We already know that Barbie is a health care provider, president, creator, and astronaut — however forward of the 2024 Olympics, Mattel is reminding us of her athletic prowess, too.
At this time, Mattel introduced a collection of 9 dolls that can honor trailblazing girls athletes all over the world, with one-of-a-kind Barbies made of their likeness.
So, who’re these sports activities stars?
- Venus Williams, an American tennis participant and one of the vital adorned Olympic athletes
- Christine Sinclair, a Canadian soccer participant who’s hailed as soccer’s best worldwide scorer (with 190 objectives to her identify!)
- Mary Fowler, an Australian soccer participant, who grew to become the crew’s youngest participant to be chosen for the FIFA World Cup at 16 years outdated
- Estelle Mossley, a French boxer who was topped as an Olympic champion in 2016
- Alexa Moreno, a Mexican gymnast who was Mexico’s first feminine world medalist within the sport
- Rebeca Andrade, a Brazilian Olympic gold and silver medalist, who has another than ten medals in World Cups
- Susana Rodriguez, a Spanish paratriathlon star, who has set information in her sport and was additionally a health care provider on the entrance strains of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Frederica Pellegrini, an Italian swimmer and record-breaking Olympic gold medalist who was elected to the IOC Athletes Fee after her final competitors in 2020
- Ewa Swoboda, a Polish observe and area springer who’s a adorned championship medalist and holds the world lead of seven.01 seconds within the 60-meter race
“All through my profession, I’ve at all times been pushed by the thought of shattering glass ceilings and staying true to myself, and Barbie’s mission could not resonate extra deeply with that ethos,” Williams stated in a press release.
“I’m honored to be acknowledged as a sports activities function mannequin and be a part of forces with Staff Barbie to proceed empowering the following technology of younger women to by no means cease believing of their desires.”
Sadly for collectors, these dolls are one-of-a-kind and won’t be accessible for buy. Nevertheless, they symbolize a a lot bigger initiative that can characteristic the real-life athletes.
As a part of the Barbie Dream Hole Undertaking, which fights stereotypes that preserve women from attaining their desires, Mattel’s flagship model has partnered with VOICEINSPORT, a digital sport platform devoted to protecting women in athletics.
By this partnership, Barbie will host inspirational digital venturing classes with the aforementioned Barbie Position Fashions on the VOICEINSPORT platform, that are free to attend and can proceed into 2025. Ladies in sports activities ages 12 and up are inspired to signal as much as attend these free mentoring classes.
A press launch shared: “Understanding that women concerned in crew sports activities usually tend to consider they’re sensible sufficient for his or her dream profession, have excessive opinions on their talents and competencies, elevated management aspirations and get pleasure from larger ranges of self-confidence, Barbie is bringing collectively these inspiring tales which can be shaping the longer term to indicate women that something is feasible in case you relentlessly pursue your passions.”
VOICEINSPORT’s founder, Stef Strack stated that offering entry to those skilled athlete mentors is “a dream come true.”
“We constructed VOICEINSPORT to convey extra visibility to girls athletes globally in order that women all over the world can be impressed to dream massive and construct confidence to remain within the sport,” Strack stated in a press release.
This initiative comes as a part of an ongoing year-long celebration of Barbie’s sixty fifth anniversary — and comes forward of the 2024 Summer season Olympics in Paris, France, which is the first-ever Olympic Video games to attain gender parity.
Whereas the opposite Barbie Position Mannequin athlete dolls is not going to be bought to the lots, a set of recent sports activities doll lineups and playsets have been introduced, aiming to “encourage the following technology of empowered girls to discover a future in sports activities by play.”
They embrace a 2024 lineup of Barbies which can be basketball gamers, boxers, tennis, and volleyball gamers; a soccer doll assortment; and a gymnast playset.
Mattel additionally launched a particular version Kristi Yamaguchi doll to its Barbie Inspiring Ladies line final month, honoring her as the primary Asian-American girl to win an Olympic gold medal in determine skating.
The model’s retail companions are additionally investing in these empowerment initiatives, with Goal contributing a $65,000 donation to The Dream Hole Undertaking, with a portion going on to Lady Discuss, a company that produces peer-to-peer mentoring packages for ladies.
Walmart may also launch unique content material with Barbie Position Fashions Katya Echazarreta and Venus Williams all year long.
“The sports activities one-of-a-kind function mannequin dolls function an embodiment of our shared values of ardour, empowerment and individuality,” Krista Berger, Mattel’s senior vp of Barbie and international head of dolls, stated in a press release.
“By shining a light-weight on these inspirational athletes and their tales, we hope to champion the assumption that each younger lady deserves the chance to pursue her passions and switch her desires into actuality.”
Header picture courtesy of Mattel/WME Sports activities Studio
