AWARD-WINNING singer Holly Rey is back after having to take a break.
The 28-year-old Deeper hitmaker was recently hospitalised due to kidney-related issues and had to take a break from work.
However, now she's back and has just signed a huge deal with Barbie, where they introduced the first ever Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes.
She spoke to Daily Sun about the deal and healing.
"I suffered kidney injury in December due to dehydration combined with the use of anti-inflammatory medication for a wrist injury. I was hospitalised in December and January with a kidney function of 21%. We cancelled the bookings, and I have taken six months off to recover.
"It was very difficult on my mental health because I was also suffering from diabetic burnout. Sometimes living with diabetes feels like an Olympic Sport, and the highs and lows lead to physical and mental burnout. I needed to take time out to focus on my mental health and physical wellness. I had the surgery that I needed for my wrist, and I am slowly returning to work," she said.
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Holly was announced as one of the faces of a global Barbie campaign, and she said being part of it meant a lot to her.
"It was an instant yes from me, no questions asked. The little girl I once was would have felt seen, heard and understood. She would have felt as though her disease was normalised and more widely accepted.
"I think Barbie with type 1 diabetes would have helped those around me to understand that diabetes is not something to be scared of because if Barbie has type 1 diabetes and more kids get to interact with her, they will not fear the kids in their class or school who are living with diabetes," Holly said.
The songstress said she believes this Barbie could have a big impact on how society views chronic illness.
"Barbie makes it okay to be diabetic. Children living with diabetes will feel seen, and children interacting with kids who live with the condition will not see it as something so strange. If the public can see the technology that Barbie is using to manage her diabetes, then they won't stare so much or make diabetes feel so uncomfortable about testing, counting calories and injecting.
"The campaign will have a deeper reach than the usual awareness campaigns, as Barbie is someone everyone can relate to. Everyone knows who Barbie is, so she normalises diabetes in a way that has never been done before. Society tends to treat chronic illness as something that makes you broken, and people, especially kids, pull away because they are scared. The more society is confronted with its misconceptions, the more likely we are to change the perceptions and the narrative around chronic illness. Perhaps people will have greater empathy and understanding," she said.
