Barbie celebrates Venus Williams' equal pay advocacy with Inspiring Women Doll
Tennis legend Venus Williams, who's known for a historic fight for equal pay, is now being honored with her own Barbie Inspiring Women doll.
Barbie announced Wednesday it will celebrate the seven-time Grand Slam champion and gender equality advocate with a collectible doll modeled after her 2007 Wimbledon victory look, featuring an all-white outfit paired with a green gem necklace, wristband, racket and tennis ball.
In 2005, Williams met with French Open and Wimbledon officials, demanding equal pay for female players and publicly calling the tournaments being on the "wrong side of history" in a personal essay for The Times in 2006.
Her advocacy led to both events awarding equal prize money by 2007, with Williams becoming the first woman to benefit when she won Wimbledon that year.
"A champion both on and off the court, Williams made history in 2007 by demanding equal prize money for women in professional tennis, paving the way for future generations of female athletes to pursue their dreams without limits," Barbie said in a statement. "Just as Barbie remains dedicated to inspiring limitless possibilities, Venus's bravery and commitment to gender equality continues to inspire people around the world – both in sports and beyond."
The doll will retail for $38 at Mattel Shop starting Aug. 18, with Barbie Club 59 members getting early access on Aug. 15, according to a press release.
This May, Williams was also among nine female athletes made into Barbie dolls to celebrate the brand's 65th anniversary.
"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 said in a press release at the time. "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."
