Mattel releases doll that pays tribute to tennis legend for her stellar career
When Mattel approached Venus Williams to make her own Barbie for the Inspiring Women Series, the American tennis legend was given free rein to select any outfit to be immortalized in.
Williams, whose resume is long as her 6-foot-1 frame, had many moments to choose from throughout her trailblazing career. She could’ve selected the first of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon in 2000 or opted to memorialize her first of four Olympic gold medals at the Sydney Games that same year. Williams could’ve even took it back to the 1999 French Open, where she won the first of her 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her little sister Serena Williams in their iconic braids and colorful beads.
But Williams ultimately selected her win at the 2007 Wimbledon tournament and not for the reason you may think. It was the first year the women’s and men’s singles champions earned equal prize money at Wimbledon, a cause that Williams championed long before her win.
“Wimbledon 2007 was a huge moment in my career — not just because I won, but because of what was happening off the court,” Williams told USA TODAY Sports ahead of her Barbie’s release on Aug. 15. “Championing for equal prize money wasn’t just about me, it was about pushing for change for all women in sports. To see that moment honored with a Barbie doll is incredibly special. I hope it inspires young girls to speak up, believe in themselves, and know they have the power to change the game too.”
Williams said seeing her own Barbie marked a “full-circle moment.” When she didn’t have a tennis racket in her hand during her early years training alongside father, Richard Williams, and sister, Serena, Venus channeled her creative energy into giving her dolls one-of-a-kind makeovers.
“I’ve always loved being creative, even as a kid, I used to sew clothes for my dolls,” Williams recalled. “Seeing (my) finished doll was so surreal — it made me realize this doll represents something much bigger. It’s about inspiring young girls they can dream big and break barriers too.”
Breaking barriers is Williams specialty. Two years before she triumphantly hoisted Wimbledon’s Rosewater Dish for the fourth time in 2007, Williams met with officials from Wimbledon and the French Open. They were the two Grand Slams that didn’t pay equal prize money at the time. When no change came from the meeting, Williams refused to leave the ball in the officials’ court. She penned an article in The Times at the start of the 2006 tournament titled: Wimbledon has sent me a message: I’m only a second class champion.
Williams’ article was the catalyst for Wimbledon and the French Open to change. Both tournaments announced equal prize money for all competitors, beginning in 2007. Williams went on to win her sixth major singles title at Wimbledon that year and was the first woman to win the same purse as male champion Roger Federer.
“My advice to any woman, not just advocating for equal pay but also advocating for themselves, is this: always bet on yourself and keep pushing, no matter how tough it gets,” Williams told USA TODAY Sports. “There’s so much power in believing in yourself. When you use your voice, you create space for others to speak up too and that can create real change.”
Williams’ Barbie is wearing a two-piece white set identical to what she wore to defeat France’s Marion Bartoli, 6-4, 6-1, in the 2007 Wimbledon final. Her “Inspiring Women Series” doll also features Williams’ accessories from the match, including her green gem necklace, dangly earrings, wristbands and visors, in addition to Reebok tennis shoes. (Williams signed a multi-million dollar deal with Reebok in 1995 at age 14 after walking away from Nike because she believed she could earn more, as depicted in the 2021 biopic, “King Richard.”)
Don’t forget about her racket and tennis ball.
“Venus chose that outfit herself actually, so she collaborated really closely with our talented Barbie design team,” Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, told USA TODAY Sports. “They (worked) closely throughout the entire process of designing the doll to ensure it accurately reflected her appearance and her personal style.”
Berger said Williams’ involvement with creating her own Barbie “added that personal touch to capture her impact as an athlete and an advocate. It’s a moment that’s important not only for the sport, for women, for fans, but to Venus personally.”
Venus Williams celebrates winning the ladies singles championship at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Tennis Club.
What’s next for Venus Williams?
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