There have been plenty of breathtaking wins at the Paris Olympics so far, with the Matilda’s clawing their way back to victory against Zambia, Jess Fox’s gold medal in the K1 slalom final, and the Australian women’s freestyle relay team setting a new Olympic record for the sport. But there’s another competition bubbling away in our brains that we’re keeping our eye on. Some of the biggest stars of the Paris Olympic Games are card-carrying beauty lovers who’ve become known for their statement looks.
Given female athletes already face plenty of gendered discrimination in the world of sport, it’s unsurprising they’ve traditionally eschewed visible makeup unless their area of competition calls for it. After all, we live in a world where male commentators are still comfortable making cosmetics-related gendered gags during women’s competitions.
But Olympians like Chase Jackson, Sha’Carri Richardson and Ilona Mayer are daring the men to comment. Whether it’s Chace Jackson indulging in bold, playful looks, Sha’Carrii Richardson using hair and nails to tell highly personal stories or the US Women’s Rugby team angling for Fenty-freebies on TikTok (relatable!), there’s plenty of beauty goodness to see and look forward to at the Paris Olympics so far.
So, here are our favourite athletes who prove there’s room for glamour amongst the grit.
The 2024 Paris Olympics Breakout Beauty Stars
Chase Jackson
Chase Jackson is a track and field star and is competing in the Paris Olympics for shotput. She’s making a statement on the track with her eye makeup, showing that softness (and even silliness) can work in harmony with strength. Jackson has multiple anime-inspired tattoos, and her beauty looks feature Sailor Moon elements with delicate butterfly wings. Jackson paints with hand flowers and sweeps of hot pink. She’ll be taking the field on the 8th of August for the women’s shot put competition, and we can’t wait to see the beauty look she lands.
Sha’Carri Richardson
American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has become famous for her uber-long nail extensions on the track. But for the for the sprinter, beauty is more than just a bit of fun.
In 2023, Richardson used a viral wig toss to announce her return to the sport after being excluded from the Tokyo Olympic Games after testing positive for THC. The sprinter then told Vogue about using beauty to connect with her family; sharing with the publication she got into nails because of her grandmother. She has also spoken extensively about her close relationship with her hairstylist Key Rentz, an Orlando-based braider. “Key gives me an energy that, even while she’s doing my hair, I can feel her genuineness going into my scalp.”
If her patriotic nails at the Opening Ceremony were anything to go by, Richardson’s acrylics will be firmly in place when she competes in the Women’s 100m sprint on Friday, 2nd of August and Saturday, 3rd of August.
Synchronised “Artistic” Swimmers
Artistic swimming, commonly known as synchronized swimming, combines elements of ballet, swimming, acrobatics and presentation and it’s the last part that requires a whole lot of waterproof hair and makeup products. Wonder how all that red lipstick, black liner and sleek hair look to stay in place? Olympian Anita Alvarez recently told Vogue that metric tonnes of Knox Gelatin are required to give the lacquered, helmet-like hold to swimmer’s hair, along with plenty of bobby pins. She added that they favour waterproof Makeup Forever products to get the team from the water to the podium without a lash out of place.
The artistic swimming competition starts on the 6th of August and runs through to the 8th.
Shirine Boukli
French Shirene Boukli won a bronze medal in Judo last week, accepting her medal with a sparkling spile.
The US Women’s Rugby Team And Fenty
@ilonamaher @Fenty Beauty can we have a fun gift bag? @sam_sull_22 @Ari Ramsey ♬ original sound – The Kid LAROI.
We all love a #gifted beauty product, and the US women’s Rugby team are no different. Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty is an official partner of the Paris Olympics, but they’re gifting beauty starter kits to volunteers, not Olympians. Ilona Maher posted the team touching up their faces, tagging Fenty Beauty with the question, “Can we have a fun gift bag?” proving “nobody is immune from beauty fomo.
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- Everything Worth Knowing About The 2024 Paris Olympics
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
