“I was always in my mom’s closet, putting on her stuff,” the Chicago Sky player recalled
Angel Reese doesn’t just know how to ball, she knows how to style, too.
The Chicago Sky rookie — who is featured on the cover of Vogue’s latest winter issue — revealed that she’s “always” been a fan of both “basketball and fashion” and she would not only practice her throws, but also her fashion walks when she was younger.
“I used to watch America’s Next Top Model with Tyra [Banks] and practice my walk in the living room,” recalled Reese, 22.
The WNBA star said she previously put that strut to good use while walking out of the Louisiana State University (LSU) tunnel, which is where she gained popularity and momentum before she was drafted and signed by the Chicago Sky. And she hopes that she will still be able to do it professionally one day, despite her dream of basketball taking off now.
Reese told Vogue that she hopes to model in a real fashion show — possibly during Paris Fashion Week — sometime in the future. She also described herself as a “fashion girlie” and opened up about styling outfits when she was young for her mother, who also played basketball.
“I was always in my mom’s closet, putting on her stuff. I liked to carry a purse. Hair done. I wanted to look put together,” Reese said. “I still do.”
Reese — who was nicknamed “Bayou Barbie” while playing for LSU — shared a photo of herself showing off her styling prowess to Vogue, which featured her at the age of 5 in a pink dress and tiara.
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She noted that she still tried to bring out that stylishness on the court — something which has caught several fan’s notice. She made headlines for wearing eyelash extensions and long pink nails during LSU games, which has added to her “Bayou Barbie” moniker.
Following the release of her Vogue cover, Reese celebrated on X. “COVERGIRL,” she posted.
Her love for fashion also extends to her personal life. At the 2024 CFDA Awards in New York City in October, she debuted blonde hair to make for an angelic look. She matched her tresses with the Emma gown from the Simkhai Pre-Fall 24 collection and white feathery coat.
Fans will be able to see more of Reese’s fashion prowess thanks to her new deal with athletic apparel company Reebok. On Oct. 24, the company agreed to a multiyear endorsement contract extension — which will include her own signature shoe, set for a 2026 release.
“Reebok and Angel are growing together every day and our visions for the future are aligned. We’re excited to continue the relationship with a ground-up build of her signature silhouette,” said Reebok’s head of basketball Jide Osifeso about the deal.
The Reebok partnership extension now counts Reese among the six active WNBA players with a signature shoe deal — including fellow rookie Caitlin Clark, recent WNBA championship winner Breanna Stewart, league MVP A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu and Sydney Colson, according to ESPN.
Source people.com