Being the resident sports fan in the rova office has really paid off. I was given the opportunity to interview Black Ferns legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe in the wake of her being made into a Barbie. 

I was truly in awe while spinning a yarn with her and hearing all the inspirational things she had to say. 

We chatted about all things Barbie, Women’s Rugby World Cup, the importance of representation for young female athletes, and heaps more.

Portia said now she’s a Barbie, she feels like she's “clocked life,” and it’s got her questioning, “Now what?” 

When Mattel came knocking, Portia said yes, but only after she made sure her doll would portray the features of the many different communities that she represents: “The curly hair community, my LGBTQ community, the muscly, strong, you know, like girls that are jacked…" 

"And then the most important part of who I am is being Māori," she continued. "And they did an amazing job.” 

She wants girls to look at it and think, “she looks just like me. If she looks like me, then I can be anything I want to be”. 

Becoming a global phenom that generations of aspiring sportspeople - like myself - have, and will continue to, look up to makes Portia “so proud”.  

She followed that up with “and a little bit cringe, because you’re like, why me?” Portia said. (Because you’re literally the GOAT of rugby in New Zealand, would be my guess.) 

The recent Women’s Rugby World Cup had historic attendance numbers, ones that actually brought Portia to tears. 

“It was just breathtaking,” she said with a big smile. “I felt like I had witnessed the Grand Canyon or something… what brought me to tears was just a big change, and that people were supporting us, no matter what jersey they were wearing, halfway around the world.” 

With an alarming drop-out crisis of young girls playing sport in New Zealand, this kind of representation and visibility is essential. 

Alongside the creation of the dolls, Barbie conducted some research and found that in New Zealand, 1 in 3 girls disengage from sport by age 14, due to body confidence, self-doubt, and a lack of female role models.

Portia acknowledges we need to “allow girls to feel those emotions, because the hormones are going crazy at that time… talk to them, have these discussions, allow them to… feel it, and then always encourage.”

While knowing there is still a long way to go, Portia is stoked with all the change she has witnessed, and is optimistic about the future of women’s sports in New Zealand. 

There is no doubt that this is the most inspiring interview I’ve ever done. Portia, love your work, and always in your corner.

Make sure you watch the full chat above.