APPROXIMATE RELEASE DATE: 1997-2014
HEAD MOLD: "Josefina"; pierced ears
PERSONAL FUN FACT: When asked which doll is my favorite historical American Girl character, I will never hesitate to answer with Josefina Montoya's name. Of all 2,400 plus dolls in my entire collection, none, except my Girl of the Year Isabelle, can hold a candle to Josefina. She has wormed a very special, deep place in my heart that could never be replaced by any other. Of all my possessions, only my stuffed whale named Willy is more important and sentimental to me. Josefina's stories, collection, and the memories I have of my three dolls have cemented her place as my all time favorite historical character.
I wanted Josefina since the moment she first came out in 1997. I used to hoard the catalogues with her pictures in them. I remember standing the catalogue pages up, which had a life sized picture of Josefina on them, and pretending that the pages were in fact a real doll. Josefina was exciting to me for a variety of reasons. She was the first new character that had been introduced to the line since I had gotten into American Girl, which was the same year. She was a drop dead gorgeous Hispanic character, with luscious jet black hair. Her collection reflected her culture beautifully, and I remember drooling over all her outfits. She came out right after my birthday in 1997, which is the year I got Addy, my first American Girl doll. I cannot honestly say that I would have gotten Addy as my first, if Josefina had already been released. But I am really glad that I missed the opportunity, because acquiring Josefina later in my life is what would make her come to mean so much to me.
For my seventh birthday, I remember tossing around the idea of getting a Josefina doll. But my sister, who always loved learning the Spanish language, told me Josefina was off limits since she wanted her. I listened to Colleen and decided to get Samantha instead (Felicity had also been one of my options). A few months after I got Samantha, sometime that fall, Colleen got her Josefina doll--the one on the far left of this picture. She was a reward for good grades at school if my memory serves me correctly. I was immediately and immensely jealous of Colleen's new doll. I remember how I would creepily watch Colleen have tea parties with Molly and Josefina in her bedroom, from the top of my bunk bed. I couldn't fathom how on earth she could possibly find Molly superior to Josefina. I watched as her Josefina doll became dirty and tattered from poor treatment--Colleen was not good with dolls at that age. The night our cat Marshmallow knocked a fan onto Josefina's face and chipped her nose, broke my heart. It seemed like a really huge ordeal at the time, but the chip is hardly noticeable. Eventually, Colleen tired of her Josefina doll altogether and tucked her away behind her mirror. In the following years, she let me have her old Josefina, Kirsten, and Girl of Today dolls.
As excited as I was about Colleen's Josefina doll, I really wished I could have my own. I always relished the memory of Colleen's new, shiny Josefina doll and how beautiful she was when she arrived. I didn't know how to fix up Josefina at the time, so I thought I'd ask for a new one for my birthday in 2002. I remember whenever I'd visit Mom at the hospital that summer, or go with her to doctor's appointments, I'd try to work her over. I remember all the arguments I made in vain about the reasons why we needed two Josefina dolls in the house. If it weren't for Dad, I never would have gotten my way. Dad always understood toys better than Mom. He was fully aware of why I wanted my own Josefina doll, and he supported the decision. Mom finally caved and agreed to this ridiculous proposition. On August 13, 2002, I opened up my very own Josefina doll. That was the last birthday I ever celebrated with Mom--she passed away less than two weeks later.
Josefina could not have been planned for a better birthday--I needed her more in that moment than I ever would in my life. Deep down inside, I had come to terms with the fact that Mom was so sick, that she'd eventually pass away. Josefina's stories brought me great comfort in this time of sadness. She had lost her Mama in her story, and throughout the books, she learned how to live without her. Even though my mother was still alive the day I got my Josefina (pictured on the far right), I still related to her books. I remember I spent that entire first night with Josefina pouring my heart out to her. For the first time, I had someone I could confide my fears to...someone who understood, and who could just be there for me. I kept talking to her, and watching the time on my new Hello Kitty alarm clock change as the hours passed. Eleven days later, I found out my mother passed away when I returned home from school clothes shopping. My entire world came crashing down on me in that moment. Without Josefina, I don't know if I'd have survived. I know I had my dad and my sister, but I needed Josefina too. Through the years, she always remained my object of comfort, and my lifetime friend that I could confide in. I remember all the times, even in high school during my break from dolls, that I would pull her off my book shelf and cry into her. Nothing in this world, except a hug from my dad, could make me feel the same comfort and relief that my Josefina doll could bring me. With one cuddle, and one look into her warm brown eyes, all the pain and hurt melted away.
This connection between me and Josefina was never broken...and it never could be. When I first started collecting dolls again in 2011, I jumped at the opportunity to get a third Josefina doll. My sister and I had found second hand American Girl dolls at an indoor flea market that winter. Dad offered to buy us one each--Colleen predictably chose Molly, while I picked out Josefina. My third Josefina, pictured in the center, is named Rosalita. At some point, I dubbed my sister's old doll Isabelle (which is a little confusing since I have a Girl of the Year who shares the same name). The name "Josefina" is reserved for my favorite, and most special one. Rosalita won my heart over too though--I thought she was simply the most gorgeous Josefina doll ever when I spotted her at the flea market. I really wanted her because at the time, my sister's old doll had a chewed leg...thanks to our dog Skippy, who made her a midnight snack back in 2003. I have since replaced her leg with one I got on eBay, but at the time, I didn't know I could. Rosalita looks so much like Isabelle--she has the same skin tone, unlike Josefina who is more red/tan in skin color. She has the same thick hair, but her eyes and accessories are more like Josefina's. She is like the perfect hybrid of my two childhood Josefina dolls, which I truly admire. She also has really quirky, wonky eyes, which make me laugh whenever I look at her on display. Rosie is very special to me though, because she is sisters with Colleen's flea market Molly. I think it is only fitting that our two favorite characters are sisters. Rosie was also one of the last Christmas gifts Dad ever gave me. I got her sometime in November 2011, as an early holiday gift. Dad passed away that May, in 2012, so when I look at Rosie, I always remember how lucky I was to have him for one more Christmas.
I have so much to say about Josefina, but I feel that no matter how much I write, or how many times I rewrite, it could never accurately summarize how I feel about her. She's been a true friend and confidant. She has helped me through some of my darkest hours, and no matter what, she always makes me smile. I feel very fortunate to have three Josefina dolls, especially since they remind me of the three most important people in my life--Mom, Dad, and Colleen. I consider each of my dolls a special gift from one of them, which makes them that much more special to me. Rosalita was Dad's last Christmas gift to me, Isabelle was a gift from Colleen, and Josefina was the last birthday gift from my mother. I could never part with any of these three dolls. Josefina Montoya has forever left her mark on me as not only a doll collector, but also a person--she has touched my life in a way that no other doll has.