These Female Athletes Slay On The Field And On The Red Carpet
Female athletes are better known for their strength and agility than they are for their fashion sense. Every once in a while, they put away their helmets, their jerseys, and their sweatbands and they put on a fancy dress instead. They walk the red carpet and look fine as heck while doing so.
We don't often get to see this more glam side of the ladies of sport, but we always appreciate the chance to see them strut their stuff. Keep reading to see sporty ladies get all dolled up.
Lindsey Vonn Walks The Red Carpet
Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn certainly knows how to dress for the occasion. She showed up to the premiere of Jurassic World in this slinky snakeskin dress. She knew that she had to wear a reptilian print for a movie about giant reptiles.
Vonn is no stranger to red carpets. She's won so many awards and been to a ton of events, so she knows how to strut her stuff on a red carpet. She looks right at home in this photo.
Gold Medalist Nastia Liukin Is A Covergirl
Russian American Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin has frequented both the fashion and sports scenes since her retirement in 2012. She's been a favorite at the ESPY Awards since 2009 and made an equally glamorous 2018 appearance.
With nine World Championship medals in gymnastics, Liukin ties with Shannon Miller as the third-highest performing gymnast in the world. She's also one of the first female athletes to be signed on as a Covergirl spokesmodel, and she owns her own line of gym equipment produced by American Athlete, Inc.
Serena Williams Isn't Just An Athlete
Serena Williams is one of the few athletes who has managed to become famous outside the world of sports. She isn't just a tennis player. She's a household name. She's also something of a fashion icon and she even has her own fashion line. Let's just say this isn't her first time on a red carpet.
This yellow and pink dress is super unique, and Serena is stunning in it. Nobody could pull this look off quite like her.
Tennis Player Maria Sharapova At The Vanity Fair Oscar Party
In February 2019, five-time Grand Slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova lit up the Oscars red carpet. She got to show off at two different red carpets, the first one for the Elton John AIDs Foundation and Academy Awards viewing party, and the second for the Oscars.
Sharapova has also modeled in ads for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Nike, Canon, and Prince. In 2012, when she won Olympic silver, she ranked third in the world's top tennis player rankings. Currently, she holds ranked at 29. She's still hitting the court as well, having recently competed at the Shenzhen Open until she suffered an injury.
Ronda Rousey Looks Like A Warrior
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey used to being the fiercest woman walking the streets. Beating opponents in mere seconds is the stuff of legend. After falling out of the UFC world, she entered WWE and looked to bring mayhem in that ring as well.
Rousey doesn't sit still much. When she isn't fighting, she's probably working on a movie. There really isn't anything she can't do. Looking sensational on the red carpet is just one of her many talents.
Professional Golfer Paige Spiranac's Backless Dress
Professional golfer Paige Spiranac hit both the 2018 ESPYs red carpet and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit red carpet in the same year. Spiranac has played for both the University of Arizona and San Diego State University, where she led the Aztecs to their first-ever Mountain West Conference Championship in 2014.
In 2015, Spiranac entered the professional golf scene. You may have seen her in commercials for Parsons Xtreme Golf and 18Birdies. In 2017, she also became an ambassador for Cybersmile Foundation, a non-profit that combats cyber-bullying.
Motor Racing Driver Carmen Jordá Looks Like A Dream
Racecar drivers typically wear full-body jumpsuits and dark helmets, so you don't really get to see what they look like when they're out on the track. Also, they're usually in cars, so that also keeps them out of our line of sight.
Spanish racecar driver Carmen Jordá has worked as a development driver for the Lotus and Renault Sport Formula One team--the eleventh woman ever to join the line-up. This embroidered dress makes her look like a fairy princess.
Bobsledder And Hurdler Lola Jones Is Gorgeous In Yellow
It takes a lot of guts to slide down a solid sheet of ice on a pair of blades at top speeds. Lola Jones clearly isn't afraid of anything. Not only is she fearless, but she's also talented. She currently holds the American record for 60-meter hurdles at 7.72 seconds. Jones is also one of the few athletes who has represented the U.S. in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
She certainly looks very summery in this yellow ensemble.
