Malaysia’s artistic gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi had her own Barbie doll made by American toy company Mattel.
The doll is made in likeness to the 26-year-old SEA Games gold medalist. Farah Ann’s Barbie has jet-black hair, and wears a silver-studded leotard in pink, gold, and white. It is the first, and only one-of-a-kind doll created in Malaysia and is not available in retail stores.
“I am very honored to be recognized as a Barbie role model for young girls for sports,” she said in a press statement yesterday.
“I believe that all of us are capable in achieving our dreams and goals no matter what it may be,” she added. “You just need to remember that self-belief is your greatest weapon in achieving anything.”
Farah is just one of the Malaysian female athletes named as role models in Barbie’s “You Can Be Anything” campaign for 2020. This year’s theme is “You Can Be An Athlete,” where Mattel aims to encourage young girls to pursue a career in sports through inspiring female athletes.
Other Malaysian athletes named as role models for the campaign include squash champion Nicol Ann David, Olympic diver Leong Mun Yee, bowler Shahlin Zulkifli, and speed skater Anja Chong.
Mattel also showcased a video of Farah in her element at the gym, and included footages of her 9-year-old self back when the Olympics was just a far-fetched childhood dream. She will compete in the Tokyo Olympics next year and is the third Malaysian artistic gymnast to qualify for the multi-sport competition, after Au Li Yen in Sydney 2000 and Ng Shu Wai in Athens 2004.
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