DREAM BELIEVER

Australia’s celebrated Paralympic athlete and gold medallist Madison de Rozario has received a rare honour: a Barbie doll in her likeness that’s set to inspire a generation of girls around the country.

Agood role model can make a huge difference, especially to young girls wanting to see fierce, fabulous ‘sheroes’ who are chasing their dreams.

Thanks to a global initiative by the makers of Barbie, the world’s most iconic doll, the Dream Gap Project aims to raise awareness of the factors that can limit girls from reaching their full potential.

To mark International Women’s Day in March and to continue efforts to close the Dream Gap, a squad of professional sportswomen has been chosen as Barbie role models, including Madison de Rozario, as a way of paying tribute to their achievements and to show girls they can do, and be, anything. Since her Paralympic debut in wheelchair racing more than 10 years ago, de Rozario has collected a bevy of medals and awards. And now she’s one of an elite group of athletes who have a Barbie doll that looks just like them. #MoreRoleModels

Madison de Rozario and Barbie trackside; ‘shero’ Barbie; de Rozario in the stadium stands.