Team Barbie Celebrates International Day of the Girl
Ilona Maher, the world’s most-followed rugby player on social media, has been granted her own signature Barbie doll. Maher’s popularity soared after the 2024 Olympics and she finished in second place on Dancing With The Stars later that year.
Mattel, the multinational toy company that manufactures the Barbie brand, announced Monday that it would celebrate October 11’s International Day of the Girl by introducing Team Barbie — four professional women’s rugby players, including Maher, in the doll format. Maher, 29, will have a doll in her likeness alongside England international Ellie Kildunne, New Zealand’s Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, and Nassira Konde of France.
Mattel said in a release the collection is to help “encourage girls to own their confidence proudly,” through rugby players who “boldly wear their confidence” and compete in a “sport often regarded as a male-dominated field.” The dolls will be available to buy in 2026.
With an all-new body sculpt designed to reflect the build of many strong athletes, the Muscular sculpt celebrates strength with a straighter, more athletic torso, visibly defined arms, shoulders, and legs, plus sculpted core and back muscles.
In May 2025, to celebrate Barbie’s 65th anniversary, Mattel released nine Barbies in the likeness of sports stars: Venus Williams (tennis), Christine Sinclair (soccer), Mary Fowler (soccer), Estelle Mossely (boxing), Alexa Moreno (gymnastics), Rebeca Andrade (gymnastics), Susana Rodriguez (paratriathlon), Federica Pellegrini (swimming), and Ewa Swoboda (track and field).
