Approx. 1,000 words · Reading time: ~4 minutes
The Dolls That Travelled the World
For nearly a decade, Toys R Us was the only place in Australia you could find them — a row of beautiful 18-inch dolls in elegant boxes, each one styled for a different corner of the globe. Journey Girls were the dolls that travelled. One year they were in Paris. Then London. Then Italy. Then New York. And in 2017, in their last big release, they finally came home — with an Australia-themed line.
Toys R Us has long since closed its doors in Australia, but the Journey Girls live on. Today they're cherished by countless Aussie kids who got their first proper 18-inch doll from a TRU aisle, and the dolls themselves are still sold internationally on Amazon. Many older girls (and adult collectors!) are still out there hunting down Journey Girl outfits to keep their dolls beautifully dressed.
Here's the story behind one of the most beloved Toys R Us originals.
How Journey Girls Began
Journey Girls launched in 2010 as a Toys R Us exclusive — designed and produced by Geoffrey, the company's private label brand. The idea was elegantly simple: create a high-quality, affordable 18-inch
doll that gave families a real alternative to the much pricier American Girl.
The original line had four dolls: Alana, Callie, Meredith, and Taryn. By 2012, Alana had been renamed Kyla, Taryn had been renamed Chavonne, and the line had grown to six characters. (Anyone who finds an "Alana" or "Taryn" doll today has a piece of Journey Girl history!)
What set Journey Girls apart was their annual themed adventure. Each year, the dolls "travelled" to a new country, and Toys R Us released a whole new line of country-inspired outfits and accessories. The travel destinations were:
- 2013 — Paris
- 2014 — London
- 2015 — Italy
- 2016 — New York
- 2017 — Australia
-
2018+ (post-relaunch) — Japan, Brazil
When Toys R Us closed worldwide in 2018, many feared Journey Girls were finished. Happily, the brand was picked up by Just Play in 2019 and has been sold on Amazon ever since.
Meet the Journey Girls
The friendship group has grown over the years, but here are the much-loved characters most Aussie families remember:
Chavonne (originally Taryn)
African American, multi-talented performer and the natural leader of the group. Chavonne is a singer
with a strong voice and an even stronger sense of fairness. She's known for her gorgeous hair styles —
the curly version of Chavonne has become a particular collector favourite.
Kyla (originally Alana)
Latina, an artistic photographer with hazel-green eyes and brown hair. Kyla is shy at first but turns out to be one of the most loyal friends a girl could ask for. She loves making souvenirs and beaded jewellery from her travels
Meredith
Blonde, blue-eyed, the energetic athlete and team player of the group. Meredith is health-conscious, outspoken, and the friend who keeps everyone moving and motivated.
Kelsey
Auburn-haired, green-eyed, the adventurer. Kelsey loves extreme sports and exciting new places. She dreams of being a writer and is often the friend who settles arguments with thoughtful words.
Callie
Biracial (Japanese and Mexican heritage), brown-haired, the dancer and fashion guru of the group. Callie has the best sense of humour and is the only Journey Girl ever to have sported bangs.
Dana
The animal lover — and the only Journey Girl with glasses! Dana volunteers at the local shelter and dreams of being a vet. She's a beloved character for kids who wear glasses themselves and want a doll who looks just like them.
Mikaella
Strawberry-blonde, originally a 2014 holiday special before joining the main line for the 2015 Italy collection. She loves cooking and dreams of opening her own restaurant one day.
Ilee
Blonde with a darker streak, free-spirited and a nature lover. She dreams of being a florist. Originally a 2016 New York holiday doll, Ilee joined the regular group for the 2017 Australia line.
What Made Journey Girls Special?
1. Affordable quality
Originally priced around $40, Journey Girls offered serious value. Beautiful inset eyes, real eyelashes, soft rooted hair — and at a fraction of an American Girl's price.
2. Diverse and inclusive
From the start, Journey Girls included characters of African American, Latina, Asian and biracial heritage, plus Dana with her glasses. That mattered to families who wanted dolls that looked like them.
3. Beautiful boxes and presentation
Anyone who unwrapped a Journey Girl will remember it. The boxes were elegantly simple, the dolls came beautifully presented, and each one included a sweet little cardboard bookmark with her bio.
4. The travel theme
Each year's "destination" gave kids a reason to imagine new adventures and gave the line a constantly fresh feel. The Australia line in 2017 was particularly special for Aussie families.
5. Wonderful accessories
Journey Girls had bunk beds, sleepover sets, bicycles, scooters, mopeds, salons, a travel set — and most touchingly, a wheelchair set. As one parent recalled her daughter saying when she saw it: "Now even my friends who can't walk can have a doll like them."
Will Your Journey Girl Fit Our Clothes?
Yes — most of our 18-inch doll clothing fits Journey Girls beautifully. They're 18 inches (46 cm) tall, the same height as American Girl, Australian Girl and Our Generation dolls.
A couple of things to note:
- Journey Girls are slightly slimmer than American Girl, so American Girl outfits can sometimes look loose on them. Our outfits are designed to suit a range of 18-inch dolls.
- Journey Girl feet are narrower than American Girl, so American Girl shoes are usually too big — but our doll shoes are made to suit slimmer feet too.
For perfect fit:
- Pop over to our Doll Sizing Guide.
- Or use the How to Measure Your Doll page.
We have a wonderful range of Journey Girl-friendly outfits — including pyjamas, school uniforms, party dresses, swimsuits and casual wear.
A Doll With a Suitcase Full of Memories
For thousands of Australian families, a Journey Girl was the first "big" doll — the one that arrived for a milestone birthday, the one that came home from the toy store in a paper bag, the one that was loved to bits over years of imaginary play. They may not be in shops anymore, but they're still part of family life, and they still deserve fresh outfits.
If your Journey Girl is ready for a wardrobe refresh, browse our 18-inch doll clothing range — proudly Aussie, with free shipping over $80.
Note: Rosie's Dolls Clothes is not affiliated with Toys R Us, Geoffrey LLC, Tru Kids Brands or Just Play. All references to Journey Girls dolls are for sizing and information purposes only.
