- 5 weeks ago
Black female athletes are often praised and lauded for the
power in their bodies, but expected to mask their beauty in
favor of taking on qualities of masculinity and strength. The
most powerful female athletes have embraced bold style and
beauty as a signature part of their persona. Join us for a
conversation about the importance of female athletes
showing us their true selves with style and beauty. One-Liner:
Join us for a conversation about the importance of women in
sports unapologetically owning their authentic personal style
as professional athletes.
power in their bodies, but expected to mask their beauty in
favor of taking on qualities of masculinity and strength. The
most powerful female athletes have embraced bold style and
beauty as a signature part of their persona. Join us for a
conversation about the importance of female athletes
showing us their true selves with style and beauty. One-Liner:
Join us for a conversation about the importance of women in
sports unapologetically owning their authentic personal style
as professional athletes.
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00Okay, my name is Eva and Costa Ruiz, for those who don't know me all that well, I'm actually
00:09a sportscaster, so I work for the NFL Network, and this next panel is especially special
00:15to me, because it's all about women in sports, female athletes, so I'm going to bring our
00:21panel up here, um, unbelievable women, a little, uh, talk for a male, if you will, they know
00:27what this is like, so first up, I would like to welcome on the stage, peeing on the party
00:32with the WMP, come on, bro, I know, well, we need a pop machine, like, small, so I was
00:39out, several tricks, which would be great, and I feel like that's what this kind of thing
00:44makes, and I think the first thing, holy, black female NASCAR racer, get into the, get into
00:53the boots, and driving us, I'm going to do it, I don't know what this is, I'm going to
00:57get into the service, we don't get there, we don't get there, and then they attack,
01:01they want to, they want to, they want to start, I'm going to go through with the kids, you
01:05better show up, you better show up, you better show up, I'm going to go through these, and
01:11I'm going to warn everybody right now, I'm going to feel, I'm going to feel many ways, I'm
01:16going to be a little triggered, because there's a lot of, there's a lot of overlap, and being
01:21a woman, in sports passing, being a female athlete, and on top of that, in all of these
01:29spaces, so, there's a lot of nuance, and I hope to get as much to be in 20 minutes, it's
01:33impossible, but we're going to start, we're going to start, so each of you, of course, is
01:38known for dominating in your field, for doing what you do, but, when people see women in
01:45sports, they're like, well, she's athletic, she's a powerhouse, she's amazing, and in
01:49that same way, many votes, want to put you down in this box, like, you have to strip away
01:54who you are, or how you present yourself to the world, so that the whole, that appeases
01:59them, and their controversy, and the way that they expect you to be in, so I've always been
02:06someone who's on, however you are, bring down to the table, because it's needed, and there's
02:12a lot of other people looking for you, to see themselves represented there, so, there's
02:18a lot of firsts here, right, in this panel, and I think I'll start with you, coming into
02:25the WNBA, you deal with a lot of offices, being part of the WNBA, huge accomplishment,
02:31of course, but one that does a challenge as well, so how are you navigating the world of
02:36being a pro athlete, but still having to climb so many others?
02:40Yeah, I think, in the end of the day, we all know that we have our WNBA counterparts, right,
02:45making, of course, more attention, more grand deals, more awareness.
02:50I think that the women now are fighting themselves, and they play basketball, and they go overseas,
03:07and we play football, and they really race, and we do so much, and I think it's just under
03:14the value of who we are, like, for example, you know what I mean, I'm just talking about
03:18Candace Park, at least the lesson, there's no way those women are making a million dollars,
03:22that's their value, but yet, they put so much into the game, and into the community, and
03:27they don't get into the house with it, but I think that's changing now with what the women
03:30say.
03:31Well, it goes back to you here, too, because the NASCAR world in and of itself, there's, it's not
03:37really been, like, available, or even having even welcomed the white community the way that
03:43we know that they're so far abandoned for you.
03:45We were telling you earlier in that stage, there are youth down on hand, the amount of black
03:49men who have raised NASCAR.
