IT’S A RACIER NEW BARBIE
THE RELEASE OF THE LATEST ‘SHERO’ BARBIE IS A WIN FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD
Gone are the days when playing with dolls meant girls were matching plastic women with plastic husbands, in recent years Barbie has come leaps and bounds with the spectrum of renditions she has been made into.
We’ve seen Bindi Irwin immortalised in Barbie form for her work as a young conservationist and we’ve seen Ita Buttrose crafted as a doll to celebrate her iconic career as a media trailblazer.
For Barbie’s Australian role model for 2020, Mattel is honouring Para-athlete and world championship gold medallist for wheelchair racing, Madison de Rozario, for breaking the mould for women in sport.
“It’s so important to me to play an active role in increasing the visibility of people with disabilities,” Madison said.
“We make up almost a fifth of Australia’s population – that’s more than four million people!
“We’re an enormous part of society, and I want to see us as Australians embracing everyone from every corner of our community.”
To continue their efforts to close what they call the ‘Dream Gap’ (which refers to the time when young girls start doubting their selfvalue and potential), Barbie has been keen to make sure girls feel represented from a young age.
“It’s tricky for young girls and all kids to see pathways; it’s up to us to show them,” the gold medallist said.
“So often we choose not to see it when it comes to disability. Every successful adult with a disability who I know has had someone see something in them. It shouldn’t have to be that way, but while it is – be that person.”
And 60 years after her maiden voyage into the bedrooms of girls all around the world, Barbie is now officially the most diverse fashion doll on the market – immortalising everyone from astronauts to athletes.
“As sportswomen continue to set new records and take centre stage around the world, we are proud to honour these amazing women by amplifying their stories and achievements with dolls in their likeness,” Lisa McKnight, Barbie’s senior vice president and global brand general manager, said.
“We have a responsibility to show girls they can be anything on and off the field, court, mat and beyond.”
Now 26, Madison made her Paralympic debut for wheelchair racing more than 10 years ago, as the youngest athlete on the Australian Paralympic Team, going on to make three Paralympic appearances and take home three silver medals.
“I tried – and was horrible at – pretty much every sport before I found athletics. My advice to the next generation is to push yourself to try new things, even when you don’t want to, and welcome some failure – you never know where or how you’ll find your passion.”
“WE’RE AN ENORMOUS PART OF SOCIETY, AND I WANT TO SEE US AS AUSTRALIANS EMBRACING EVERYONE FROM EVERY CORNER OF OUR COMMUNITY.”