Already establishing herself as a fashion icon and social activist, Naomi Osaka can add a new accomplishment to her resume as the Japanese superstar partnered with Mattel Inc to release her own line of Barbie Dolls.
With the toy company pushing for a more diverse line of dolls that focuses on different role models and professions, it only makes sense that Osaka would be chosen as a template. The doll, priced at $29.99, sold out just hours after it was launched on Monday. Mattel's website says: "Due to high demand, we are currently sold out of this doll."
The project was designed by Filipino designer Carlyle Nuera and shows Osaka wearing a Nike tennis dress inspired by her 2020 Australian Open outfit, complete with Nike shoes, visor, and Yonex tennis racket. Nuera said his team worked closely with the four-time Grand Slam champion, even exchanging ideas via zoom at one point.
"We recreated what she wore during the 2020 Australian Open," revealed Nuera. "Naomi wanted her Barbie to have her golden ombré hair and pearl earrings, so that's what she got."
Osaka seemed extremely pleased with the result, saying in a statement: "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. I want young girls everywhere to feel empowered to dream big."
Customers can sign up to the website and be notified if the Naomi Osaka doll becomes available again. Currently there is no indication on when fans might be able to purchase it.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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mandoist13-09-2026 - “The way I like to put it – no disrespect to anybody – is that this is her house, and all the other girls are just guests, and it’s time for them to go home” Well now... seems John Stacy has made a complete ass of himself. Doubt he'll be receiving any invitations to Lena's "house" any time soon.mandoist13-09-2026
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AceOfBase12-09-2026
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