‘The limitless potential in girls’: Bindi Irwin has her own Barbie

SHE’S a wildlife warrior and now Australia’s Bindi Irwin has taken on a new role, like you’ve never seen her before.

Wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin has been honoured by Barbie as an inspirational woman. Picture: Bindi Irwin/Instagram

THIS is wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin like you’ve never seen her before ... as a Barbie doll.

The Queensland-based teen is one of a string of high-profile female role models who have been turned into Barbies ahead of International Women’s Day tomorrow.

The collection of 14 dolls has been dubbed the “Shero” range, standing for “she hero”.

Pilot Amelia Eearhart, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and American Olympian Chloe Kim are among others who have been given the Barbie treatment.

The range also includes Chinese volleyball champion Hui Ruoqi, French chef Hélène Darroze and German designer Leyla Piedayesh.

Irwin’s doll is dressed in her signature Australia Zoo uniform of a khaki shirt and shorts, with a clip-on toy koala on her arm.

She’s a doll! Bindi Irwin as a Barbie (third from left). Picture: Mattel

In a statement to Bustle, Mattel said the Inspiring Women range intended to “challenge gender expectations about women’s intelligence, roles, capabilities, sexuality and power”.

Barbie general manager Lisa McKnight said the brand wanted to show “the limitless potential in girls”.

“Barbie will be honouring its largest line up of role models timed to International Women’s Day, because we know that you can’t be what you can’t see,” McKnight said in a statement.

The Bindi Irwin Barbie Doll. Picture: Mattel

“Girls have always been able to play out different roles and careers with Barbie and we are thrilled to shine a light on real life role models to remind them that they can be anything.”

Mattel said the new Barbie is “inspiration for countless little girls who never saw themselves represented in sports and culture,” adding it hopes the doll “shows girls they can be anything.”

BARBIE GETS A MAKEOVER

This isn’t the first time Mattel has tried to reinvent Barbie.

In 2016, Barbie had a major overhaul with Mattel Inc introducing more realistic body types, seven skin tones to convey various ethnicities, 22 eye colors and 24 hairstyles in response to changing beauty standards, according to theLos Angeles Times.

At the time, the brand said Barbie’s makeover was “more reflective of the world girls see around them” and “allows girls to find a doll that speaks to them”.

In November, the toy company announced plans to sell a doll modelled on an Olympic fencer in the US who competed while wearing a hijab.

The doll inspired was inspired by Ibtihaj Muhammad. She became the first American to compete at the Olympics while wearing a hijab, and won a bronze medal in fencing at the 2016 Rio Games.

US Olympic Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad with the Barbie doll in her image. Picture: Getty

The battle to reinvent Barbie came as Mattel faces a number of financial struggles as children move their interests to video games and electronics as opposed to traditional toys.

CNBC reported the company’s stock fell 44 per cent last year. Matel reported a loss of US$281.3 million (A$360 million) as it was hit hard by the bankruptcy of Toy R Us which accounted for as much as 20 per cent of its sales.

The slump bred speculation Mattel would move to revitalise its brands “premium” offerings.

BINDI IRWIN’S OWN ‘SUPERHERO’

Bindi Irwin has her own Barbie doll. Picture: AAP

Last month, Bindi opened up about the tragic death of her father, crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, who passed away in 2006.

She described her dad as her “superhero” in an emotional Instagram post including a video of her dad.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to describe the amount of emotion in my heart once the video ended,” Bindi wrote.

“I promise to do my best to make you proud and ensure your legacy lives on forever.”

In a 2015 interview Bindi told Sunday Style that losing her father was like “losing a part of your heart”.

Steve Irwin with his daughter Bindi Irwin at Uluru in 2005. Picture: Australia Zoo/Getty

Meanwhile wife Terri Irwin revealed this week she has not been on a date in 27 years.

“I think it’s wonderful when people who have lost someone find love again, but I’m not personally looking, and I haven’t been on a date in 27 years,” Irwin told People.

“In fact, it’s been so long, I’ve had a couple of lovely women ask me out because they figured that’s the case. But I’m content. I have two beautiful kids, a really full plate. I’ve already had my happily ever after.”

Though Steve Irwin died 12 years ago, the family will continue his legacy, starring in a new Crocodile Hunter-inspired series, which is set to air on Animal Planetlater this year.

“A new chapter in our lives has begun as we embark on this journey with Animal Planet,” Bindi posted.

“There is so much on the horizon. We can’t wait to share our story as a family.”