Fearless Girl Statue To Stay Through February 2018

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — The Fearless Girl statue currently staring down Wall Street's famous charging bull will remain in place through February 2018, the mayor's office said.

The statue, which has quickly become a popular alternative to Broadway's longstanding bull, was put in place in March on the eve of International Women's Day and originally scheduled to stay until April 2.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday that the statue would stay in Manhattan through February 2018, the New York Daily News first reported.

"In her short time here, the Fearless Girl has fueled powerful conversations about women in leadership and inspired so many," de Blasio said in a statement. "Now, she’ll be asserting herself and affirming her strength even after her temporary permit expires – a fitting path for a girl who refuses to quit."

The statue quickly became a popular photo opportunity and tourist attraction, with thousands of New Yorkers signing a petition calling for the statue to be made permanent.

Multiple politicians have also all called for the Fearless Girl to stay in the Financial District, including the city's public advocate Tish James and state assembly member Yuh-Line Niou.

"Fearless Girl has inspired a discussion around female empowerment and the need for more women in leadership roles, and I am thrilled that she will remain in my district in lower Manhattan past April," Niou said in a statement on Monday. "We rallied as a community, signed petitions, and wrote letters to make sure Fearless Girl stood firm at her current location."

The statue, created by artist Kristen Visbal, was put in place by the asset management company State Street Global Advisors to advertise the company's call-to-action for public companies to have more women on their boards.

This post has been updated with additional information.

Lead image via Ciara McCarthy/Patch.