with her close-knit family and loves to sing and dance, the company announced.

The Metuchen Downtown Alliance will be welcoming Kavi to the borough on Friday during its New Year’s Eve Party. Downton Metuchen will be celebrating Kavi with a town wide tea party and a Bollywood block party.

"We are so excited that American Girl has chosen Metuchen as the hometown for their 2023 American Girl Doll. Our Borough is a diverse, vibrant community with residents and programming that reflect the world around us,” Mayor Jonathan M Busch said in a statement.

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“Kavi is a welcome addition to our Borough and we can't wait for the children in our community to share her and their Metuchen stories with the rest of the country."

As part of her story, Kavi, short for Kavika, is passionate about performing and lives a short train ride away from New York City and Broadway, her “favorite place in the world.”

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Written by author Varsha Bajaj, Kavi’s story inspires kids to share their talents, pursue new interests, and take pride in who they are – just as Kavi and her family honor their Indian/ Hindu heritage.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to have Kavi Sharma call Metuchen her home and be selected as the 2023 American Girl of the Year and even more excited that just 24 hours after this exciting announcement we can celebrate her and her South Asian roots with our New Year Party,” said Dawn Mackey, Executive Director Metuchen Downtown Alliance.

“If it's one thing Downtown Metuchen knows how to do, it's how to celebrate and Friday will be a wonderful evening with music, dance, 360 photo booth, ball drop and more with friends, family and partygoers of all ages."

American Girl will make a $25,000 donation to fund full and partial scholarships for kids ages 7-14 participating in the camp’s summer programs in NYC, the company said.

The celebrations begin at 5 p.m. Friday at the Metuchen Town Plaza, 21 New Street.

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