"Gwynn" redirects here. For the doll, see Gwynn Tan (doll).
Gwynn Tan is a companion to the twentieth Girl of the Year, Corinne Tan. She was released in 2022.
Character
Gwynn Tan is a seven-year-old Chinese-American girl. She lives in Aspen, Colorado with her mother Judy, stepfather Arne, and older sister, Corinne; the two spend weekends with their father, David Tan. (Initially she could not pronounce Arne's name right, calling him "Army.") Like her sister, she speaks both Chinese and English.
Gwynn is initially excited to move in with their stepfather and doesn't have the reservations that Corrine does. She also, due to being younger, doesn't process the awkwardness Corinne has, regarding their blended family or racism--such as asking if her father will attend the city hall wedding, eagerly talking about Arne in front of their father, and not being worried about what people will think when passing out zongzi to advertise Judy's restaurant, walking right up to people. She is open about being part of a blended family and shows no emotional reservation, including once her younger half-brother Blix comes along. She is close to Corinne and loves her dearly.
She is confident in her intuitions and believes that she and Corinne share a "sister brain" and "sister heart" that connects them, helping them communicate without always talking or when separated. She is excitable and optimistic, with an open mind and great imagination. She likes to think of things in fancy ways--when Corinne says that shooting stars are mere rocks, she says that she'll still make her wishes on stars while Corinne can make them on hot rocks, and pretending that her stuffed animals sitting on the ski lift chair are going to the moon. Her girl stuffed animals have elaborate names and her boy ones have simpler names. She is very curious about the world and often asks Corinne for guidance. Gwynn can be overly emotional, such as crying when she is upset (such as after someone makes a racist statement about Chinese food and dogs), sticking her lip out, being energetic and talkative when excited (to the point of missing Corinne's social cues for when to quiet down), and stomping her foot--lightly, setting one next to the other--when she won't be moved.
Gwynn loves both skiing and ice skating, and while she has been part of group lessons, she often watched the private skaters practice with longing; Alysa Lui is her idol. Private ice skating lessons--which Arne signs her up for--are a dream for her. Once she starts them, she proves to be a talented figure skater for her age and her teacher, Margot, suggests she enter a competition right after their first lesson. However, she still has a lot to learn and often gets frustrated when she can't do something immediately.
She does not like the feel of life jackets; they make her feel like she is trapped inside a marshmallow. She also doesn't like coconut, saying it tastes like wood shavings. Her best friend's name is Pippa. She enjoys gummy bears. Like her mother, sister, and father, she is lactose-intolerant. Gwynn is gifted a necklace from her stepfather Arne at the wedding and initially loses it by placing it at a shrine in the woods, but it is found and brought back to her (identified by her name and the restaurant tag tangled in it).
Books
Gwynn is a major character in Corinne's books, Corinne and Corinne to the Rescue.
Film
In the upcoming film, she will be played by Kai Cech and aged up to ten.
Doll
- See: Gwynn Tan (doll)
- Face Mold: WellieWishers Emerson
- Skin: Light
- Hair: Brown, bangs, straight, waist length
- Eyes: Brown