Barbie Honors Venus Williams with Equal Pay Tribute Doll.
The doll’s outfit pays tribute to the milestone moment when gender pay equity was achieved in professional tennis.
Barbie has long encouraged girls and women to chase their dreams. Now, the newest doll celebrates a sports icon who’s done just that—Venus Williams, the latest addition to Barbie’s Inspiring Women Series.
For the honor, Mattel invited Williams to choose any outfit for her doll’s likeness. Her choice reflects not only her legacy as a tennis legend but also her shared commitment with Barbie to advancing gender pay equity.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion chose to commemorate her 2007 Wimbledon victory. While the all-white outfit might seem understated, its meaning is powerful—it marked the first time women’s and men’s singles champions received equal prize money.
“Wimbledon 2007 was a milestone in my career—not just for the win, but for what it represented beyond the court,” Williams told USA Today Sports ahead of her Barbie’s Aug. 15 debut. “Fighting for equal prize money wasn’t just for me—it was about creating change for all women in sports. Having that moment honored with a Barbie doll is incredibly meaningful, and I hope it inspires young girls to speak up, believe in themselves, and know they have the power to change the game too.”
Williams was a leading voice in the push for pay equity in professional tennis. She met with Wimbledon and French Open officials to address the pay gap, and when her calls for change were ignored, she penned an article criticizing Wimbledon for treating her and other female champions as “second-class” winners.
Her relentless advocacy ultimately led Wimbledon to award equal prize money to its women’s champions, making her 2007 victory even more meaningful.
Off the court, Williams has long had a love for dolls, using them in childhood as a creative outlet when she wasn’t playing tennis. She called the unveiling of her own Barbie a “full-circle moment,” recalling how she once sewed clothes for her dolls. “Seeing my finished doll was so surreal—it made me realize it represents something far bigger: inspiring young girls to dream big and break barriers, too,” she shared.
The doll recreates her iconic all-white Reebok outfit from the 2007 Wimbledon final against Marion Bartoli, complete with her green gemstone necklace, earrings, wristband, and visor. Offering advice to women everywhere, Williams said, “Always bet on yourself and keep pushing, no matter how tough it gets. There’s power in believing in yourself—when you use your voice, you create space for others to speak up, and that can spark real change.”
