American Girl's 2026 Girl of the Year, Raquel, Is Samantha Parkington's Great-Great-Granddaughter

People shared this press release about the new Girl of the Year, Raquel!

 American Girl has a very special Girl of the Year!

PEOPLE can exclusively share that the 2026 Girl of the Year is Raquel Reyes! Raquel's mom is a direct descendant of American Girl OG Samantha Parkington. That background, combined with her Mexican American heritage from her dad, makes a fascinating character that is sure to be adored.

Raquel, 10, lives in Kansas City, where her parents run a shop that sells paletas. Raquel has a little brother and a Pomeranian rescue named Luzita.

While attending a family reunion in New England, she visits Mount Bedford, where her great-great-grandmother, Samantha Parkington, lived as a girl and she discovers Samantha’s diary.

A journaler herself, Raquel writes about her family travels, DJing in a talent show, playing pickleball and getting ready for a family wedding. She also discusses her passion for animal rescue, describing the time she and her cousin helped save a stranded dolphin and her calf.

Samantha was among the dolls brought back in honor of the brand's 35th anniversary in 2021. Jamie Cygielman, Global Head of Dolls, Mattel, tells PEOPLE that it was important to honor American Girl's origins as they celebrated the latest Girl of the Year.

"By linking Raquel – Samantha Parkington’s great-great-granddaughter – to a beloved original, we’re expanding both characters’ worlds: Samantha’s legacy gains new chapters through Raquel’s eyes, and Raquel’s contemporary story gains depth and historical context. That connection makes the American Girl universe feel more interconnected, with threads that cross eras and families," she shares.

"When Raquel discovers Samantha’s childhood diary, girls see how courage, kindness and advocacy echo across generations. For longtime fans, it’s a welcome dose of nostalgia. For new fans, it’s a fresh on-ramp to a classic. Heritage isn’t only where you come from, it’s what you carry into your family, friendships and the bonds and community you build."

Dr. Diana Leon-Boys, a leading scholar of Latina girlhood and an expert in Latina girls’ media studies, tells PEOPLE how "significant" Raquel's ties to Samantha are for Latina representation.

"Raquel is directly linked to Samantha Parkington, one of American Girl’s original characters. That placement tells Latina girls that they belong at the heart of American stories across time. It supports identity and belonging by showing a modern heroine whose courage and kindness are part of a multigenerational legacy," she shares.

"Media often conflates Latinidad with Latin Americanness and not within the context of the U.S. Raquel's story demonstrates that Latinas are part of the fabric of this country. They do things like DJ and work on their ice cream recipes. Further, as the years go by, this country's multi-ethnic and multi-racial population continues to grow, and Raquel (and her family) are a great representation of this."

 Dr. Leon-Boys says the character's "authenticity" further connects her to Samantha and the overall American Girl experience.

"Raquel’s Kansas City life – helping at her family’s paleta shop, sharing music and traditions with relatives and keeping close family rituals – grounds her identity in lived experience. Those specifics sit alongside her discovery of Samantha’s diary, where Raquel engages themes that Samantha also faced – like adoption and advocacy – showing how cultural pride and historical awareness can strengthen each other across generations."

 Cygielman and the American Girl team are hopeful that Raquel's story will be another that helps kids connect with history.

"At American Girl, we design our stories so lessons travel over time and transcend generations. In Raquel’s case, everyday moments – helping at her family’s paleta shop in Kansas City, supporting a cousin who’s sorting through where she fits in as she navigates the complexities of adoption and advocating for animal rescue – intersect with Samantha’s world through an uncovered diary," she shares.

"Girls see that empathy, being kind and speaking up mattered then and still matter now. The years may change, but the questions of who we are, where we belong, and how we use our voice persist. Encouraging girls to learn about history gives them perspective and agency today, and when they see kindness modeled in both eras, which is the very trait parents most want to instill, it moves from a page in a book to a practice in their lives."

Cygielman adds, "As we approach our 40th anniversary in 2026, we’re energized to expand on what defines the legacy of American Girl – creating beloved characters, from a wide range of eras and backgrounds, that inspire children with courage, confidence and strength of character." 

"Just as important, kids should see themselves in our storytelling – and also discover lives and cultures different from their own to build empathy and a broader worldview. We are dedicated to creating contemporary and historical characters that reflect the multidimensionality of girls today and for the next 40 years and beyond."