Naomi Osaka is getting her own line of Barbie dolls. After announcing her decision to step back from tennis tournaments and press conferences to prioritize her mental health, many brands have been showing their support for the 23-year-old athlete, who also called attention to social issues like police violence and racial inequality. Now, Mattel is teaming up with Osaka for a line of dolls, part of a new Barbie Role Model series inspiring young kids to pursue their dreams. This is not the first time Barbie has released dolls modeled after athletes: They previously teamed up with U.S. soccer player Alex Morgan and Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad for their own dolls. YPulse’s Representation in Action trend data shows that 43% of Millennial parents say it’s important for the children’s entertainment/toy industry to reflect diversity and be inclusive, and Mattel’s new line with Osaka is just one way the toy giant is increasing its focus on producing diverse toys. (Reuters)
Reports and Webinars are limited to the Region terms of your Pro and Prime subscription, as shown in “Purchased Regions”.
- To filter all content types to individual Region(s) you have purchased, apply your Region(s) under “Purchased Regions.”
Articles, Video Updates, and News across all Regions are open to all Pro and Prime subscribers.
- To see this content for any Region, use the “Content Filter”.
