Society

Naomi Osaka 'honored' to be a Barbie model

Mar 09 (NHK) - The world's number one female tennis player Naomi Osaka has a new honor to add to her list of accomplishments, with the release on Friday of her own Barbie doll.

The Japanese sports star is one of 20 inspiring women chosen by a US toymaker to serve as models for the famous doll on International Women's Day.

The group includes an Indian gymnast who became the first woman to represent her country in the event at the Olympics, and a professional truck driver from Poland.

Osaka's doll is dressed in tennis whites and holds a racket and ball. The real life star posted a message on Twitter to say she felt "honored to be selected as a Barbie Role Model to help inspire the next generation of girls."

Japanese TV identity Tetsuko Kuroyanagi was also chosen. Kuroyanagi is a UNICEF good will ambassador. Her doll wears a colorful kimono.

The toymaker says the dolls will not go on sale to the public, but that each of the women who served as a model will receive one of herself.

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