Nine female sports stars, including tennis player Venus Williams and Canadian soccer icon Christine Sinclair, are among a few iconic women who will now be immortalized in Barbie doll format.
These new dolls are produced as part of toy giant Mattel’s ongoing celebration of Barbie’s 65th anniversary.
Other athletes honored with Barbie dolls in their likenesses are Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, Mexican gymnast Alexa Moreno, Australian soccer player Mary Fowler, French boxer Estelle Mossely, Italian swimmer Federica Pellegrini, Spanish Paralympic triathlete Susana Rodríguez and Polish track and field sprinter Ewa Swoboda.
These dolls are all one of a kind, but will not be for sale.
“Barbie is thrilled to continue the brand’s 65th anniversary celebration by highlighting the impact of sports in promoting confidence, ambition and empowerment among the next generation,” said Krista Berger, Barbie senior vice president and global head of dolls. said in a media statement.
“Throughout my career I have always been driven by the idea of breaking glass ceilings and staying true to myself, and Barbie’s mission could not resonate more deeply with that ethos,” says Williams about this initiative.
“I am honored to be recognized as a role model in sports and join forces with the Barbie team to empower the next generation of young girls to never stop believing in their dreams.”
These celebrations follow a milestone moment in the brand’s history with the 2023 issue of the Barbie-movie, which shattered box office records and grossed over one billion dollars.
In addition, the film received eight Oscar nominations, and its screenwriter and director, Greta Gerwig, was named as the American magazine Time named woman of the year.
RNews previously reported that Canadian singer Shania Twain, along with celebrities such as Australian pop star Kylie Minogue and Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Viola Davis, also now boast Barbie formats.
Additional resources: CBS News, Good Housekeeping