Professional Grappler And Model Miesha Tate
Mixed martial artist and wrestler Miesha Tate is a true knockout in this strapless little black dress. The bow at the waist is a nice touch. Miesha looks like she knows how to pose, and that's because she's modeled for several magazines including Fitness Gurls and ESPN The Magazine.
Tate won the Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship in 2011 and also has a silver medal from the FILA Grappling Championships.
Paula Creamer In A Little Black Dress
Paula Creamer is another professional athlete who tends to wear a little black dress when she attends formal events. Creamer has been a professional golfer since 2004. When she's on the course, she usually dresses in pink and uses pink sports equipment. Her fondness for pink has earned her the nickname, The Pink Panther.
She chose to keep it classic at this nighttime event though. The Pink Panther is wearing black. She surprised us all.
Figure-Skating Olympic Champion Ashley Wagner
We do often get to see figure skaters in fancy clothes because their skating outfits can be quite ornate and pretty. We don't often get to see them in crop tops and patterned A-line skirts, though. Ashley pops off the red carpet in this neon pink crop top and bold skirt combo.
Ashley Wagner is a U.S. figure skater, 2014 Olympic bronze medalist, 2016 World silver medalist, 2012 Four Continents champion, and three-time Grand Prix Final medalist.
Laila Ali Is Stunning In Red
Daughter of the world famous Muhammad Ali, Laila Ali remained undefeated during her eight-year boxing career. She held the IWBF heavyweight title and the WIBA, WBC, IBA, and IWBF super middleweight titles. And of course, she's walked the red carpets at the ESPY and ESPN Sports Humanitarian Awards.
After 24 straight wins, Ali retired in 2007. Since then, she has acted in several T.V. shows and workout tapes and is a self-taught cook. She's currently working on her own cookbook, Food for Life.
Tennis Player Caroline Wozniacki In Teal
Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki has ranked number one on the WTA Tour, ever since she won the Grand Slam title at the 2018 Australia Open. She formerly ranked No. 1 in singles for 67 straight weeks between 2010 and 2012. No wonder she got an invite to the 2018 ESPYs and Hamptons Magazine Cover Party.
Wozniacki began playing pro tennis in 2005 when she was just 15 years old. At age 26, she already held 25 WTA Tour titles. She has attended several different fashion shows and modeled for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in both 2015 and 2016.
MMA Mixed Martial Artist Anastasia Yankova
Anastasia Yankova poses a serious threat in the MMA Bellator Flyweight division. She also kicks butt on the red carpet. She entered the 2016 Guys Choice Red Carpet with a fashion sense as stunning as her fighting prowess.
Yankova officially entered the arena in 2016 in Torino, Italy. At age 14, she began learning karate after her fascination with Xena: Warrior Princess. So far, she's won 80% of her kickboxing fights and 83% of her mixed martial arts competitions.
Surfer And Model Anastasia Ashley
Surfer Anastasia Ashley is used to being in front of the camera. She often models for magazines such as Maxim and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. This photo was taken at the Sports Illustrated's Fashionable 50 NYC Event. Ashley won her first national surfing title at age 16 and later won two titles in the National Scholastic Surfing Association championships.
Anastasia looks very put together in the rather covered up black outfit. We're used to seeing her in swim gear, so this is a nice change.
Wrestler Barbara Blank Is Always Fabulous
Wrestling fans might know Barbara Blank by her stage name, Kelly Kelly. Or, you could know her from her T.V. roles, most notably playing herself in WAGs. She's walked down several red carpets, such as the Maxim Hot 100 Party, WWE Art & Fashion Show, and the OK! So Sexy LA event.
Blank started with a background in cheerleading and gymnastics before signing onto the WWE in 2006. Her initial wrestling career did not go well, but eventually, she won the WWE Diva Championship in 2011. Since she left WWE in 2012, she has returned for fashion events and occasional wrestling appearances.
Anna Kournikova Is A Red Carpet Staple
At one time, Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova was one of the most common search strings on Google. So it's no surprise that she's made appearances on the VMAs, MTV Video Music Awards, BAFTA Brits to Watch, and REGARD Magazine red carpets.
Kournikova ranked as the No. 1 player in doubles, where she and her partner Martina Hingis won two Grand Slam titles and the WTA Championships in 1999 and 2000. She retired at age 21 due to spinal injuries but reunited with Hingis to play again in 2010. She's been with Enrique Iglesias for over ten years, and they have twin children.
