American Olympic athlete Ilona Maher has transitioned from the rugby field to the toy market with the introduction of her own Barbie doll, commemorating her bronze medal win. Maher gained significant social media following during her recent Olympic outings, elevating the profile of rugby in a nation where the sport is not widely recognized. Expressing her anticipation of sharing the doll with young girls, Maher, a prominent figure in rugby, emphasized the importance of girls seeing themselves represented in the Barbie. The Maher Barbie, produced by Mattel, is set to hit stores next year.
The doll features Maher’s distinctive traits, including red lipstick, a braided ponytail, broad shoulders, and a muscular physique, promoting body positivity. Maher lauded the attention to detail in the doll’s design, praising the inclusion of knee pads and accurate replicas of her Adidas cleats. Alongside Maher, three other rugby players from various countries will also have their own Barbie dolls in honor of International Day of the Girl, but Maher’s doll will be the only one available at retailers in fall 2026.
Maher highlighted the significance of reshaping beauty standards through the Barbie, aiming to inspire girls to embrace diverse body types. She stressed the impact of challenging traditional beauty norms and encouraging young girls to view strength and athleticism as beautiful qualities.