One of the finalists from “Dancing with the Stars” season 33 recently revealed a big honor that fans are loving. Ilona Maher, who danced with Alan Bersten and was the DWTS runner-up, is one of four female athletes who have just had Barbie dolls of themselves created.
Ilona Maher Has Joined ‘Team Barbie’
On October 6, Mattel announced “Team Barbie.” The company noted they were “honoring these incredible athletes who recognize and harness their own power with one-of-a-kind dolls made in their likeness because Barbie knows if you can see it, you can be it.”
In addition to Maher’s doll, Team Barbie has dolls modeled after three other international rugby players: England’s Rugby Red Rose team member Ellie Kildunne, New Zealand’s Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, and France’s Nassira Konde.
In the Mattel press release about the dolls, Maher explained, “We all doubt ourselves at times, myself included. But I am where I am today, because I kept showing up anyway.”
“I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m not afraid to say it,” Maher declared.
She added, “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.”
The Ilona Maher Barbie doll will be available for purchase in 2026.
According to Women’s Health, the Team Barbie dolls are the first ones Mattel has created with muscular, athletic bodies. Maher thinks having a doll like this when she was young would have been powerful.
“My insecurities used to be my broad shoulders, how big I am, and how strong I am,” she revealed. She added, “I think it would have helped me” to have a doll like this, where she could think, “You can see, ‘Okay, my Barbie has that, [and] I have that, so I am beautiful.”
Maher’s Fans Are Thrilled by the News
The Team Barbie release is already a big hit.
On Instagram, one fan commented, “The gasp I gasped, @ilonamaher you’re a Barbie!!!!!!”
Another raved, “This is the perfect collab I didn’t know we needed!”
An additional fan shared, “This is the Barbie I needed as a girl.”
“I’m 36… this healed something in me,” admitted someone else.
“This is the literal best brand partnership for you Ilona, you ALWAYS are showing us that we can be whoever we want to be. You rock it on the field, you rocked DWTS, you’re great with these kids! Love you,” wrote another supporter.
