"We all doubt ourselves at times, myself included. 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. Being part of Team Barbie is about showing girls that confidence isn't something to shy away from, but something to own."
"As women, a lot of times our body has been this object to be looked at and to be objectified, and I hate that there's girls out there that feel like they don't have a purpose for their body, and so they want to change it constantly. To get into sports and a sport like rugby, a sport like canoe, and track and field gives your body a purpose, shows what it can do and what it's capable of. It's not just something that is for others to judge."
Ilona Maher, a two-time Olympian, Dancing With the Stars alum and social media creator, is part of Mattel's Team Barbie initiative celebrating International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11. Mattel assembled four international rugby athletes—Maher, Ellie Kildunne, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Nassira Konde—to encourage girls to embrace confidence and remain in sports. Maher gained prominence during the 2024 Paris Olympics and through social media content that humanized athletic life. Maher uses her platform to empower women, champion body positivity and raise the profile of rugby in the United States. Mattel research found only 53% of girls ages 6 to 14 feel confident while playing sports.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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