Olympic Gold Medalist Softball Pitcher Jennie Finch
Called the most famous softball player in history by Time magazine, Jennie Finch helped her team win gold in the 2004 Summer Olympics and then silver in the 2008 Summer Olympics. Off the diamond, fans always go wild when she walks down the red carpet during the ESPYs, which she's done for years.
Finch retired from pitching in 2010, but that didn't end her softball career. She started working as a color commentator for National Pro Fastpitch on ESPN in 2011. She is also featured in the USA Softball Hall of Fame.
Soccer Player Alex Morgan's Deep V Neckline
Alex Morgan is a forward in the National Women's Soccer League and plays for the U.S. National Team. She won an Olympic gold medal and the FIFA Women's World Cup Championship while being the youngest player on the team. You can see her at red carpet shoots such as the TIME 100 Gala and ESPYs.
Morgan has even published a middle school book series about young school players published by Simon & Schuster. She's also played a fictional version of herself in Alex & Me. She's made endorsements with Nika, AT&T, Ubisoft, McDonald's, Chobani, and Coca-Cola.
Gabby Douglas Knows How To Sparkle
Gymnast Gabby Douglas was part of the Olympic team that won gold in 2012 and 2016. We already know that she knows how to stun in the gym, but we didn't know that she was just as fierce on the red carpet.
Look at this gorgeous sparkly blue dress! This dress is somehow both understated and radiant at the same time. It isn't trying to do too much, but it's also kind of a bold fashion choice.
Gold Medalist Queen Harrison
Queen Harrison is a sprinter, long jumper, triple jumper, and hurdler, best known for her gold medals in 100 m and 400 m hurdles along with one silver in 100 m. Off the track, she slowed down to a walk for the red carpets of USATF Hall of Fame Gala, ESPYs, Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards, and Bowerman Red Carpet Show.
In 2010, Harrison became the first women to win both the 100 m hurdles and 400 m hurdles in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Her victories in 2007 and 2009 make her a three-time national champion at Virginia Teach, where she attended college.
Snowboarder Silje Norendal Knows How To Accessorize
Norwegian snowboarder Silje Norendal has shredded the competition time and time again at the Olympics. She's won five gold medals in total between 2013 and 2017. She has also modeled for Cosmo and Nike and attended their red carpets.
This black illusion dress is stunning on this blond beauty. Her hair is perfectly curled, and that red bag adds a much-needed pop of color to this otherwise monochromatic outfit. Silje really looks like a model in this photo.
Skylar Diggins Shines In This Simple Dress
As far as basketball players go, Skylar Diggins is one of the best. She entered the WNBA in 2013 after becoming the number three pick overall. Her career began in Tulsa with the Shocks, but now she scores for the Dallas Wings.
Red carpet walks for Diggins are always a great scene. You can definitely expect her to dress her best. If you're used to seeing her break a sweat on the court, witnessing her grace the carpet is a nice change of pace.
Candace Parker Is Golden
There was a time in the WNBA when Candace Parker was a force of nature. She was often considered the best in the game. Going to award ceremonies comes with the expectation of being great, and she always comes through.
Parker has had the chance to sport so many gorgeous outfits and become a true glam queen. The two-time WNBA MVP also could be a red carpet MVP if there was a trophy for that. We would love to give her one anyway.
Torrie Wilson Wore Shorts
When it comes to wrestlers, Torrie Wilson knows how to put on a show. The wrestler is a model, fitness competitor, and an actress. Being a model means she loves walking the carpet and showing off her style.
This golden outfit Wilson has on in the photo is stunning. Who knew someone could make a romper look so great? Not only could you wear this on the red carpet, but you could easily sport it during a night out with friends.
Javelin-Throwing Model Leryn Franco
Paraguayan athlete Leryn Franco competed in javelin throwing in the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympics. Nowadays, she works on her modeling and pageantry career. In 2006, she won runner-up in the Miss Universo Paraguay pageant. She modeled for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and her own calendar, which Martin Crespo shot in 2007.
In 2012, Franco threw the new national record and her personal best in the Ibero-American Championships in Athletics, where her javelin reached 57.77 m (190 ft). In 2013, she acted in the Irish film Eliza Lynch: Queen of Paraguay in the role of younger Eliza Lynch.
