Fowler is one of nine international female athletes honored with a doll in their image, alongside tennis player Venus Williams, French boxer Estelle Mossely, Canadian goalscorer Christine Sinclair, and Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda.
Fowler collaborated with Barbie to create a “mini Mary” that replicates her familiar physical traits, including her signature segmented high ponytail.
Fowler expressed her desire for the doll to capture the moments she feels most confident — “and that for me is when I’m on the pitch playing football.”
“During the design process, it was really cool working with the team to ensure my look was brought to life in my Barbie,” Fowler said.
“Being a positive influence, and seeing young girls recreate my look has been so special. To finally hold my doll and see her wear my bubble braid, my gloves, and even my boots made my Barbie doll unique and connected to me.”
The Matildas attacker, who has been with Manchester City since last year’s World Cup, admitted to being “speechless” when she saw her doll for the first time.
“I never would have thought that I’d have a Barbie that looks just like me,” she said.
“There are so many other incredible women who have been honored with Barbie dolls, and I just never would have thought that I would be among them. I’m just super grateful and honored to be part of this.”
Other athletes honored with a Barbie doll include Spanish paratriathlon athlete Susana Rodriguez, Italian swimmer Federica Pellegrini, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade, and Alexa Moreno of Mexico, the first Mexican female gymnast to win a medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2018.
Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, stated: “Barbie is thrilled to continue the brand’s 65th-anniversary celebration by recognizing the impact of sports in fostering self-confidence, ambition, and empowerment among the next generation.”
“We are proud to continue fueling the momentum surrounding women in sports. The dolls serve as an embodiment of our shared values of passion, empowerment, and individuality. By shining a light on these inspirational athletes and their stories, we hope to champion the belief that every young girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her passions and turn her dreams into reality.”
Mattel has previously honored iconic women with limited edition dolls, including Naomi Osaka, Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, and Tina Turner.
In a statement upon the release of her Barbie, Venus Williams said she is “honored to be recognized as a sports role model and join forces with Team Barbie to continue empowering the next generation of young girls to never stop believing in their dreams.”
“Throughout my career, I’ve always been driven by the idea of shattering glass ceilings and staying true to myself, and Barbie’s mission couldn’t resonate more deeply with that ethos,” she said.
“I want other young girls to have that invaluable experience of playing a sport and what it teaches you and what you learn and what you take from it, not just in that moment but for the rest of your life. I think it’s so important for girls to be in sports.”
Last month, in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the US, Mattel released a limited edition Barbie of Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi.
In 1992, Yamaguchi won an Olympic gold medal for ice skating in Albertville, France, becoming the first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) competitor to win gold in any sport at the Winter Games.
