Figure skating dolls Mia versus Katelyn: Are you an American Girl or a Target Gal?

It's a battle royale of the ice skating dolls this season! In one corner is Mia St. Clair, the 2007 American Girl Place Doll of the Year. Mia starts at $90 and additional clothing, accessories and books can be purchased for an astronomical amount. Parents everywhere will reminisce about their childhood when they had one doll (sometimes without hair because they brushed it to oblivion), one outfit, and Colorforms.

At the other corner is Target's response -- Our Generation Katelyn Figure Skater Doll (see below right). At $40, Katelyn comes with two outfits and accessories, including medals, a water bottle, flowers and a headband. (Just as an aside, I would have loved it if Target had named their doll Leah or Gia or something close to Mia.)

Here are the differences and similarities:

• $50 difference

• According to the American Girl Dolls website, "Mia has long red hair, green eyes, and pretty freckles." From what I could tell from the Target site, Katelyn is very blond, I think also has green eyes, and has no freckles.

• Mia's skates are purple. Katelyn's skates are white. Oh, by the way, you have to pay $14 for Mia's skates. They don't come with the doll.

• From reading users' reviews, Katelyn's hair is apparently difficult to brush, so it's best to keep it up in a ponytail or bun. But that seems perfectly fine -- skaters generally have their hair up all the time. I'm not certain about Mia's hair, but fear not! You can send the Mia doll to the American Girl Place hair salon and they'll fix her hair while you watch or wander around the store to purchase more stuff. There's also an in-house hospital to fix Mia

• Katelyn looks more like a Natalie to me. I'm just kidding. According to the New Parent's Guide's most popular girls' names of 2007, Katelyn was ranked #75 and Mia was ranked #15. The #1 name? Emily. I had a funny vision of the marketing departments at each corporate headquarters trying out different names to various focus groups to determine which was "it."

• Here's a similarity -- Both dolls are 18 inches tall. I had a idea: Purchase Katelyn, let your child play with the doll for a while, and when they wish to supplement with accessories, buy a few from American Girl Place! This way, they're not stuck on the "I can only have American Girl dolls and American Girl accessories" mentality. I think this will also teach them to mix and match, which is a very important lesson for later in life. Don't we pair up high end/low end all the time when we dress now?

More footage from Mia, 2008 American Girl Place Doll of the Year celebration

On Sunday, January 13, 2008, Rockefeller Rink and American Girl Place celebrated Mia, the 2008 Doll of the Year. I was lucky enough to attend and tape portions of the celebration, hosted by three-time U.S. pairs champion (1970-1972), two-time Olympian and World bronze medalist JoJo Starbuck. JoJo produced and choreographed several numbers for the show, which included performances by four young skaters: Claudia, Olive, Viktoria and Vida.

Wouldn't you know it, my video camera started "acting up" as the fourth skater, 12-year-old Vida, was taking to the ice and I was unable to capture her lovely performance. Luckily, an attendee of the show contacted me recently because she had video of Vida as well as the group finale number at the end of the celebration. Thank you, Anna! I know all the Mia and skating fans will love to watch the programs...

 

 

Starstruck moment - me and Viktor Petrenko at Mia celebration

This past weekend, Rockefeller Rink celebrated the unveiling of the 2008 American Girl Place Doll of the Year -- Mia, a figure skater. Part of the celebration included skating performances by four up-and-coming skaters, one of whom was ten-year-old Viktoria Petrenko. Viktoria's father is Viktor Petrenko, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist and one of my all time favorite male skaters. (link to amazing program)

Viktor and his wife were in the skatehouse preparing for their daughter's performance. When I interrupted to request a photo, Viktor was already headed out, but stopped and came back to let me know he will be back in a minute to take a photo with me. Although plenty of fans surrounded him, he made sure the focus was on the real skating stars that morning.

Ladies, Viktor is more handsome in person, extremely generous with his time and unbelievably personable to everyone who approaches him. Oh, and that's me looking deliriously happy.

More from Mia, 2008 American Girl Place Doll of the Year celebration

On a chilly clear Sunday morning on January 13, Rockefeller Rink and American Girl Place celebrated Mia St. Clair -- the 2008 Girl of the Year. Three-time U.S. pairs champion JoJo Starbuck hosted the event, where about 100 girls came onto the ice and skated at the world's most famous rink. The girls were also treated to a performance by JoJo and four up-and-coming skaters.

Viktoria Petrenko skates at celebration of Mia, 2008 American Girl Place Doll of the Year

More skating from Rockefeller Rink to celebrate Mia, the 2008 American Girl Place Doll of the Year. Below is one of the four skaters featured in the celebration -- ten-year-old Viktoria Petrenko, skating to a Ukrainian folk dance. Viktoria's father is Viktor Petrenko, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist.