On and off the court, Naomi Osaka glistens as a role model. At the 2020 U.S. Open, we witnessed her valiantly sport customized black face masks emblazoned with the names of those who lost their lives to police brutality — a riveting act of defiance against the oft-diminished relevance of “politics” in sports. And earlier this summer, we watched in awe as she faced off against the old guard of the athletic world during her refusal to partake in post-match press conferences and ultimate departure from the French Open. Like the rest of us, Mattel is recognizing her burgeoning stature as an international change agent with her very own Barbie doll.
Newly minting the tennis phenom into their Role Model series capsule, Osaka’s doll dazzles in a Nike tennis dress with brushstroke print, a fun-size version of her 2020 Australian Open uniform. For accessories: a white Nike visor sits atop of her signature loopy curls, light blue athletic shoes on the feet and a replica of her Yonex tennis racket to top off the outfit.
In the announcement to her Instagram, the 23-year-old said, “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.”
This is the second time Osaka has had to pleasure of being rendered in doll-size by the toy manufacturer. Etching herself into history as the first Asian tennis player to be ranked No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association and the first Japanese-born player to win a Grand Slam, Mattel honored her strides once before in the commemoration of their 60th anniversary.
“We are incredibly honored to spotlight Naomi Osaka as part of our Barbie Role Model series,” Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global head of Barbie and dolls for Mattel, said in a statement to Today. “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 Naomi Osaka Doll, the perfect gift for all ages, are available now as a pre-order for the month and retail for $29.99 on Barbie.com.
