Barrier-breaking tennis pioneer Venus Williams is getting her own doll before the 2024 Olympic games in Paris.
Williams is one of nine elite female athletes worldwide who are immortalized with dolls as part of the Barbie-Mattel 65th-anniversary celebration campaign.
On Wednesday, the brand unveiled its 2024 collection of Barbie Role Models. Barbie’s parent company, Mattel, created the dolls for these legends “who have broken boundaries to encourage girls to stay in sports and recognize their full potential,” as shared via a statement obtained by TheGrio.
Williams shared the honor with her two million Instagram followers on Tuesday, May 22.
Venus Williams speaks to her fans and thanks Mattel
Williams, whose tennis exploits include successfully fighting for equal pay in the sport, conveys her gratitude to the toy manufacturing company for this prestigious honor.
“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,” Williams shared. “I’m honored to be recognized 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.”
8 women join Venus Williams with their Barbie dolls
In addition to the seven-time Grand Slam winner and four-time Olympic gold medalist, Wiliams will be joined by the following:
- Soccer player Christine Sinclair of Canada;
- Australian FIFA World Cup football player Mary Fowler;
- French boxer and 2016 Olympic champion Estelle Mossely;
- Mexico’s first female world medaling gymnast Alexa Moreno;
- Olympic gold and silver medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil;
- Spanish doctor and para-triathlon athlete Susana Rodriguez;
- Record-breaking Italian Olympic champion swimmer Federica Pellegrini
- Top-ranked Polish track and field sprinter Ewa Swoboda.
“Barbie is thrilled to continue the brand’s 65th-anniversary celebration by recognizing the impact of sports in fostering self-confidence, ambition, and empowerment among the next generation,” said Mattel’s senior vice president of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, Krista Berger, in a statement.
“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.”
