Angel Reese, also known as the “Bayou Barbie,” is making history yet again. Just months after her team’s historic championship win, LSU’s star athlete joins the Sports Illustrated family as the latest model in the annual SI Swimsuit issue.
“This is what our kind of game day looks like! LSU forward and NCAA women’s basketball champion Angel Reese traded in her uniform for a swimsuit and will be featured in this year’s 2023 SI Swimsuit issue,” the publication shared in an Instagram post announcing the news. “Despite her quick rise to fame, Angel has continued to stay unapologetically herself and allowed her confidence to always shine through, which is why we applaud her for the inspiration she has become both on and off the court.”
After transferring to Louisianna State University from Maryland, the Baltimore native quickly made a name for herself in Baton Rouge. Dominating the courts with her long nails and eyelash extensions, Reese gained the nickname “Bayou Barbie” as she moved up the NCAA ranks. By the time the LSU women’s basketball team won their historic championship game, Reese was crowned “Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.”
However, the milestones did not end there. After beating the odds on the court, Reese made history as one of the top-earning college athletes, thanks to NIL (name, image and likeness) endorsements. Thanks to a 2021 Supreme Court ruling, NIL contracts allow NCAA athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. Reese, for instance, currently sits in the top ranking of earners with $1.3 million in deals with brands like Coach, Mercedes-Benz Baton Rouge, Amazon, etc.
While Reese’s revenue is particularly impressive, it gives a glimmer of hope to the discussion surrounding the future of equal pay for Black women, specifically athletes. As in many other industries, women athletes face significant pay inequalities. So much so that…
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