03:51You are the representative of the fifth women in the NASCAR, guys.
03:56I cannot imagine what you've done with breaking into this space, and then talking on top of
04:02that.
04:03So, what has been something that you've been able to overcome?
04:07I won't say, give me one.
04:08There's one in the world.
04:09I know.
04:10I already know.
04:11How many of us did it since?
04:12Yeah, so, as far as a predominantly male supporter, and, um, like all sports, um,
04:19it's limited in me, and a lot of trying to get the same time, so it's not like what I've
04:23been seeing, uh, as a building.
04:25Um, and so, for me, just, um, answering into the space where I've been trying to
04:32get the same time.
04:33I know that this is behind this part of Mr. Bell, I'm going to warn you.
04:35Um, I think that the answer is for both of you, and I don't know that.
04:40I really don't care.
04:41I don't know if you've got me there, and I don't think I belong to those representation
04:45matters.
04:46And, um, just to be a representation for someone else.
04:49Like me, it's not such a pain that I don't know if they could make you do.
04:53Um, Mary, I have some smart stuff.
04:56No, same idea for you in the football space.
04:59We've been in football, happy club.
05:01More prevalent now.
05:02There's leagues.
05:03There's five football leagues.
05:05You play for the Atlanta units.
05:07Working through an injury, like that she says, we don't lift you up.
05:10Okay, going back.
05:11Um, but outside of the space of the female community, those winners have been a reception for you.
05:18For example, like I first said, I don't want to play football.
05:21And, um, when I first, um, made history of playing football, if you get into the concert
05:28that I was offered, um, there was a lot of positivity, but there was also a lot of negativity.
05:34I got a lot of bloggers thinking that I was actually trying to play in the NFL.
05:39So, you can only imagine the back class that I read in the comments and the DMs that I used
05:43to be in the kitchen cooking and breaking in and all these different things.
05:47And I'm like, what?
05:48Like, there are so many little girls out here that have brothers that see them playing football
05:53and they want to play too.
05:54And I'm not saying this is certain that they're being a woman who wants to play with men, but
05:57you know, we're told it won't be.
05:58We're told it won't be.
05:59So, it's like, I just thought everyone is going to play games.
06:02But, honestly, overall, like, I've got a lot of support.
06:05And for me, it's not even about me.
06:07It's just about me showing this representation.
06:09So, I'm looking for girls that this is up there as possible.
06:12I belong here.
06:13And we have a platform that we could have anything else to use.
06:17And, you know, I just wanted to see you to keep doing that.
06:21And, you know, you can be taught me on that favorite.
06:23I'm like, this is where we need you guys.
06:25If you have little boy sons, this is where we teach them at a young age that women play
06:30sports.
06:31And I call them boys.
06:32You know, like, when I was 10, I'm trying to go play 101.
06:35And I'm being a bunch of different guys.
06:37He said, girls are not supposed to play basketball anyway.
06:40So, obviously, like, that's what you've had.
06:43That question.
06:44And it comes mostly from men.
06:46We have to teach our young boys.
06:47It's the quality of sports now.
06:49Women play sports.
06:50It's okay.
06:51And then, if they want to fight with you.
06:53So, if you know how you want that.
06:54Right.
06:55I think this is a tie for me.
06:56Yeah.
06:57I agree.
06:58It's an conditioning situation where you should be going,
07:00it's not a lot of us.
07:02Yeah.
07:03Tons of sacred reasons.
07:04Is that right?
07:05Right.
07:06Now, as we know, just as women in the world, existing in the world, there's already an
07:10added layer of pressure to love a certain way, to act a certain way, and to present yourself
07:16a certain way.
07:17As an athlete, and as a public figure, I would imagine that's why you decide this as well.
07:24So, the onus of being an athlete, being in shape to compete, being in shape to qualify
07:30every day for the sport that you're doing.
07:33And there have been a time where you've struggled with body images.
07:37Especially when you've got people in the DMs, that's what I was on Twitter, analyzing and
07:41dissecting every part of you.
