Fashion Forward Sprinter: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a well-known track and field sprinter. Hailing from Jamaica, this fiery and competitive woman is called one of the greatest sprinters of all time. Born in Kingston, Jamaica on December 27, 1986, the beautiful star didn’t take the long route towards becoming an athlete.

In primary school, she was already showcasing her talent as a runner. From a barefoot child blazing the track with her speed to a world-renowned athlete with 10 gold medals and 4 silver ones, her life has been a story worth telling. Not surprisingly, like a lot of other famous athletes, her life extends well out of the 100-meter dash, including the dazzling world of fashion in its scope.

It’s easy to put world-class athletes in a box and see nothing in them but the potential to win at their sport. But athletes are just people like everyone else, with their taste in music and movies, and not least of all, fashion. This is true for Shelly-Ann, which is why she was spotted walking for a luxury fashion brand at the Milan Fashion Week.

Shelly-Ann had agreed to a big clothing collaboration with the $5 billion Italian brand, Bottega Veneta. She hinted at the collaboration in a video she posted on social media, which showcased Bottega Veneta’s 2024 season collection. Of course, fans were intrigued by the cryptic post, and it’s easy to imagine that this is only the start of seeing the gorgeous track star on the runway for fashion brands.

When a well-known star signs a deal with a billion-dollar brand, it’s likely not to be the only one. And for Shelly-Ann, it certainly isn’t. The track star has other deals in her arsenal, one with the luxury Swiss watch brand, Richard Mille. Part of the deal is that the athlete wears their watches on her competitions, to showcase and promote the brand.

Another part of the deal is that Richard Mille sponsors the Shelly-Ann Fraser-Prycle Pocket Rocket Foundation. This foundation provides scholarships for Jamaican athletes who are in high school, a work full of empathy from the star runner. We can imagine a lot of Jamaican stars rising from this generous work of hers, partnered with the luxury watch brand.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is one of the people who doesn’t want to be defined by her sport. She’s a mother too, a philanthropist, and a lover of beautiful clothing and smart, seasonal fashion. She also says that life is a journey, and growing older is just one natural part of it.

“Age is a part of life, a part of the journey, but it doesn’t define who you are,” she said, and this is true of almost everything she is. She doesn’t allow one aspect of her life to define who she is. She’s a star, a loving mother, an empathetic hero to the underprivileged, and a woman who loves beautiful clothing.