Addy, Molly, Julie, Josefina and Kaya. No these aren’t the names of the latest girl band, and you won’t fi nd their faces gracing the pages of the tabloids. These are the names of five of the dolls that make up the American Girl Historical Character Line.

These are also the names of girls who have won the hearts of uncounted girls across America who have read the books, bought the dolls and who may just have bought the clothes to match their dolls.

On Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21, the American Girl Fashion Show will return to Fayetteville for an event that is sure to delight the hearts of the little girls who collect the storied dolls, and their mothers and grandmothers who remember a simpler time and understand the fascination of these heroines.

The American Girl Fashion Show is an annual event to benefi t the Child Advocacy Center of Fayetteville. In its third year, the event is made possible through the American Girl Corporation that authorizes the fashion shows to raise funds for nonprofi ts that work directly with children.

Cindy Huguley, one of three co-chairs of the event, explained that the event was brought to the Child Advocacy Board by a former chairman, Beth Perry. “She was aware that the American Girl organization offered an opportunity to non-profi ts that benefi t children,” she explained. “This is a really great event — not only as a fundraiser. The dolls and the stories they represent help to build self-esteem in girls. They read about, and have these dolls, that represent very strong historical fi gures. The whole concept is very wholesome and lets little girls know that it’s okay to play with dolls.”

The American Girl Company only awards regional events, so the show held in Fayetteville will draw people from all over Eastern North Carolina. “It’s a really good event for Fayetteville,” she said. “It will bring families into town from Raleigh to Wilmington. We even have models from as far away as Wake Forest.”

While there are some models from out of the area, the majority of the models will come from Cumberland County. In November and December of 2008, the organization had open calls for models at the Downtown Library and the Hope Mills Library. Girls that fi t into clothes 6X to 10 could tryout to be a model in the show. The co-chairs looked for a very diverse goup of girls.

“We looked for girls who look like the dolls,” explained Huguley.

The historical line includes an African-American doll, Addy; a Native-American doll, Kaya; and a Hispanic doll, Josefi na.

In total, there are 130 models who will work the four shows.

“We wanted to give a lot of little girls the opportunity to participate, so we created four casts,” she continued.

In adddition to modeling on the day of the show, the models have the opportunity to go out into the community to raise funds for the center. Last year’s cast raised in excess of $17,000.

“It’s great that the girls have the opportunity to model, but it’s better that they have the opportunity to help children in need,” she continued. “That’s the underlying point in everything we do at the show.”

Besides getting a chance to see their favorite dolls comes to life, attendees will also have the opportunity to shop for “girly” things in the vendor area and to enjoy a tea party.

The event will be held in the Crown Coliseum Ballroom, with shows at 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and a 3 p.m. show on Sunday. Tickets are $30 per person. For more information on the show or tickets, call (910) 486-9700 or visist www. childadvocacycenter.com.