Simone Biles is fully embracing the Labubu doll craze, and she’s got Hailey Bieber’s seal of approval. The Olympic gymnastics legend shared a photo on Instagram Stories of two of her favorite Labubu plush dolls, both dressed head-to-toe in matching black and brown Gucci outfits complete with bucket hats.
The athlete and her NFL husband, Jonathan Owens, are currently enjoying the sport's off-season, with the gymnast sharing glimpses of her Hong Kong trip. Alongside the doll post, she shared photos of their delicious meals and fun moments.
“Creepy or cute?” she wrote alongside the photo, sparking the fun debate. “I can’t tell, but since I’m in Asia, I just HAD TO,” she added, referencing her current time in Hong Kong. At the bottom of the post, Biles credited Bieber’s comment, writing, “very specific like [Hailey Bieber] said,” followed by a laughing emoji.
Hailey reposted the doll duo to her own Instagram Stories, joining in on the hype over the plush dolls. Labubu dolls, known for their mischievous grins, sharp teeth, and pointed ears, have surged in popularity worldwide after gaining traction in Asia, and many celebrities and stars seem to love the trend.
Where did the Labubu dolls come from?
Some of the celebrities and stars obsessed with Labubus include Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Lisa from BLACKPINK. The popular dolls are now everywhere, with many trying to get their hands on the new editions, usually making them a part of their outfit.
Labubu is a creation of Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung, who developed the character as part of his story series “The Monsters”, inspired by Nordic mythology and folklore. Originally, Labubu and the other monsters appeared in a children’s storybook before becoming collectible figures.
In 2019, Kasing Lung partnered with the Chinese toy company Pop Mart to produce Labubu and Friends as blind-box collectibles. This collaboration sparked a surge in popularity for Labubu, making the plush and vinyl figures highly popular among collectors worldwide.