BURBANK, Calif.–World figure skating icon Michelle Kwan will serve as a celebrity representative and spokesperson for The Walt Disney Company, it was announced today by Michael Mendenhall, president of Walt Disney Studios Marketing and Synergy.
Kwan will be a representative for numerous Disney products and services for the next three years. In the past, she has starred in Disney and ABC television specials and has contributed to several figure skating-related books published by Disney.
Kwan, 21, has been a dominant force in figure skating for the past decade. In that time, she has been the world champion four times, U.S. champion six times (including the last five in a row), and has chalked up more perfect 6.0 scores than any skater in history. Four years ago, in Nagano, Japan, Kwan won an Olympic silver medal for figure skating, and last month won the bronze medal at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
“Michelle Kwan is the perfect person to represent our theme parks, sports, publishing, broadcasting and consumer products around the world,” said Mendenhall. “She has a huge worldwide appeal and is a role model for children and adults. Michelle exemplifies beauty, wholesomeness, grace and charm in addition to her athletic talent. These wonderful qualities and her outstanding sense of sportsmanship were especially evident at last month’s Olympics.
“Our consumers and guests will enjoy seeing this immensely popular young skater in person and on television at various Disney events. These will range from the opening of new facilities to charitable events, ice skating events, guest appearances on original programming and at our ESPN Zone events, and at product promotions.”
Kwan said she very much looks forward to representing Disney. “I’ve been a fan of Disney my whole life, so now to become part of the Disney family is incredible,” she said. “I am delighted and truly honored to serve as a spokesperson for the company.”
Among her activities at Disney, Kwan will make personal as well as radio and television appearances, host public service announcements and serve as a presenter at Disney awards programs. She will be featured in marketing and promotional activities for Disney’s theme parks, restaurants, cruise line, hotels, publishing activities, consumer products, motion pictures, television and radio activities and retail stores.