Tennis royalty Billie Jean King has been immortalised in plastic as a Barbie Doll.

The feisty female trailblazer is part of the manufacturer's Inspiring Women Series.

The iconic tennis player, alongside singer Ella Fitzgerald and founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale, join an impressive register that boasts some of the most iconic women in history including pilot Amelia Earhart and social reformer Rosa Parks.

King's doll is a reincarnation of the star at 29-years-old when she famously defeated notorious chauvanist Bobby Riggs in the "battle of the sexes' match in 1973.

She has the same pale blue tennis outfit, glasses and sneakers.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion was delighted with her inclusion among the collection, telling People magazine: "I’m so thrilled to be part of the Barbie family now.

“It’s such an honour to me to belong with these women [Parks and Nightingale] that made such a difference to make the world a better place, and to lead and to show girls that we can be anything: we define ourselves,”

Barbie made her debut on the scene when King was 15-years-old but she is hoping young children can now be inspired by the leaps the brand has made with iconic names and their diverse range of models.

"Hopefully it helps them to think about all the possibilities in their life."