Barbie recognizes all female role models. The Inspiring Women Series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time - courageous women who took risks, changed rules and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before. Born in Long Beach, California, Billie Jean King grew up playing tennis and sharpening her skills at local public parks. In 1961, she won her first major championship title, followed by a series of spectacular victories throughout her legendary career. Off the court, Billie Jean King tirelessly championed womens equality in sports. In 1973, during a globally televised match hailed as the Battle of the Sexes, millions of viewers watched as Billie Jean King defeated a formidable male rival and proved a womans place was hers to decide. Billie Jeans game-changing strides for equality and social justice earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Celebrate her incredible victories and remarkable impact with the Inspiring Women Series Billie Jean King Barbie doll.