SUGARPOVA, a sweets brand produced by Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova, is making its Japan debut. It will be available for pre-sale at the import goods store PLAZA later this month.
The gummy candies on sale are: lip-shaped "Flirty," Lip & Star, heart-shaped "Flirty Sour," worm-shaped "Silly Sour," and bear-shaped "Cheeky," all priced at 480 yen each. They have a sweet fruit flavor topped with tart sour powder. The packaging features a colorful illustration of a lip.
Sharapova, who dreamed of one day creating her own products, started SUGARPOVA in New York last summer. In the US, the brand is currently available at department stores like Henri Bendel and candy shops like IT'S SUGAR. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Maria Sharapova Foundation, which supports children in countries affected by Chernobyl.

Born in 1987, Sharapova won her first Wimbledon title at the age of 17. Last year, she achieved the Grand Slam in the women's singles at all four major tournaments. Taking advantage of her 187cm height and good looks, she has served as an image model for brands such as Cole Haan, Nike, TAG Heuer, and Tiffany & Co., and has even produced a perfume bearing her name.