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The Brazilian “Human Ken” has died following complications after being diagnosed with leukaemia just five months ago. Celso Santebañes, a 20-year-old Brazilian model who spent £30 000 on surgery in order to appear like Barbie’s boyfriend Ken, died at Federal University of Uberlândia Clinical Hospital, in Brazil, on Thursday after contracting pneumonia.

Santebañes first came to attention when he appeared in a talk show aged 16, going on to win modelling contests.

He became increasingly fixated on looking exactly like toy manufacturer Mattel’s Ken Doll, having operations to alter the shape of his face, lips and nose.

As his fame grew, he began charging up to £10 000 for each appearance and launched his own range of Celso Dolls in Los Angeles, US, The Mirror reported.

But in January he announced he was started a “new cycle” of his life, telling reporters that he was “no longer concerned with the issue of aesthetics”.

“For me that doesn’t matter. What matters is my health now, and I will fight for it,” he told the Latin Times.

Santebañes was buried on Saturday.

His father, Celia Borges, told reporters: “When he was starting to fulfil his dreams, he discovered his illness and his dreams were interrupted. He had plans but God had others.” – The Mirror.