Allyson Felix on Splendor Benchmarks as a Black Woman Athlete

If there’s a single detail that some of modern most celebrated women athletes have in prevalent, it’s their increasing motivation to use beauty as a indicates of expression when competing. Christina Clemons breezed previous her level of competition at the Tokyo Olympics in all the things from bold makeup to butterfly clip-adorned double buns. Other athletes like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Naomi Osaka stood out by way of colorful, patriotic hairstyles. While Allyson Felix — the most adorned American keep track of athlete in Olympics heritage — says her precompetition magnificence schedule is a lot more pared-down, she however does not like to be set in a box.

“When I’m competing, I try to continue to keep points actually very simple and just acquire care of my pores and skin,” she informed POPSUGAR. “I am in the sunlight, so I like to make absolutely sure I moisturize and don sunscreen. My hair is also a major aspect of that. I appreciate working with Pantene Gold Series’s Butter Cream ($8) prior to I braid my hair — it will make my hair truly feel so gentle and secured when I take my braids out.” (Editor’s be aware: Felix just lately partnered with the brand name for its “What’s Your Legacy” initiative.)

Though the Olympian might not experiment as a great deal with makeup or nail art on the track industry, she still is aware of what it truly is like for her appears to be like to be underneath continuous scrutiny — but she’s not fearful to push back again.

“Us feminine athletes are held to this standard that not only do you have to be outstanding on the field of play, you also have to fulfill these natural beauty criteria,” she reported. “For a the greater part of my profession, I did not truly feel like I suit into them — not owning the blond hair or blue eyes not fitting into this image that a lot of moments you see on the journal covers. It truly is been hard, but at the similar time, I really feel like I’ve definitely embraced who I am.”

Embracing what tends to make her different is something she’s learned to do as her athletic profession progressed, and it’s one key great she hopes to go down to her 2-year-aged daughter, Camryn.

“I will often enhance to my daughter that she’s exceptional and that all of her differences from every person else make her exclusive,” she stated. “There is elegance all across the board in all of our discrepancies. I want to make sure she’s comfy in her skin and assured, and I think that arrives from myself and the women of all ages that I surround her with.”

Felix continued, “I really hope to pass down to her that robust is attractive, and that currently being comfortable in your possess pores and skin is beautiful. How we just about every outline elegance is unique, but we can all type of embrace the distinct methods that we do that.”