Naomi Osaka Barbie doll has sold out few hours after launch.
Gatekeepers News reports that a new Barbie doll modeled on the Japanese world No. 2, Naomi Osaka has sold out few hours after it was released on Monday.
American Multinational Toy Company, Mattel earlier announced that the new doll is part of the Barbie Role Model series and holds a Yonex tennis racket.
Mattel in a press release wrote, “Osaka represents Japan as a professional tennis player. She became the first Japanese player in history to win a Grand Slam (one of the four major annual tennis tournaments) at the U.S. Open in 2018. The following year, she won another Grand Slam tournament (the Australian Open) and reached #1 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. She already won her fourth career Grand Slam title earlier in 2021, and she’s using her platform to speak out about issues surrounding human rights and racial injustice. Naomi is a force, on and off the court.”
“She has paved the way for future generations of girls to dream bigger, and through her unwavering courage and honesty, shown the world the importance of being your own biggest champion. Naomi continues to break boundaries on and off the court and is a powerful role model to fans everywhere.”
The Barbie doll was kitted in a Nike tennis dress and a white visor, tennis racket, tennis ball, sweatband, dress, shoes, and a doll stand which Osaka identified she wore the outfit at the 2020 Australian Open.
Osaka while acknowledging the doll as an honour tweeted, “I really hope every child is reminded that they can be and do anything. This is really seeing a dream of mine come to life, having your own Barbie and potentially seeing little kids playing with it.”
The new Barbie doll which came right in time for the Tokyo Olympics, where the professional tennis player will be representing Japan was priced at $29.99.
Barbie commissioned designer Carlyle Nuera to make the doll, and he spoke of his admiration for the tennis star.
Nuera in the press release said, “Obviously Naomi’s athletic skill is unmatched, that’s a fact.
“But what I personally admire the most about Naomi Osaka is how she uses her platform, the spotlight on her and her voice, to raise awareness about social justice.”
This makes the second time Osaka will be collaborating with Barbie, following her 2019 appearance as one of the brand’s Shero dolls.
Earlier this month, Netflix released a trailer for its “Naomi Osaka” documentary series, which reveals her life and her struggles with being catapulted into the public eye.
In the series, the tennis player personally narrated her upbringing and how her 2018 US Open win turned her into an “overnight superstar.”
Osaka disclosed she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning her first grand slam title in 2018. The Netflix series will air on July 16.
