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Create Your Own

File:CYOStar.png

Create Your Own is a modern line released by American Girl, allowing for a variety of 18" custom dolls and designed outfits through the company directly. Unlike the other modern line of Truly Me, this line allows purchasers to design unique dolls themselves using various options available.

The line was officially released August 8th, 2017 and is available primarily online, but can be designed (and then shipped to a recipient) at the flagship stores. The dolls and their collections are recommended for ages six years and up.

From April 16 until June 11, 2025 the Create Your Own line was paused for purchase on the American Girl website; while the creator was still active, dolls could not be added to the cart to buy.[1]

Cost and Contents

For a purchase cost of $275[2] the purchaser receives:

  • The complete customized doll (called "One of a Kind" doll)
  • One line-exclusive outfit, essentially serving as a meet outfit
  • One line-exclusive accessory set (originally optional, now included)
  • A line-exclusive keepsake storage box
  • An included animated video message (as of 2022)

This is all sent with free shipping as part of the cost. A six-month (three-issue) subscription to American Girl Magazine was originally included from launch until the end of the magazine publication in 2019. A self-designed Create Your Own doll-sized T-shirt, available through a packaged code, was available until 2022 when the clothing side was discontinued.

As of 2022, Create Your Own dolls and outfits cannot be returned to American Girl for refunds or exchanges; they can be returned for flaws (and exchanged) or repaired.

Designing Dolls and Ordering

Creation categories were initially divided into:

  • Hair: Color, Style, and Hairstyles
  • Face: Skin tone, Face mold, Eye colors, and Additional components (later moved to "Extras")
  • Outfits and Accessories: Outfits, accessory sets, piercings, hearing aids, and glasses
  • Personality: Name, Pet/Favorite Animal, Backdrop/Favorite Place to visit, and Hobbies (later removed)

"Extras" was later added, which includes ear piercing, braces, hearing aids, and glasses. Glasses are available from the open stock of any currently available glasses.

"Personality" did not affect the actual design of the doll or what will arrive with the doll, and instead contributed to filling out ideas about the doll's background and allowed naming; this was later removed.

In order to place an order, one must have an online account, the same as regular purchases. Designs of dolls are stored in an American Girl account, so they can be accessed and purchased at any time; designs do not have to be purchased at the time of creation. Without logging into an account, designs cannot be saved. Dolls are freely editable; they are purchased by adding to bag, but are not removed from the design listing and can instead be marked as purchased.

Each doll is individually made to order, which requires a longer processing time than a traditional order and so will not be shipped immediately; at the time of order, the estimated arrival date is stated and is often about three to six weeks. If a customization option has low stock or backordered components, this will be stated on the design at creation and will cause delays in order fulfillment.

Orders were not initially available to be shipped to Canada, which was later changed. International orders must be called in.

Doll Customization Options Available

File:Customeyes.png
An example of a doll created online. The example--on the eye color choice screen, from an older layout--shows the Jess Mold in a medium skin tone (tan with warm undertones), red wavy medium length hair, freckles, braces, and complete heterochromatic eyes with one light blue and the other blue.

Doll customization is grouped by Face (face molds, skin tone, and freckles), Hair (color, "cut" (length and style) and style (additional styling), Eyes, Clothing (outfit and accessories), and Extras (ear piercing, braces, glasses, and hearing aids). If a choice is out of stock or has been retired, it will not be shown as available.

Face Molds

Six of the available face molds are in use. They were originally designated by letter alone, which was later changed to add mold names. This was later changed to be a brief description of the mold with mention of eye shapes. A shape description was later used, with no lettering; they have since been tweaked.

Any mold may be purchased in the available skin tones of Light, Medium, and Dark. In 2019 three additional shades of Light, Medium, and Dark that had been first introduced in the Truly Me line were added, with each one specified.

Eye Colors

Seven eye colors have been available:

  • Blue[3]
  • Light Blue
  • Green
  • Dark brown
  • Light Brown
  • Grey
  • Hazel

Dolls may be designed with two different eye colors, representing complete heterochromia.

Hair Colors and Styles

Hair can or could come in eighteen different base hairstyles (some have been removed over the years):

* None[3] * Long Wavy * Medium Wavy
* Bob * Medium Curly[3] * Natural Long
* Bob with Bangs[3] * Medium Curly with Bangs[3] * Natural Short
* Long Straight * Medium Straight * Pixie Cut
* Long Straight with Bangs[3] * Medium Straight With Bangs[3] * Short Curly
* Long Texture * Medium Tight Curls * Side Part Cut Hi-Top Curly

There were seven initial base hair colors, with four more colors being added over the years.

  • Light Blonde
  • Blonde
  • Light Red[3]
  • Red
  • Brown
  • Dark Brown
  • Black
  • Pink (added in 2020)
  • Blue (added in 2021)[3]
  • Purple (added in 2021)
  • Rainbow (added in 2023; blends pink and light blue)

Select styles can also be tweaked with hairstyles, adding either a barrette[3] or headband, styling the hair into a double (one high and one low) or single[3] ponytail, or styling the hair in double pigtails. Styles may remove head accessories that come with outfits, but these will still be included. For short styles, only the barrette and headband are/were available; bald only had the headband. Select hairstyles may also have the option of double braids on either side of the face.

