A few days ago, a post featured on Gabriel Medina’s Instagram account appeared to signal that he and his partner, dancer and model Isabella Arantes, were expecting a child together. However, it seems that announcement was not entirely true.
Medina was welcoming something new into the world, but it was not a child. Instead, it was a new line of children’s surfboards and accessories, dubbed Medininha.
The surf world and beyond was fooled by the post – including us – which showed an ultrasound photo, superimposed with an infant lying on a surfboard. He even doubled-down, posting to his stories a photo of him caressing Arantes around the belly, soundtracked to Justin Bieber’s track titled “Mother in You.” Seemed legit, right?
Even close friends and surf world luminaries fell for the bit. Commenters included:
“Whaaat!!! Congrats my brother. You’ll be an amazing dad.” – Mick Fanning
“Yea brother congrats.” – Jack Robinson
“Better be a goofy foot.” – Strider Wasilewski
Related: Gabriel Medina Has a New Girlfriend. Who Is She?
According to a representative for Arantes, via Brazilian news, the post was not a pregnancy announcement. “It’s a new Medina project, Medininha. It’s something new aimed at children, and that’s why they made the posts,” the publicist said.
As for the actual announcement, the new kids’ brand Medininha, they offer finless soft-top mini surfboards for the kiddos, adorned with a cartoon image of Medina as a young child. Here’s their mission statement, translated from Portuguese:
Medininha is a character inspired by Gabriel Medina, a three-time world surfing champion. He was created to bring the spirit of sport and the beach to children, introducing them to their first steps in surfing in a playful, fun, and safe way.
More than just a cartoon, Medininha represents the joy of discovering the sea, childhood curiosity, and a connection with nature. Just as Gabriel started out young in Maresias, with the support of his family and the dream of becoming a surfer, Medininha shows that every champion was once a child and that development begins early.
Through his toys, boards, and stories, Medininha is an invitation to dream, play, and learn. He inspires a new generation of young surfers to live a life of sport, friendship, and fun.
Don Draper-level marketing genius?
Related: Gabriel Medina Surfs A Channel Islands With Kelly Slater at Brazil’s Mega Wave Pool