Here are the details of Sue Bird’s Barbie doll from the ‘Role Model’ line
The former WNBA icon is set to be immortalized in a way that few have and it’s likely to make a whole lot of fans happy. Especially those who are younger.
There are those who have streets named after them and then there are others who see statues erected in the honor. Yet, few can attest to having a doll made in their likeness and that’s exactly what’s about to happen for the now-retired WNBA star.
Barbie picks Sue Bird
While it would be fair to say that Sue Bird has a long list of achievements under her belt following a sensational career in the NBA, what she does not have is a Barbie doll in her likeness. According to reports, that’s all about to change as Bird has officially been selected as the next woman athlete to have a Barbie doll modeled after her. In an official announcement made by the company on Tuesday, plans to make the former Seattle Storm star the ninth woman athlete to be featured in the company’s ‘Role Model’ line were unveiled. Interestingly, the 43-year-old’s doll is set to be the first one available for purchase in the line.
“I was really excited when I heard,” Bird told PEOPLE. “I grew up playing with Barbies so it’s kind of a surreal moment when something like this happens. ...Now little girls and little boys are going to see a professional women’s basketball player in the form of a Barbie and they’re going to tap into that story, they’re going to tap into that career and they’re going to think ‘Oh, this is something I could do,’ and that’s really powerful.”
Where specifics are concerned, Bird’s doll will feature some unique differences in comparison with your typical Barbie doll, most notably the “Made to Move” body sculpt, which means that the doll’s knees and elbows can bend. As you can imagine, children will be able to use the doll in a much more athletic way assumedly enacting some of the four-time WNBA champion’s more iconic moments. It doesn’t stop there either, as girls who are 12 years and older will also be granted access to mentoring sessions thanks to VOICEINSPORT from the nine athletes featured in the Barbie collection when purchasing a Bird doll. This is of course with the intention of inspiring girls to continue playing. If you’re wondering some of the other ‘Role Model’ Barbies include the likes of tennis star Venus Williams and soccer star Christine Sinclair.