Bald American Girl Doll Prominently on Display Makes the Day of a Girl With Alopecia

Never underestimate the power of a store display, especially when it promotes inclusivity.

When Meredith Bailey’s daughter Mia was 4, she was diagnosed with alopecia – an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss. This past Christmas, Mia received a bald American Girl doll. Mia loved the doll but wondered why none of the bald dolls were displayed in the American Girl store.

Bailey didn’t have an answer for her daughter. “I wondered, too, why,” Bailey said in an interview with Today Parents. “Why do they have to be special ordered? Why can’t there be just one there? For her, and for all the little girls with alopecia, they deserved to see this doll with all the other ones.”

On Monday, Bailey and Mia went to the American Girl doll store in Natick, Massachusetts, for Bailey’s 8th birthday. Once in the store, they noticed something incredible. Not just one but three displays prominently featured a bald American Girl doll.

“My daughter was ecstatic,” Bailey wrote in a Facebook post on the company’s wall. “These dolls were not hidden in the back and had to be asked for. They were there for all to see, especially for my daughter who wondered why they were not out before.”

American Girl is known for making dolls which promote inclusivity. In addition to their bald dolls, the company sells doll accessories including wheelchairs, EpiPens and a diabetes care kit.

While having all of these items is one thing, prominently displaying them is another.

“This may feel to your company to be ‘no big deal,’ but to little girls who may feel ‘alone’ and so desperately want to see dolls that reflect their beauty — it means more than you know,” Bailey wrote in her Facebook post. “I cried many happy tears yesterday. Thank you so much for including ALL children.”

You can read Bailey’s full Facebook post below.

The post reads:

I have always been a loyal supporter of your company. I still have my Pleasant Company dolls from 1988 that my daughter now enjoys. I was so happy to start my daughter with her own collection. When she was 4 she was diagnosed with alopecia. This past Christmas my she received a doll without hair and nothing has thrilled her more. She did ask at one point why they were not on display at the store. I did not have a good answer to give her. Yesterday, we made our annual birthday celebration with her best friend to the Natick store. On the second floor we hopped off the escalator and there in front of us was a display with doll a without hair! My daughter was ecstatic! Then we saw them in 2 more spots in the store! These dolls were not hidden in the back and had to be asked for. They were there for all to see, especially for my daughter who wondered why they were not out before. This may feel to your company to be “no big deal”, but to little girls who may feel “alone” and so desperately want to see dolls that reflect their beauty—it means more than you know. I cried many happy tears yesterday. Thank you so much for including ALL children. ❤️