Kazakh junior volleyballer Sabina Altynbekova has turned down numerous offers from Taiwanese companies and entertainment agencies for modeling jobs and celebrity endorsements, with the young player choosing to continue with her studies.
The decision by the 17-year-old Kazakh athlete, who became the focus of the media spotlight during the Asian Junior Women’s Volleyball Championship in Taipei last month, disappointed legions of her Taiwanese fans and admirers.
Banking on Altynbekova’s popularity, the Breeze Center Shopping Mall in Taipei had offered her a job as a celebrity endorser, while a top Taiwanese modeling agency was hoping to sign her to a modeling contract.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Offers for her to work as a brand representative came from Taiwanese clothing company “DEBRAND” and others in the fashion industry. There were also reports of TV entertainment programs inviting Altynbekova for guest appearances and of Taiwan’s GQ magazine asking her to do a photo spread.
After returning to Kazakhstan and talking to her parents, Altynbekova declined the offers from Taiwan and other countries, saying she has just been accepted to the Kazakh University of the Humanities and Law in Astana City.
According to a report on Thursday by BNews.kz news agency in Kazakhstan, Altynbekova’s mother, Nuripa Amrievna, wanted her daughter to pursue a career in law and is seriously worried about her daughter’s sudden popularity.
Amrievna and her husband confirmed that their daughter had received several advertising and modeling offers, but are concerned about her safety.
“The wave of popularity can disorient a teenage mentality,” Amrievna said.
“She will not go there. We, as her parents, are against it,” she said in an interview with Vesti, a Kazakh newspaper.
Offers for the teenager, dubbed by fans as “the most beautiful volleyballer in the world,” reportedly also included one from FHM magazine. Japanese show business agencies have also reportedly asked Altynbekova to star in advertising campaigns, TV programs and for sexy photo album publications.
Although only a reserve player who appeared in few games, the beautiful and tall teenager became the focus of Taiwanese media and sports fans attention at the volleyball competition last month. Within a few days, photos and videos of the Kazakh athlete went viral, and she became an Internet sensation around the world.
China took the top prize at the U19 Asian Volleyball Championship tourney last month after defeating Japan three sets to one in the final on July 24. Team Taiwan placed fifth, while Kazakhstan placed seventh.
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