07:42And he tells them, you know what, I think it's a mental thing where, no matter how much
07:49you work your body, right, you're always going to find something.
07:52Or always kind of like, you get the new iPhone, then another one comes out.
07:55You're not the new one, and the new one, right?
07:57Right?
07:58That phone works just as fun as the other ones, right?
08:00So, it's not like you have to condition yourself as you are to appreciate, however you
08:05can shape your love, to appreciate yourself and your body.
08:08I think it's a mental thing that you have to condition yourself.
08:10What do you think?
08:11You're not going to do.
08:12I think it's a mental thing.
08:13I think it's a mental thing.
08:14I think that in all of this society, we are pressure.
08:19So, it's a different way especially if you're in a small way.
08:22And it's important to have the world to shape.
08:25I think it's not really what I think is the most important part, but I don't know about
08:32what you think is the point where I was like, no, my God, maybe this way.
08:36I think that's a good idea for me because I'm taking any of the favorite things I'm trying to do for all kinds of energy just don't take a side of what you're looking like because much I am and just appreciate much I am with you for some of the pressure to, you know, because we're in the world of BPMs, I'm sorry, just the other thing is always if you are, um, so conscious or, as I was going to say, be quiet in person, um, and why not be the right words, but
09:06should have followed me so, so, you know, I'm sensing everybody with these perfect bodies, so, I'm sensing Larsen for changing me, you know, you love my body, you love this old to see you, that I'm here, that's important, what about for you sister?
09:19So, I just grew up with a lot of body image issues because I was my brother.
09:26I am super much together. I always have this because I was literally born.
09:30So, I have broad shoulders, I have big legs, big arms.
09:34So, I was teasing a lot for becoming, you know, being massively hard to sit in a restaurant
09:39because I could also meet them in every sport.
09:41So, I had to really go on a really deep self-love journey when I got into college
09:48because I didn't know where I paid the students in my sophomore year in college
09:51because I was so ashamed of my buddy.
09:53And it wasn't until a friend of mine who was like,
09:57Cynthia, you lived in a beach, where's my friend?
10:00You didn't want that you're coming. You don't ever have to do this again.
10:03And I remember I went there and I had so many compliments and things like that.
10:06And then my mom told me when I was younger that God made you this way for a reason.
10:11You are healthy. You are not deserving. You are happy.
10:13And you feel like how you're supposed to because that is your destiny.
10:17So, utilize that and don't be afraid to love the state that you're in.
10:21And now, it is what it is.
10:23I'm like, God, I'm looking happy how I look.
10:25And I hope that I can feel that other girls realize that, you know,
10:28we are here for different reasons.
10:30People are fabulous for different reasons.
10:32God has us for different things because we all have different purposes.
10:35So, you know, I'm just happy that I find these feelings about it.
10:38I'm happy.
10:39I'm just supposed to have a great content now.
10:41And, you know, I've never, I've never, I've actually never looked at it that way.
10:45You know, we're so over-saturated now, especially with social media.
10:50We've given it just all day long, all day long.
10:52We play the comparison game.
10:53Every single one of us has done it.
10:55But, I think finding it in that perspective and that context, like, okay, that's not,
11:00this is the route this woman tells to do to love herself however she wants to love.
11:05She does this.
11:06And it serves her, her, her life.
11:09But, a local player, and an Ascar player, and a WMBA star, and the partners, they're all
11:14using their bodies in different ways, right?
11:17So, we should all look here with the same copy and paste body.
11:21What made for a very boring life, I think.
11:23I love that we're going to do with the stroke of bars.
11:26Good morning.
11:27And you know, you recently unveiled a beauty refurbished reach for the stars.
11:31As well, for an actually part that you helped design.
11:34Congratulations, girl.
11:35Okay.
11:36Um, there's a big mural coming very close to seeing what's reflected for you in that mural.
11:44Well, let's, first of all, why is this on board for you to make this happen?
11:48But, why not mural and why?
11:50That's, so, so we revamped about a new basketball court in Louisville, Kentucky.
11:53That's where I went to college and played basketball.
