by Dollita Okine, Face2FaceAfrica.com
Serena Williams is now part of Team Barbie, making a statement on International Day of the Girl by encouraging young girls to dream big and believe in their potential.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and tennis icon now joins a list of other stars whose likeness is celebrated alongside other inspiring athletes and role models.
The doll pays homage to Williams’ memorable 2005 Melbourne title outfit, featuring a green and white cutout top with mesh details and a white skirt.
Accessories include matching tennis shoes, socks, a sweatband, a racquet, and a tennis ball, embodying the spirit of determination and empowerment for young girls everywhere.
“When I first saw it, I was so excited,” the tennis star said, Essence reported. “I mean, I particularly am obsessed with Barbies now because my daughters are both in the stage where they play with Barbies. And having an opportunity to have my own doll is insanely cute, especially for my kids.”
“Growing up, I didn’t see many girls who looked like me being told there was no limit to who they could become,” Williams said in a press release, according to WTA Tennis. “I want every girl who plays with this doll to see possibility—not just in me, but in herself. She can dream big, work hard, change direction, break barriers, and become anything she chooses. That’s what makes having my own Barbie so meaningful to me.”
Williams said that Mattel perfectly captured her outfit from twenty years ago and was excited that her hairstyle from that era was also accurately represented.
“I was really adamant about having big curly hair and having a little color in the hair as well,” she said.
This isn’t the first time Williams has had a doll made in her image. Earlier this year, the former World No. 1 was included in the “Barbie Dream Team” for International Women’s Day, recognizing her entrepreneurial journey after having a similar doll created in the early 2000s.
Nathan Baynard, vice president and head of Barbie, Mattel, expressed the organization’s excitement to work with the legend, saying in a statement, “Barbie is proud to honor Serena Williams. Barbie has always inspired girls to believe they can be anything, from the sports stadium to the fashion runway to the boardroom. Serena Williams embodies that message through her extraordinary achievements as an athlete, entrepreneur, and advocate for equality.
“By honoring her with a Barbie Signature doll, we’re celebrating a barrier-breaking icon whose legacy empowers fans everywhere to dream big and embrace their own potential.”