American Olympic athlete Ilona Maher is transitioning from the rugby field to the toy market, as she has been commemorated with her very own Barbie doll following her bronze medal win in Paris last summer. Known for her social media presence, Maher has elevated the profile of rugby in the United States, a sport that typically struggles to gain mainstream attention. She expressed her excitement about the Barbie doll, emphasizing the importance of young girls being able to see themselves represented in the toy.
The Maher Barbie doll, produced by Mattel, is set to hit store shelves next year. Maher was heavily involved in the doll’s design, ensuring it accurately reflected her physical attributes, including her muscular build and distinctive features like her red lipstick and braided ponytail. She praised the attention to detail, noting that the doll even includes knee pads and replicas of her Adidas cleats.
In addition to Maher’s Barbie, three other rugby players – Ellie Kildunne from England, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe from New Zealand, and Nassira Konde from France – will also have dolls created in their likeness to celebrate International Day of the Girl. Maher emphasized the importance of diversifying beauty standards through toys, hoping that her Barbie will help shape young girls’ perceptions of beauty in a positive way.
Maher, who has been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, discussed the significance of her doll in challenging traditional notions of beauty and femininity. She emphasized the impact that seeing diverse representations of beauty can have on young girls’ self-perception.