Naomi Osaka Barbie sells out in hours of release as she prepares for Olympic return
- Fans snap up doll of world No 2 released ahead of her return to court at Tokyo 2020
- ‘I hope every child is reminded that they can be, and do, anything,’ 23-year-old says of ‘dream come to life’
The second Barbie doll by Mattel in the world No 2’s likeness is already on back-order on their website, despite fans being limited to two per customer.
Osaka’s first doll was released in 2019 to coincide with the iconic doll’s 60th anniversary. This second doll is part of the Barbie “Role Model Series”, following US women’s footballer Alex Morgan as another “shero”.
The 23-year-old Japanese celebrated the release of her second doll on social media, noting the “fun fact” that it comes dressed in the same outfit she wore at the 2020 Australian Open, down to the Nike logos. It also features her signature Yonex tennis racquet.
“I first teamed up with Barbie in 2019 and today we’re introducing the Barbie Role Model Naomi Osaka doll,” she wrote. The first doll was not commercially available.
“I hope every child is reminded that they can be, and do, anything.”
She added more on her Instagram post: “This is really seeing a dream of mine come to life, having your own Barbie and potentially seeing little kids playing with it. Omg.”
The doll’s box features another quote from the four-time grand slam winner: “Don’t compare yourself to anyone because the path that you’re on is yours and yours only.”
It also has a photograph of Osaka and biography of her that calls her “a powerful athlete and champion for change”.
Retailing for US$30, the doll also sold out on Amazon as well as the Barbie website, despite only being pre-orders for August 16.
