Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey among new International Women’s Day friendship Barbies
Mattel has unveiled eight one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls celebrating the importance of female friendship, just in time for International Women’s Day this week on March 8.
The new dolls represent four duos, including U.S. Olympic gymnastics gold medalists Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, and British actors Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple. The dolls are a part of Barbie’s Role Model series, which celebrate remarkable women with the aim to inspire girls across the world. They are not for sale.
Here’s what to know about the one-of-a-kind friendship Barbie dolls.
Jordan Chiles, 23, and Jade Carey, 24, are U.S. Olympic gymnastics gold medalists. The two were both a part of the U.S. gold-medaling gymnastics team during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Last year’s gold medal was Chiles’ first. During the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, she helped the U.S. team win the silver medal.
Earlier this year, Chiles released her memoir, “I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams,” which explores her journey to the Olympic stage.
Carey received her first gold medal during the 2020 Summer Olympics in the floor exercise final. During the 2024 Summer Olympics, she also received a bronze medal in the vault final.
Hannah Waddingham, 50, and Juno Temple, 35, are British actors who co-starred in Apple TV’s hit series “Ted Lasso.”
Waddingham is also known for her roles as Septa Unella in “Game of Thrones” and most recently, Mother Witch in “Hocus Pocus 2.” Temple is known for her roles as Dot Lyon in the television series “Fargo” and Thistlewit in the 2019 Disney film, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.”
Since meeting each other in the ladies room after the first “Ted Lasso” read-through, the women have become some of the entertainment industry’s favorite best friends.
“It starts with feeling truly like if anything happened, whether it be good, bad, catastrophic, she’s a safe space as long as I connect with her, like just make eye contact with her,” Temple said during a Variety interview alongside Waddingham. “She feels like home.”
Evonne Goolagong Cawley, 73, and Ashleigh “Ash” Barty, 28, are former Australian professional tennis champions.
Throughout her career, which began in 1965, Goolagong Cawley won 120 career titles, including the Australian Open four times, the French Open once and Wimbledon twice, according to the Tennis Hall of Fame. She was a finalist in the U.S. Open four times. Goolagong Cawley was ranked as the world’s No. 1 in women’s singles by the Women’s Tennis Association in 1976. She retired in 1983.
Barty, whose career began in 2010, has won several titles herself, including three Grand Slam singles championships. She was the second Australian to be ranked as the world’s No. 1 in women’s singles by the Women’s Tennis Association in 2019. Barty retired in 2022.
Not only are Goolagong Cawley and Barty the only Australian women to secure the Australian Open championship, but they are close friends. Goolagong Cawley served as Barty’s mentor for many years and in 2022, surprised her mentee by awarding her the Australian Open trophy.
“To be able to experience that together on such a big occasion, on such a beautiful court, and in a tournament that means so much to both of us,” Barty told Marie Claire Australia in 2022.
Paola Antonini and Kelen Ferreira are both Brazilian disability advocates.
In 2014, Antonini was the victim of a drunk-driving accident, which resulted in the amputation of her left leg. In hopes of inspiring others, Antonini founded Instituto Paola Antonini in 2020. The charity provides rehabilitation for people with physical disabilities through donations of prosthetics, orthoses, wheelchairs and rehabilitation accessories, according to the institute’s website. The institute also offers psychological and physiotherapy assistance.
Kelen Ferreira was one of hundreds affected by a fire that erupted at Brazil’s Kiss nightclub in January 2013. More than 240 people were killed.
Ferreira, who was at the nightclub that night, sustained third-degree burns on over 20% of her body, including her arms and hands, the BBC reported. Her right leg was amputated below the knee because her shoe had become glued to her foot from the heat, developing necrosis, a type of cell death. At the time of the fire, Ferreira was 21 years old.
Antonini and Ferreira became friends after Antonini represented Ferreira in the drama television series, “The Endless Night,” which explores the nightclub fire.
No, the eight Role Model Dolls were created one-of-a-kind for each of the women. They are not for sale.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey
Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple
Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty
Paola Antonini and Kelen Ferreira
Are the friendship Barbie dolls for sale?
Barbie honors female friendship with Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple dolls
Barbie honors female friendship with Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple dolls
Mattel announced Tuesday that Barbie will be releasing a line dedicated to four famous friendship duos who strive to empower and uplift each other.
“One of the greatest tools that a girl can have is the support and encouragement of her peers,” said Krista Berger, Mattel’s senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls. “As we approach International Women’s Day, Barbie is proud to honor legendary female friendship duos across different backgrounds, professions, and parts of the world.”
“We know firsthand that friendships formed at a young age can help fuel social and professional growth, setting girls up for limitless possibilities,” Berger added.
The collection features four duos “whose strong bonds inspire and empower each other’s success,” Mattel said.
Olympic gold medalists Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, British actors Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple, Australian former tennis world No. 1s Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Ash Barty and Brazilian body positivity advocates Paola Antonini and Kelen Ferreira are among the pairs being highlighted.
Antonini and Ferreira are amputees who bonded when Antonini portrayed a character in Netflix’s “The Endless Night” inspired by Ferreira’s life-changing injuries during a fire that erupted at Brazil’s Kiss nightclub in 2013.
Chiles and Carey spoke about what it means to be recognized with their own Barbie dolls.
“I’m beyond pumped to be honored alongside one of my best friends, Jade Carey, with a Barbie made in my likeness to celebrate International Women’s Day,” Chiles said. “There’s no power or peace quite like knowing you have a support system of women behind you.”
“I’ve always been passionate about empowering the next generation of female athletes and I couldn’t be more grateful to be recognized as a Barbie as a Role Model this International Women’s Day with Jordan Chiles,” she added.
Barbie honored another duo last month with dolls for pop star Alicia Keys and Grammy award-winning recording and mix engineer Ann Mincieli, which were auctioned off to raise proceeds for their nonprofit organization She Is The Music.
Terry Dickerson is a news associate with NBC News Digital.
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