Yamaguchi ‘tickled pink’ over Barbie
Like many little girls, a young Kristi Yamaguchi loved playing with Barbie. With a schedule packed with ice skating practices, her Barbie dolls became her “best friends.”
So, it’s surreal for the decorated Olympian figure skater to now be a Barbie girl herself.
“It’s a huge, huge honor. I think a lot of pride comes along with it, not just recognizing the Olympic achievement, but also being recognized during AAPI Month and following in the footsteps of some incredible women that I idolize — Anna May Wong, Maya Angelou and Rosa Parks,” Yamaguchi said. “It’s hard to see me put in the category with them.”
Yamaguchi, who became the first Asian American to win an individual figure skating gold medal, at the 1992 Winter Olympics, has been immortalized as a doll for Barbie’s “Inspiring Women Series,” Mattel announced Wednesday. The release is timed for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May.
Mattel duplicated everything the then 20-year-old medalist wore at the Olympics in Albertville, France: the sparkling blackand-gold brocade outfit designed by Lauren Sheehan, the gold hair ribbon and even a red-and-white bouquet like Yamaguchi held atop the podium.
Yamaguchi said both she and Sheehan are “just so tickled pink.”
“It looks like me for sure. You know, the eyes and just the shape of the face. And then, of course, the hair, for sure. I mean, it has the bangs that are the ’90s,” Yamaguchi said.
When Yamaguchi became a household name in the ’90s, most Asian American children were growing up feeling like toys-aren’t-us kids. If you were an Asian parent looking for an Asian doll in the U.S., you likely turned to independent mail-order companies or waited until you were visiting your country of heritage.
So while Barbie may seem like just a toy, it’s so much more for Yamaguchi.
“When kids see themselves or see someone who inspires them, then it just opens up their world and their imagination to what’s possible,” she said.
Cudi cancels tour after injury:
Kid Cudi is canceling his upcoming Insano: Engage the Rage World Tour after finding out his broken ankle is “much more serious” than he thought.
“Guys, so, I have a broken calcaneus,” Cudi posted Wednesday on social media. “Im headed to surgery now and there’s gonna be a long recovery time. We have to cancel the tour so I can focus on getting better to be out there in top shape to rage with you all.”
Cudi was injured Sunday when he jumped from a stage at Coachella and landed awkwardly.
The rapper said ticket holders will be contacted by email and receive a full refund. Also, new tour dates will be announced as soon as possible.
“There’s just no way I can bounce back in time to give 100%,” Cudi said. “The injury is much more serious than I thought.”
April 26 birthdays: Actor Carol Burnett is 91. Singer Maurice Williams is 86. Actor Giancarlo Esposito is 66. Drummer Roger Taylor is 64. Actor Jet Li is
61. Comedian Kevin James is 59. Singer T-boz is 54. Bassist Jay Demarcus is 53. Actor Tom Welling is 47. Actor Jordana Brewster is
44. Actor Channing Tatum is 44.