Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
By Jack Guy, CNN
A new Barbie doll modeled on tennis star Naomi Osaka has sold out just hours after it was released on Monday.
The new doll is part of the Barbie Role Model series and holds a Yonex tennis racket, according to a press release from toy company Mattel.
It sports a Nike tennis dress and a white visor, and Osaka tweeted that she wore the outfit at the 2020 Australian Open.
“I hope every child is reminded that they can be and do anything,” Osaka added in her tweet.
The 23-year-old won her first Grand Slam title in 2018 at the U.S. Open. The four-time Grand Slam winner is an outspoken figure on the professional tennis circuit and regularly addresses human rights, racial injustice and mental health during interviews.
Barbie commissioned designer Carlyle Nuera to make the doll, and he spoke of his admiration for Osaka.
“Obviously Naomi’s athletic skill is unmatched, that’s a fact,” said Nuera in the press release. “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 is the second time Osaka has collaborated with Barbie, following her 2019 appearance as one of the brand’s Shero dolls.
Earlier this month, video streaming service Netflix released a trailer for its “Naomi Osaka” documentary series, which focuses on her life and her struggles with being catapulted into the public eye.
“Naomi Osaka,” personally narrated by the tennis player, looks back at her upbringing and how her 2018 U.S. Open win turned her into an “overnight superstar.” The Japanese world No. 2 revealed she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since that 2018 win. The Netflix series will air on July 16.
Osaka will make her return to competitive tennis at the Olympic Games in Tokyo after withdrawing from the French Open, citing mental health reasons. She later announced she had also withdrawn from this year’s Wimbledon tournament.
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
Barbie launched a Naomi Osaka doll in the likeness of the world's highest-paid female athlete based on the tennis star's outfit at the 2020 Australian Open.
AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
Barbie launched a Naomi Osaka doll in the likeness of the world's highest-paid female athlete based on the tennis star's outfit at the 2020 Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Christophe Ena
Japan’s Naomi Osaka serves in her third round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Romania's Simona Halep at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Friday, May 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Christophe Ena
Japan’s Naomi Osaka serves in her third round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Romania's Simona Halep at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Friday, May 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Christophe Ena
Japan's Naomi Osaka returns a shot against Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Christophe Ena
Japan's Naomi Osaka returns a shot against Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France, Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Julio Cortez
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, is hugged by Serena Williams after Osaka defeated Williams in the women's final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Julio Cortez
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, is hugged by Serena Williams after Osaka defeated Williams in the women's final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Adam Hunger
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, holds the trophy after defeating Serena Williams in the women's final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Adam Hunger
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, holds the trophy after defeating Serena Williams in the women's final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Vincent Thian
Naomi Osaka of Japan watches her return to Sloane Stephens of the United States during their women's singles match at the WTA tennis tournament in Singapore on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Vincent Thian
Naomi Osaka of Japan watches her return to Sloane Stephens of the United States during their women's singles match at the WTA tennis tournament in Singapore on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Kin Cheung
Japan's Naomi Osaka kisses her trophy the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at Melbourne's Brighton Beach following her win over Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Kin Cheung
Japan's Naomi Osaka kisses her trophy the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at Melbourne's Brighton Beach following her win over Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Jean-Francois Badias
Japan's Naomi Osaka screams after scoring a point against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Jean-Francois Badias
Japan's Naomi Osaka screams after scoring a point against Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, May 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Mark Schiefelbein
Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts while competing against Jessica Pegula of the United States during their match in the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Mark Schiefelbein
Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts while competing against Jessica Pegula of the United States during their match in the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Frank Franklin II
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, wears a protective mask due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, featuring the name "George Floyd", while arriving on court to face Shelby Rogers, of the United States, during the quarterfinal round of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Frank Franklin II
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, wears a protective mask due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak, featuring the name "George Floyd", while arriving on court to face Shelby Rogers, of the United States, during the quarterfinal round of the US Open tennis championships, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Frank Franklin II
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, in the women's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Frank Franklin II
Naomi Osaka, of Japan, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, in the women's singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Hamish Blair
Japan's Naomi Osaka serves to Tunisia's Ons Jabeur during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Hamish Blair
Japan's Naomi Osaka serves to Tunisia's Ons Jabeur during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Andy Brownbill
Japan's Naomi Osaka celebrates after defeating United States' Jennifer Brady in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021(AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Andy Brownbill
Japan's Naomi Osaka celebrates after defeating United States' Jennifer Brady in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021(AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Hamish Blair
Japan's Naomi Osaka carries the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup around Rod Laver Arena after defeating United States Jennifer Brady in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021.(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Hamish Blair
Japan's Naomi Osaka carries the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup around Rod Laver Arena after defeating United States Jennifer Brady in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021.(AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Naomi Osaka Barbie doll sells out shortly after launch
Mark Dadswell
Japan's Naomi Osaka holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup aloft defeating United States Jennifer Brady in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021.(AP Photo/Mark Dadswell)
Mark Dadswell
Japan's Naomi Osaka holds the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup aloft defeating United States Jennifer Brady in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021.(AP Photo/Mark Dadswell)
