i have archives stretching back 25 years - random obscure bits of software i downloaded, images i made or found amusing or interesting, old savegames, you name it.
this image is dated 2004-06-08, and it's just called "media2.jpg". when i do a "related images" google search it turns up another photo from the same photo shoot where the women are smiling instead of grimacing (what's happening to make them grimace??). but no info on what kind of promo event this was, etc. there are billions of different mario figurines out there so "2004 mario figurine" turns up nothing.
ok commenters have quickly helped put an answer together: those mario figures are "mini marios" from the 2004 GBA game Mario vs. Donkey Kong. here's a writeup of the promo event and here's the TV commercial that features the girls. so they are probably grimacing in fear at donkey kong! i surely would too.
