The now famous "Chewbacca mom" has been given her own action figure to mark her extraordinary rise to Internet stardom—a fame that appeared to be the realisation of her dream and vision from the Lord when she was 16.
Candace Payne received the action figure during her visit to the Hasbro headquarters in Rhode Island with her family on Friday. Hasbro Chief Executive Officer Brian Goldner gave her the figure himself, CBN News reports.
The figure, featuring Payne's head atop Chewbacca's body, comes with a removable mask, like the one Payne bought and used in her viral online video titled "It's the Simple Joys in Life," which has received more than 153 million views—the most-viewed Facebook Live video of all time.
The figure also has 13 catchphrases, which include "That's not me making that noise, it's the mask," and "I am such a happy Chewbacca," together with her contagious signature laugh.
Payne became an overnight sensation last month when she posted a four-minute selfie video showing her wearing a Chewbacca toy mask she bought herself as a birthday present. The video shows Payne expressing childlike glee upon putting on the mask and hearing its Wookiee sounds. The rest is Internet history.
During a May 21 visit to Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, Payne credited her fame to a vision and dream she had when she was 16, according to CBN News.
"I had a vision and dream from the Lord about my future about being used for His glory. I didn't understand the interpretation of it. I still, to this day, at 37 years old try to figure that dream out. That dream has never left my heart, nor my mind, nor the way that I walk and follow Jesus," she said in her personal testimony.
"Can I tell you what I've learned?" she told her captive audience of students. "It doesn't matter how talented, how anointed, how gifted, how passionate or how willing you are if you're not fit to do the things that God has called you to do. And that is spiritually fit."
"The things that will take you farther and farther in the Kingdom of God are three things: First, diligence. Be diligent in the work of the Lord," she said.
The second, she said, is patience.
"Have those moments when you stop and wait upon the Lord... Wait for the voice of God to direct you," she said.
Third and last is obedience. "When he tells you move, move," she said.
She ended her address with this advice to the students: "Do not try to make a name for yourself. His name will always outshadow yours."
