Listen Live
93.9 WKYS Featured Video
CLOSE
gabby douglass twitter

(photo courtesy of gabby douglas twitter)

Gabby Douglas is already at the top of her game: the Olympian has two gold medals to her name, plus multiple world championships; she’s gearing up for her second Olympic games later this August in Rio – she was officially selected for the U.S. women’s gymnastics Olympic team last night; and on top of all that, she now has her own Barbie doll.

Long-time toy maker, Mattel, skipped the flowers for Gabby Douglas, and instead celebrated the Olympian’s success at the U.S. gymnastics team’s trials this weekend with a Barbie of her likeness. The 2012 champion couldn’t be more happier.

“I’m so excited,” Douglas tells PEOPLE. “My older sister and I used to play with Barbies and create these dramatic fantasy stories, so it’s such a huge honor.”

She hopes the kids playing with her doll will take away her number-one lesson for young women and men: Stay true to yourself, and go after your dreams.

gabby barbie

(photo courtesy of Gabby Douglas twitter)

“Be yourself and really embrace your inner beauty and your true talent,” she tells PEOPLE. “Believe in yourself. Never let anyone tell you you can’t do something when you can.”

MUST SEE: Simone Biles And Gabby Douglass Make Olympic History!

Although it’s been four years since her last Olympics, the memories are still fresh in Douglas’s mind. With that Olympic medal and experience under pressure under her belt, she plans on going into Rio with the same attitude.

“I’m just going to do the same thing I did in London,” she says. “Focus, train really hard, be consistent and…

It’s Official: Gabby Douglas Gets Her Very Own Barbie Doll!  was originally published on blackdoctor.org

1 2Next page »