Maria Sharapova’s candy Sugarpova wants to change your preconceptions about sugary sweets. The number two ranked World Tennis Association (WTA) player and former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model might not be the first person you think of when you’re shopping for a tasty indulgence. That body, that athleticism… and high-end, high-priced specialty gummie treats?
But Sharapova said that she had the idea based on her own nickname.
“When the name Sugarpova came about, I loved the energy of it. When we put it together with candy, I just felt like it was a great opportunity.” She also claimed that the idea for the candy business was her own, not an investor’s concept.
There was a soft launch of the gummie candies for Sharapova’s Sugarpova before the US Open in 2012. However, the concept needed some tweaking. On Saturday, she relaunched the candy at the Tabula Rasa Essentials gift shop in Manhattan Beach, California.
She’d already been working on the idea for two years when she had to take time off from tennis to recover from a shoulder injury. As an athlete, she confessed that she didn’t take well to just sitting around thinking. She wanted to work on a new project, so she got busy with the candy line.
Overwhelmed by the long line at the Manhattan Beach Sugarpova candy launch, Sharapova tweeted a photograph of some of the crowd outside the store.
And it isn’t the only sweetness coming her way, since she’ll soon be celebrating her 26th birthday on April 19.
This day has been full of the best early birthday surprises! #lucky #spoiled #sohappy
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) April 15, 2013
A very successful event last night with @ mariasharapova ! Thank you for sweetening up Manhattan Beach! twitpic.com/cjf4fz
— Maureen (@TabulaRasaMB) April 14, 2013
Wow!! What a turnout for the Manhattan Beach Sugarpova event! Thank you! twitter.com/MariaSharapova…
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) April 14, 2013
My birthday celebrations have officially started. Not by choice though! Thanks Soph! @ susiecakes #cupcakes twitter.com/MariaSharapova…
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) April 13, 2013
I’ll probably just stick to gummy bears. Will you be trying Sharapova’s candy Superpova?
[Maria Sharapova photo by lev radin / Shutterstock.com ]