World football star Cristiano Ronaldo is the pitchman for, well, nearly everything. It’s thought that his salary and endorsement contracts add up to north of $43 million a year, and the Real Madrid player is unafraid to flaunt his brand and his rather efficient and attractive body in pursuit of ever larger piles of filthy luchre.
Japanese corporations are major contributors to that pile of cash. Athletes and actors from Europe and America take down the big money to shill products there, and part of the deal is often that those ads and endorsements are never shown in their home countries, presumably to avoid uncomfortable exposure such as this.
Also the pitchman for a Japanese “facial fitness” device, his own line of underwear, anti-dandruff remedies and a wide range of other necessary modern amenities, Ronaldo is also now hyping a stick-on, pulsating series of muscle-building devices which are, at best, more than a little creepy to see in action.
The Portuguese star was literally confronted with the strangeness of Japanese marketing, head on when he made a promotional appearance with this “House of Wax” like 3D printed replica of himself in Tokyo. The 30-year-old was promoting the electric muscle stimulator which the makers say is ideal for creating that washboard stomach look without the inconvenience of actually working out.
Built by a Hollywood special effects studio and sheathed in silicone, the 3D printed model features moving facial expressions and it was built from data collected from a 3D scan of his world-famous body which used 110 cameras to do the deal.
And in keeping with his well-known love for all things Cristiano Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo was pleased with the results indeed.
“When I look at this product, I see myself. If your desire is to have a fit body like mine, I think this will help you,” Ronaldo told the assembled press. “It’s perfect. I love it.”
Ronaldo is very familiar with 3D printing. Perhaps intimately familiar, as he now has his own 3D printed girlfriend. As for the product in question, the “Six-Pad” attaches to the torso to deliver world class athletic skill and a fantastic set of gut muscles without unpleasant workouts. Or so it’s said…
What do you think of this use of 3D printing to draw attention to products and generate a buzz? Would you take a passive approach to obtaining six-pack abs by purchasing a device like the Six-Pad? Let us know in the Cristiano Ronaldo 3D Printed forum thread on 3DPB.com.
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