Chloe Kim Update: PyeongChang 2018 Gold Medalist Gets Own Barbie, BFF With Oscars 2018 Best Actress Frances McDormand
PyeongChang 2018 gold medalist Chloe Kim is indeed at the peak of her popularity. Her name was mentioned in the Oscars and now, she has her own Barbie doll. Mattel, the maker of the famous Barbie doll, has made a doll that is designed to Kim's likeness in honor of her achievements.
The 17-year-old snowboarding champion is among the inspiration of Mattel's 2018 Barbie Shero Collection. The doll maker made a Barbie doll that resembles Kim's signature looks in the snow. It is dressed in camouflage-print bib overall, yellow jacket, and a black beanie. The Chloe Kim Barbie doll also has the same color shade of the athlete's blonde hair.
Mattell is honoring Kim for her achievement in the recent 2018 PyeongChang Olympics in which she won the gold medal in women halfpipe snowboarding event. This makes her the youngest woman to win gold in the sport at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Aside from her recent victory, Kim is also a four-time X Games gold medalist.
"I love partnering with brands whose message I truly believe in, and Barbie's message to show girls that they can be anything is something I can get behind. I'm so honored to be considered a role model and want girls to know that they can be athletic and girly at the same time!" Kim said in a statement (via ESPN).
Barbie's Shero Collection
The new set of doll collection honors women who have broken boundaries in their field. The new collection is announced in honor of International Women's Day on Thursday. It is Barbie's largest Shero collection to date since launching the concept in 2015.
The collection features 14 modern-day women role models. Included in the list are several athletes such as pro golfer Lorena Ochoa, boxing champion Nicola Adams, and prima ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan. Italian national soccer team captain Sara Gama, windsurfer champ Çağla Kubat, and Chinese volleyball champion Hui Ruoqi are also on the list. Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins, journalist Martyna Wojciechowska, conservationist Bindi Irwin, and world-renowned chef Hélène Darroze are in the collection as well.
The 2018 Shero Collection is not available for purchase yet but can be pre-order now on the Barbie website. The dolls will be released throughout the year.
Chloe Kim Shout Out to Frances McDormand
Kim has reacted on Oscars 2018 Best Actress Frances McDormand special shout-out during her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards. The Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri actress likened the experience of winning a major award to Kim's feeling when she won an Olympic medal.
"I think this is what Chloe Kim must have felt like after landing back-to-back 1080s in the Olympic half-pipe. Did you see that? Okay, that's what it feels like," McDormand said at the beginning of her speech.
Kim is delighted that her name was mentioned is one of the most powerful speeches of the night. To return the favor to McDormand, Kim took to Twitter to invite the actress for a snowboarding session.