Naomi Osaka has been making headlines across the world lately for more than a few reasons. Over the weekend, the Japanese-Hatian professional tennis player — who's ranked No. 1 by the Women's Tennis Association and is the first Asian player in history to hold the top ranking in singles — scored an ESPY Award for Best Female Athelete. The prestigious award came just weeks after Oksaka withdrew from both Wimbledon and the French Open over mental health concerns, and mere days after Time magazine published a revealing essay she wrote called "It's O.K. to Not Be O.K." — both of which reignited public conversation about the importance of mental health care.
But on Monday, Osaka shared some other news on her social media feeds that had fans once again rallying around her: Mattel has created a Naomi Osaka Role Model Barbie in her likeness, and it's available now on Amazon!
Osaka shared the news herself on her social media feeds
And, as she mentions, this isn't the first time she's had a Barbie doll made in her likeness.
I first teamed up with @Barbie in 2019 and today we’re introducing the Barbie Role Model Naomi Osaka doll. I hope every child is reminded that they can be and do anything: https://t.co/GrPuW1WkMn
Fun fact : (the doll is wearing my outfit from the 2020 Australian Open lol) pic.twitter.com/DlL98lNfQj
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) July 12, 2021
"I first teamed up with @Barbie in 2019," she tweeted, in reference to the "Shero" Barbie that was made in her honor to celebrate the toymaker's 60th anniversary.
But "today we’re introducing the Barbie Role Model Naomi Osaka doll," Osaka continued, adding that she hopes "every child is reminded that they can be and do anything" whenever they play with their Naomi doll.
The doll itself is the spitting image of Osaka
In fact, Mattel took painstaking efforts to capture her precise look — right down to the Nike tennis dress that Osaka wore during the 2020 Australian Open. It also comes with her trademark Yonex tennis racket, while sporting light-blue Nike sneakers and a white visor that holds back her curls.
"This is really seeing a dream of mine come to life, having your own Barbie and potentially seeing little kids playing with it," Osaka continued in her Instagram post caption.
It didn't take long for fans to go wild
"What a time to be alive," commented one Instagram user. "Meanwhile, when I was little my dad got me the Mary Kay and Ashley Olsen Barbies. Not that they weren’t cool back then, but they were no Naomi Osaka."
Another person congratulated the tennis star and told her she is "so deserving of the role model doll" because of her "compassionate and caring" nature, which makes her even more of a role model than any of her tennis wins ever could.
It sounds like Osaka is well aware of what this means
"It's such an honor to be a part of the Barbie Role Model series, and to remind young girls that they can make a difference in the world," Osaka said in a press release on Monday. "I want young girls everywhere to feel empowered to dream big and to know that if they believe in themselves that anything is possible!"
Clearly, they already do, thanks to Osaka
"My daughters will love it!" tweeted one mom, in response to the new toy launch.
"Just ordered mine for my daughter," added another mom. "Looking forward to sharing with her what a role model you are. I appreciate and admire all you do!"
Some people wont realize how important this is. When young people see other people who look like them in action figures, TV, media, etc. it can make the impossible seem possible. Black/white/ whatever, everyone should be represented. That is what makes the U in USA
— Glenn (@GLegend1226) July 12, 2021
"Some people wont realize how important this is," tweeted someone else. "When young people see other people who look like them in action figures, TV, media, etc., it can make the impossible seem possible. Black/white/ whatever, everyone should be represented. That is what makes the U in USA."
The truth is, Osaka really has become much more than a high-ranking tennis star
In addition to breaking down racial barriers and empowering young female athletes to reach for more, her recent public comments have also turned her into something of an unlikely mental health advocate.
"I feel uncomfortable being the spokesperson or face of athlete mental health as it’s still so new to me and I don’t have all the answers," she admitted in her recent essay for Time.
That said, it wasn't going to stop her from speaking up about something she feels deeply passionate about.
"I do hope that people can relate and understand it’s O.K. to not be O.K., and it’s O.K. to talk about it," she said, in the wake of her decision to take a break in order to "rest and recharge" before the Tokyo Olympics. "There are people who can help, and there is usually light at the end of any tunnel."
"Michael Phelps told me that by speaking up I may have saved a life," she added. "If that’s true, then it was all worth it."
Note: The Naomi Osaka Role Model Barbie is available through Amazon, but is currently out of stock due to high demand.
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