Barbie releases new doll honoring the fastest woman in British history, Dina Asher-Smith
Barbie's been a lot of things in her iconic, 60-year lifespan: an astronaut, a CEO, a computer whiz. You name it, and she's probably done it.
But there's something new she's adding to her ever-growing list of professional accolades: She can run really, really, really fast.
How fast, you ask? Well, at least as fast as Dina Asher-Smith, the fastest woman in British history. The new doll in Barbie's one-of-a-kind "Shero" collection, which honors real-life role models, was created in her likeness, putting Asher-Smith in the company of inspiring women like Katherine Johnson, Ava DuVernay, and Amelia Earhart.
If you're a professional runner (or aspire to be!), she's one to beat: Asher-Smith currently holds British records for the 100 and 200 meter dashes, running the races in 10.83 and 21.88 seconds, respectively.
Her doll, which debuts on Mar. 3, marks a growing effort on Mattel's part to celebrate an even wider array of notable women.
Asher-Smith cheered on the effort, and hopes her doll will inspire future athletes.
"Growing up, sportswomen were less visible in the media and there is still a gap when it comes to women’s sports, which is why representation is so important," Asher-Smith said in a press release sent to Mashable. "For Barbie to champion female athletes and different sports shows future generations that anything is possible."
The new doll is a part of the toy company's Barbie Dream Gap Project, an initiative that, among other objectives, aims to bring attention to role models like Asher-Smith through dolls highlighting their work. In doing so, Mattel hopes to try to counter troubling research that shows how self-limiting beliefs can develop in girls as young as 5. Learning about positive athletic role models like Asher-Smith might just encourage young girls to strap on some running shoes and go for a jog.
The new "Shero" additions, to be launched in the next 24 hours, will include dolls for other female athletes from around the world: French soccer player Amandine Henry, Portuguese surfing champion Teresa Bonvalot, Turkish Paralympic swimmer Sümeyye Boyacı, and Ukrainian sabre fencer Olga Kharlan.
"As sportswomen continue to set new records and take center stage around the world, we are proud to honor these amazing women by amplifying their stories and achievements with dolls in their likeness," Lisa McKnight, Mattel's global head of dolls, said in the company's press release. "In an effort to close the Dream Gap, we have a responsibility to show girls they can be anything on and off the field, court, mat and beyond."
Topics Social Good
