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MATTEL Ken and Barbie, meet Naomi. The toymaker Mattel released a new Naomi Osaka doll. |
With the Olympics and the U.S. Open in the near future, 2021 is already proving to be quite a year for tennis star Naomi Osaka. Last week she was named Sportswoman of the Year by ESPN and this week, Mattel released a Barbie® doll in Osaka's likeness.
"I want young girls everywhere to feel empowered to dream big and to know that if they believe in themselves that anything is possible," Osaka said in a statement provided by Mattel.
In 2019, she was a Barbie® Shero, honored with a doll in her likeness. Now, in 2021, we're thrilled to honor tennis player Naomi Osaka with a Barbie® Role Models Doll that's available for collectors and tennis fans around the world!
To make the Naomi Osaka Doll a reality, Barbie® Signature turned to designer Carlyle Nuera. He's well-known for the research he puts into his subjects, and when asked for his thoughts about her, he says, "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 doll also represents the Roles Models who play a part in our ongoing Barbie Dream Gap Project. It's a global initiative designed to introduce girls to women’s stories from all walks of life, because imagining they can be anything is just the beginning. Actually seeing that they can makes all the difference!
Mattel says while 40% of athletes are women, female athletes only receive 7% of broadcast time, and Osaka has been an advocate for getting women athletes their due respect.
“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 explained. "
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 release of the $29.99 doll is not random. She just penned an essay for TIME, explaining why she felt it necessary to drop out of the French Open for mental health reasons. Although she trains and lives in the U.S., Osaka is about to represent Japan at the Tokyo Olympics later this month. She's also the subject of a Netflix documentary 3-part miniseries simply titled Naomi Osaka, premiering July 16.
"I feel like the platform that I have right now is something that I used to take for granted, and for me I feel like I should be using it for something," Osaka said in a Netflix press release. "I believe, instead of following, you have to make your own path."
"I feel like the platform that I have right now is something that I used to take for granted, and for me I feel like I should be using it for something," Osaka said in a Netflix press release. "I believe, instead of following, you have to make your own path."
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