11:56And I went to Indiana school with the idea that I wanted to do a basketball court.
11:59But I want the image of a black woman on this basketball court because we don't see it enough.
12:04You know, see women enough.
12:06And we want to inspire the young girls.
12:08Because when I was little, it was always, you know, the people were inspired.
12:12They could say, I'm only going to NBA NFL.
12:14And I was like, you know, I'm going to have this work.
12:16And they're like, oh, we're going to do something.
12:17We're going to do what we're going to have.
12:19And all those women's left up soon.
12:21So, we wanted to do something like this.
12:23So, President Zardinus has our attitude.
12:25Thanks.
12:26So, they sent me back and they were like, we're going to do this.
12:28And then, of course, a black African-American mural is situated.
12:32And I want to just show you the picture, but it's so beautiful.
12:35With the colors in it.
12:36And it's an Olympic.
12:37So, that's something we want to know about.
12:39Once you guys are here, being the champion.
12:41We got the brains there.
12:42So, I just want to reflect our black culture in it.
12:46And we'll be able to, you know.
12:48But, listen.
12:49First of all, we've got to get the image at some point.
12:51Find it on.
12:52I'm sure it's on.
12:53It's sad all over.
12:54But it goes back to, if you see it, you can be it.
12:57You can be it.
12:58Exactly.
12:59If we're not up here representing what's available to some of anything,
13:02we may not even know that that's something you can do.
13:04So, I would imagine in an area like Louisville, Kentucky,
13:07there's a lot of young black girls who say, man, I just wish I had somebody I could call.
13:11That's beautiful, Hannah.
13:12I love it.
13:13But, yeah.
13:14Very rarely do we see an athlete's personal style show space as they're playing us forward.
13:20But, this is kind of awesome.
13:22Because, Lauren's trying to run for like extensions, obviously.
13:25And, you didn't have to turn away from her makeup during your races.
13:28And, Lauren should do.
13:30So, why was it so important to you to be able to come as you are into that space?
13:35I feel like, I'm actually, of course, I'm always going to be a student.
13:42And, I'm really going to go for, you know, for this.
13:48And, I'm not because I'm in a certain space.
13:50I feel like I'm going to be a student in justice.
13:52And, I feel like, I'm a sport that she needs to be a neighbor and his children.
13:57It's like, I feel like, very solid.
14:00I'm a part of the life.
14:01I'm not going to be an athlete.
14:02I'm not like...
14:04...I'm not gonna be an athlete, I'm not gonna be an athlete.
14:07I feel like I feel like I'm at some beat all the way.
14:10I think we can feel like I'm hurt and not touch on it.
14:12Because, I'm not gonna be an athlete.
14:13Can you be an athlete that wants to be an athlete?
14:18I mean, because you don't see brains and box brains and corals under this part of building, you don't see how it feels, you don't feel this mirror that felt like, what, what, how was the pushback in terms of that you were, that what's trying to make you feel like you were going to be less relatable in that space because you weren't owning your individuality?
14:44Honestly, it was very much pushback just for me to be in a uniform, and I don't know what I was in since I'd be in a uniform, but just to actually be in a driver's seat, but basically, he walked into the garages, but he's like, I should have been on trash, what is she, well, she's like, oh, what is she, you know, what is she, you know, he maybe has a, I think it's a drive, his, his left, and his right, and his right, and his right, and his right, and his right, and his right,
15:14Wait a moment, one second, so why was it important, one, one, for you to make sure people just fidget you and just be careful?
15:20once. That's why he's the first, but not only the first, she is based female, if you better
15:24get that girl. But also, the first female, I think, was her own shoe company. I know
15:30y'all saw the case when she walked down here, but this is one of the first things that did
15:33want to sell her as she knows. Wait a moment, one second. So, why was it important, one,
15:39for you to make sure that people just fidgeting you into just being an athlete, but an entrepreneur
15:45or a businesswoman and a designer? And what was behind the inspiration for the shoe?
