Barbie is set to pay tribute to tennis legend Venus Williams and eight other remarkable athletes with their own dolls, as announced by Mattel last month.
The new project, unveiled in celebration of Barbie’s 65th anniversary, aims to spotlight nine pioneering women athletes, with Williams taking the lead.
Notably, Williams was the first woman to achieve equal prize money at Wimbledon and boasts an impressive seven Grand Slam titles.
Joining Williams in the doll collection are gymnasts Rebeca Andrade, who boasts 11 Olympic and world championship medals, and Alexa Moreno, Mexico’s inaugural women’s world gymnastics medalist.
Soccer stars Mary Fowler, recognized as Australia’s youngest player at the 2019 FIFA World Cup, and Christine Sinclair, holding the international soccer all-time scoring record with 190 goals, are also featured.
Additionally, Olympic gold medalist boxer Estelle Mossely, record-breaking swimmer Federica Pellegrini, paratriathlete Susana Rodriguez with five world championship gold medals, and eight-time national indoor sprinting champion Ewa Swoboda complete the lineup of celebrated athletes.
Reflecting on the honor, Williams expressed:
“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.”
According to Mattel’s Krista Berger, the collection aims to underscore, “the impact of sports in fostering self-confidence, ambition, and empowerment among the next generation.”