Additional Components and Traits

File:CYO-FootMark.jpg
Create Your Own foot stamp.

Any doll can be designed with freckles (chosen with skin tone), ear piercing (which will come with silver star stud earrings but no additional earrings), given braces (which come as add-on stickers; these are not added with the Kaya Mold), and have hearing aids placed in one or both ears for no additional charge; the latter three are listed under "Extras."

Dolls have, on the sole of the right foot, a gold thumbprint Star logo and One of a Kind in white scripted lettering.


Outfits and Accessory Sets

Various outfit sets and accessory sets have been available; dolls will come in a full outfit, essentially making them a meet outfit. Outfits come with hats or head accessories; accessory sets frequently come with a purse or tote.

Outfits were also available separately for $34 and accessories for $30, but had to be purchased via the Create Your Own site; as of 2022, they are no longer available separately.

File:Customline.png
Launch Outfits and accessory sets L to R: Let's Explore I, Let's Smile, Let's Create I, Let's Celebrate, Let's Daydream, and Let's Play.

Outfits and accessories can be mixed and matched; selecting a specific outfit does not limit the purchaser to purchasing the matching accessory set. Accessory sets do not have to be selected at all, but the overall price is not discounted.

The initial launch outfits and accessories were:

The first version of Let's Create and the Let's Daydream Outfit were retired and replaced with new sets in 2019; new accessories were released to match, but older accessories were not immediately retired. The Let's Move outfit and accessories were released in 2020, and the Let's Have a Party outfit and accessories in 2021.

A second version of the Let's Celebrate Accessories was also released and replaced the older set before being retired with the outfit.

File:SecondCYOmeets.png
Outfits and accessory sets in 2021. L to R: Let's Create II, Let's Move, Let's Explore II, Let's Smile, and Let's Have a Party.

In 2022, new sets were made available with matching accessories; older sets were depreciated. An additional set was added in 2023, and another in 2024.

While the Red Party Dress has no specific accessories for it, the Christmas Eve Treats Set was made available as an accessory set.

Outfits and accessories can be retired; if a doll was designed with a retired outfit and/or accessories, before purchase can be made the doll must be edited to remove or replace these components.

Redemption for Shirt and Magazine

Inside the box with the doll is a redemption code for a One of a Kind Doll Tee. The code card allows the shirt to be purchased in a separate order that is shipped for free. As of 2022, this code has been removed.

Originally a six-month subscription to American Girl Magazine code was included, which was removed with the magazine's ending. If a purchaser had a magazine subscription active already, the subscription was extended by six months.

Video Message

Starting in 2022, an animated video was part of the package; recipients can select a specific Truly Me Character doll (out of four named) and a message to them with a recipient, sender, and message. Selected first names, as well as generic titles (e.g. girlfriend, grandparents) are available. This was later removed.

Create Your Own Design Studio

Some items from American Girl Place's Truly Me Signature Studio were also available online and remained exclusive on-site to locations in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Custom doll-sized outfits, children's shirts, and doll carriers can be designed. The outfits are printed on white knit or cotton cloth; if purchased on site at a store they are printed on site, while online orders are shipped. The Celebration Outfit and Swimsuit were not available online before being retired.

The outfits made available were:

Outfits start as blank with white backgrounds.[6] Elements of the outfit are selected and designed separately, with some elements exclusive to a component (for example, denim pants designs for a tunic and leggings outfit are not able to be placed on shirts).

Themes for outfit designs were sorted into several categories which included:

There are also some standard graphics that cross between the themes. The themes cannot be mixed and matched; changing themes while designing outfits will reset the outfit back to blank and no changes will be saved. Text typing could be added with four various font faces to choose. Unlike dolls, a customized creation could not be edited or changed once saved; to change an outfit, users must start a design from the beginning on a new item.

Outfits made with retired designs could still be ordered after the designs were removed.

As of 2022, the outfit designer has been depreciated and is no longer available.

Repair Information

One of a Kind Dolls are repairable through the American Girl Hospital at no higher cost than other dolls. For a short time in June 2025 they could only be sent in for Renew and Refresh services; it was later updated to state that the care center can't guarantee parts being available and delays may happen if parts must be ordered, increasing the length of the repair.

See Also

  • Truly Me, the non-customizable modern line that was released in 1995

References

  1. ↑ "To ensure the best for our customers, we've paused doll customization services. We're working closely with our partners to find solutions and resume Create Your Own orders as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and continued support." American Girl FAQ, accessed 4/27/2025.
  2. ↑ Originally $200 from launch until 2022, later $210 before change later in 2022, then $220 until 2024, then $235 until 2025
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 No longer available.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Was available prior to launch as part of the Truly Me Signature Studio.
  5. ↑ No longer available.
  6. ↑ The One of a Kind Sports Outfit comes with grey and white shorts that cannot be customized.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 No Longer available.
  8. ↑ Available Seasonally.
  9. ↑ The unique character theme only lasts during the length of their time as primary Girl of the Year.
  10. ↑ MTV Branding was later removed.
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