15:50Um, one thing that I always saw from a young age is to never just be one thing. Um, you
15:58know, being an athlete since I was four years old, I was always considered a female athlete.
16:02You know, that's not the best. That's not the best. That's not the best. But I also grew up
16:05because I grew up with parents and players speaking to other things as well. And, um, me
16:10as a one that loves sneakers, and I had that with slay. It's actually great, um, company.
16:14Um, of course, it was cool for me. It was that cool that I get to do something that was a childhood
16:19experience. And I think that, um, that all the little girls out there that might have
16:23the same dream, that might want to do something similar, but not feel like they're able to
16:27think of it because they don't see representation of their space. And, um, I'd like to try to
16:32see both worlds because having a smart brother, I'd like to see some of these days that I've
16:36been under them. And I'd like to see him on a school. And there will be, like, extended
16:41phone players or MLB players that will come and ask themselves now. This is how you choose at this point.
16:47This is how you navigate through life to get to where I've been. I've never had been.
16:51I've even had couples. So, for me, I wanted to show them that you're in school here, you know,
16:56best out that you can possibly be, but also make sure that you're doing something for your
16:59lives. Something that you can do, best out to your children as well. It's something that
17:03you can be proud of. And, again, being on a field is one thing, but it's not much more.
17:08It's what I think it's just what you want to do. And it's where you're inspiring, where you're
17:12motivated, where you're bringing up with you. And for me, this company isn't just for me, it's where my
17:16my children is. But it's also for the next generation of other girls and girls that want to do the same thing.
17:21I would say I want the legacy to be someone who came back, who cared about the future of athletes and kids. I always thought that this is my
17:31passion in life. Because when you do, you don't think in places you can never imagine. Like, I just played basketball. Just
17:38really good at one thing. Two of my big old medals. Got this to see the world. I mean, just, you know, just find that one thing you're good at. And then guess what? From that one
17:45get to passion, you can bring a job. Now I'm in the future of producing things like that. And
17:52thinking places you can ever imagine, like, I just played basketball, just really getting
17:57one thing, two of my big old medals, got this to see the world, I mean, just, you know,
18:03just find that one thing you're good at, and then guess what, from that point, it's depression,
18:08you can branch off, now I'm getting into executives producing things like that, and when I first
18:14started doing those things, people were like, well, you need to stay in your lane, no, when
18:17you drive home, do you stay in my lane, no tally, you switch, right, you think, you have
18:22it, you know, who taught us that, like, it's sort of two different things, went over, tried
18:28different stuff, I heard Jim Carrey say, most people don't like what they do, right, so you
18:36might as well fail at what you love, because you fail every day, well, you don't like it
18:41anyway, right, so that's what we want, because I can see the day, do you want to run for
18:46girls that look like me, I would just like to open up doors for the girls that look like
18:50me, in this sport, um, and, uh, give them the opportunities, and not only, they may not
18:56want to be a rocker, they may want to be a team owner, they may want to be strange, but
19:00they may want to be a strange virus, they may want to be approaching, and it's never been
19:04done, you know what I'm saying, so I want to open up those doors for girls that look like
19:09me, I just envisioned all black females to grow, when the black female owners were in a
19:16room for your plan, if it's not, right now, that's it, it's good for you, I was in a
19:21same company, of course, and everything else, so, um, I want my legacy to be a number of
19:27things where I would say, for sure, ownership, and understanding, if I were in that, because
19:34you can call it something, you're able to hire other people, and bring them up, so for me,
19:39I just want people to understand the importance of, again, living, people with what you want to
19:43do, but also making sure that you have ownership in this, that you can also pass that down to,
19:48because you can't pass on something that you don't know, so, basically, again, it's about
19:52purpose, and making sure that purpose is open up those doors for me, lift, as you climb,
19:58one of the most important things I've learned from her, please give her a round of applause for her,
20:02shower, and thank you, thank you, it's a way to be here all day, you know I've been here all day,
20:07with you all, really appreciate your insight, and just being honorable, and sharing your story
20:12with us, and take care of it, thank you guys, thank you all, thank you!
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