Venus Williams was presented with her own one-of-a-kind Barbie doll by Mattel, as she is celebrated alongside a host of inspiring sportswomen.
The global tennis icon is honoured alongside a lineup of inspiring athletes including paratriathlete and doctor Susana Rodriguez and Man City WFC star Mary Fowler, as Barbie encourages girls to stay in sports and recognise their full potential
The announcement comes in continued celebration of Barbie’s 65th anniversary, as the brand is honours nine athletes around the world with one-of-a-kind role model dolls made in their likeness. Barbie is highlighting sports role models to show girls that anything is possible if they relentlessly pursue their passions.
One of the most decorated Olympic athletes with four gold medals, and the first woman in tennis to earn equal prize money at Wimbledon, Venus Williams has courageously persevered through countless obstacles to inspire social change within tennis and the sports industry at large. Her Barbie doll comes with its own miniature racquet and ball, earrings and is dressed in tennis whites including a tennis visor.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always been driven by the idea of shattering glass ceilings and staying true to myself, and Barbie’s mission couldn’t resonate more deeply with that ethos,” commented Venus Williams. “I’m honoured to be recognised as a sports role model and join forces with Team Barbie to continue empowering the next generation of young girls to never stop believing in their dreams.”
Barbie is highlighting the stories of nine female sporting role models around the world who have broken boundaries in their field. The lineup includes Spain’s Susana Rodriguez, who was born with albinism and began running at age 10, since becoming a barrier-breaking paratriathlon athlete. As well as setting records in her sport, she worked as a young doctor on the front lines amid the pandemic, earning her the cover of TIME magazine in 2021.
Man City WFC striker Mary Fowler has become a key player for Australian national team, the Matildas, as well as for Man City in the UK. She was selected for the FIFA World Cup in 2019 and became the team’s youngest player at 16 years old, has been to two FIFA World Cups, the 2020 Olympic Games and will also represent her country in Paris 2024.
“Sport has been important to me in terms of creating my sense of self. I think it has definitely shaped me into the person I am today.” said Mary Fowler.
Globally, Barbie is also honouring the following sports role models:
Estelle Mossely (France): Boxer
Federica Pellegrini (Italy): Swimmer
Ewa Swoboda (Poland): Track and Field Sprinter
Alexa Moreno (Mexico): Gymnast
Rebecca Andrade (Brazil): Gymnast
Christine Sinclair (Canada): Soccer Player
Senior vice president of Barbie and Mattel’s Global head of Dolls, Krista Berger, commented: “Barbie is thrilled to continue the brand’s 65th-anniversary celebration by recognizing the impact of sport in fostering self-confidence and ambition among the next generation. The sports one-of-a-kind role model dolls serve as an embodiment of our shared values of passion, empowerment and individuality. By shining a light on these inspirational athletes and their stories, we hope to champion the belief that every young girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her passions and turn her dreams into reality.”
To encourage girls to stay in sports, Barbie is extending its partnership with VoiceInSport, a global digital platform that connects and inspires girls and women in sports through mentorship, educational content, and expert services, to help support and empower the next generation of women leaders in sports to thrive. Through this partnership, Barbie and VoiceInSport will host inspirational virtual mentoring sessions on the VoiceInSport platform, designed to encourage girls to pursue their interest in sports.
