The Brazilian ‘Human Ken’ has died following complications
after being diagnosed with leukaemia just five months ago.
Celso Santebañes, a 20-year-old Brazilian model who spent
£30,000 on surgery in order to appear like Barbie’s boyfriend Ken, died at
Federal University of Uberlândia Clinical Hospital, in Brazil, on Thursday
after contracting pneumonia.
Mr Santebañes first came to attention when he appeared in a
talk show aged 16, going on to win modelling contests.
He became increasingly fixated on looking exactly like toy
manufacturer Mattel’s Ken Doll, having operations to alter the shape of his
face, lips and nose.
As his fame grew, he began charging up to £10,000 for each
appearance and launched his own range of Celso Dolls in Los Angeles, US, the
Mirror reported.
But in January he announced he was started a “new cycle” of
his life, telling reporters that he was “no longer concerned with the issue of
aesthetics.”
“For me that doesn't matter. What matter is my health now,
and I will fight for it," he told the Latin Times.
Mr Santebañes was buried yesterday. His father, Celia
Borges, told reporters: “When he was starting to fulfil his dreams, he
discovered his illness and his dreams were interrupted. He had plans but God
had others.
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