Photo Courtesy of Time Magazine
The United States First National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, told Vogue that American Girl allegedly used her likeness in 2017 without her permission.
In an interview with the magazine, Gorman revealed that she had been booked to speak at American Girl’s annual celebration of “Girl of The Year” when she noticed a doll named Gabriela McBride had a backstory resembling her own.
Gorman, who had already been named the first-ever Youth Poet Laureate in Los Angeles, was briefed before the event and given a synopsis of the doll’s biography. Gorman said to Vogue, “Gabriela loves the arts and uses poetry to help find her voice so she can make a difference in her community.”
The poet shared with the magazine that the resemblances that the doll and her shared were various.
First, the doll has brown skin and naturally curly hair (which Gorman is known to have). Secondly, the doll has a speech impediment that Gorman happened to grow up with as well. Finally, the doll uses poetry and dancing to cope with her disability which is another similarity Gorman shares with the doll.
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Despite the debacle, Gorman still decided to carry out the event. She told Vogue that if she had gone back on the event, she “would have been failing the girls who would have this Black doll.”
American Girl denies having styled the doll after Gorman.
The poet’s star has been rising since performing “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January. Since then, Gorman has been offered endorsements, job opportunities, and book offers.
She is reportedly trying to be more cautious with the commitments she makes.