Barbie is commemorating International Day of the Girl with a campaign spotlighting global rugby stars, including American and Olympic medalist Ilona Maher, joined by Ellie Kildunne of the United Kingdom, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe of New Zealand and Nassira Konde of France.

Each woman featured as part of the Team Barbie campaign has her very own doll designed in her image, complete with respective uniform, Barbie-embossed rugby balls and accessories. The collection is designed to encourage young girls to pursue their dreams — especially in sports and male-dominated fields.

“We all doubt ourselves at times, myself included. But I am where I am today, because I kept showing up anyway,” Ilona Maher said in a statement.

“Even through tough practice days or days I didn’t feel my best, I continued to put in the work, strengthen my skills, and believe in my ability. Which grew my confidence in myself and my career. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m not afraid to say it. If sharing my story can inspire other young girls to believe in themselves the way I have, then I’ll have truly made an impact,” she said.

“Being part of Team Barbie is about showing girls that confidence isn’t something to shy away from, but something to own. I’m honored to use my platform to empower the next generation to find that spark of confidence within themselves and let it drive them toward unlocking their limitless possibilities.”

As part of Barbie’s continued partnership with Maher, the brand is sharing a closer look at the decorated athlete’s journey by launching the Ilona Maher Barbie doll, which will be available for purchase in fall 2026.

The doll comes complete with an all-new body sculpt, designed to reflect the build of the strong athletes featured on Team Barbie. The Muscular sculpt doll was created with a straighter, more athletic torso, visibly defined arms, shoulders and legs. The doll also comes complete with sculpted core and back muscles.

“At Barbie, we believe that girls can be, and do, anything,” Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie, Mattel, said in a statement. “We’re committed to breaking down the barriers — from gender stereotypes to self-doubt — that hold girls back from realizing their limitless potential. By showcasing the stories of incredible role models whose confidence has fueled groundbreaking success, we’re showing girls that the future of sports — or wherever their passion takes them — is theirs to claim, with Team Barbie cheering them on.”

Mattel is making donations to girls’ sports organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand and France, the home countries of the four featured athletes, to fund programming focused on building and supporting girls’ confidence, a core part of the brand’s continued commitment to encouraging girls to stay in sports.