Tennis Star Heather Watson Brought An Umbrella
Plenty of the outfits these ladies have on can cause a stir and a ton of "ooohs" and "ahhs." This green latex-looking outfit Heather Watson has on certainly might have caused some big reactions.
The mixed doubles champion and former British number one player clearly doesn't care that rubber might be uncomfortable. She also brought along an umbrella for an added accessory. All that matters is that she looks happy wearing this and she makes it look good.
Gymnastics Queen Simone Biles In Silver
After Simone Biles competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the whole world came to know her name. She completely dominated the field on her way to taking home plenty of gold medals and instantly became a superstar.
Superstars dress a certain way, and Biles nails her red carpet wardrobe decisions. In this photo, she's wearing a sparkling silver dress that hugs her body tighter than her mother did after the Olympics. Way to show off your muscles!
Golf Star Chelsea Pezzola
Chelsea Pezzola makes golfing look good. Not to say others don't or can't, but Pezzola does it effortlessly. According to her Instagram, she's not only a golfer but she's also a fitness model, media personality, and editor for Jetset Magazine.
How does she have time for all that and still manage to look so awe-inspiring at the ESPYs? Here she's wearing a creamy lace piece with a slit going all the way down the leg. Not everyone can pull this look off the way she does.
Track Star Allyson Felix In Royal Blue
One of the most humble and hard-working athletes out there is the incomparable Allyson Felix. The track and field Olympian competes in the 100, 200, and 400-meter races. She's a three-time world champion and two-time silver Olympic medalist.
She's made her rounds on the tracks and on the red carpets. Just as she prepares vigorously for competition, she doesn't slack when it comes to putting on a dazzling outfit and looking like a supermodel.
Stacy Keibler Knows How To Dress
Another wrestler knows how to step up to the plate and her name is Stacy Keibler. She easily makes jaws drop whenever she sets foot on a red carpet. She also is a formidable opponent in the wrestling ring even though she hasn't fought in a while.
These days she's more of a model and dancer (she competed on Dancing with the Stars). In this picture, she's wearing a knee-length, violet skin tight dress. The cameras couldn't stop snapping pictures at this QVC event.
McKayla Maroney In A Romper
One can never go wrong with a glammed-up romper on the red carpet. McKayla Maroney is a former gymnast who has snagged multiple gold medals, and she also made headlines at the Olympics when she made "the face."
In this photo, Maroney sports messy pigtails with the rose gold-toned romper. She almost makes it look effortless or as if this is everyday attire for her. If it is, more power to the young lady. We only request that she continues to stun on the red carpet.
Danica Patrick Wrapped In Red With A Black Bow
The first face of lady racers has to be the legendary Danica Patrick. In 2013, she became the first woman in Sprint Cup history to race full-time which is a big deal. She has the skills and the looks to match.
The outfit she's wearing here at the ESPYs is certainly a marvel. The form-fitting ruby red satin dress with a black lace trim looks like something she would wear for a big date night.
Gina Carano Never Looked So Good
For quite some time, Gina Carano was to be the face of Mixed Martial Arts. She enjoyed the spotlight for a nice amount of time and made sure she looked stunning all the while.
Here she is at the 18th Annual Critics' Choice awards, wearing a sky blue dress that reached the floor. It almost makes her look like a Disney princess and she probably wouldn't mind that comparison. Who doesn't love Disney?!
Osaka Naomi In Frills
The number-one ranked player Osaka Naomi made a splash in 2018 when she defeated Serena Williams on one of the biggest stages in tennis. There's no doubt she's worked hard to get in the position she's in, and she aced it!
Keeping things casual, simple, and cute, Naomi wears this flattering yellow sleeveless dress paired with some long gold hoop earrings. The giant trophy certainly makes an eye-catching accessory with this ensemble!
Urszula Radwanska Wore All White
Urszula Radwanska is a Polish tennis player who has a few doubles and singles titles under her belt, so you know she's no slouch on the court. Still in her late twenties, she has many years left to dominate on the court.
Her comfort zone might be the tennis court, but she looks like she should be on a runway with this outfit on. This could be her next path once she hangs up the racket for good.
Eugenie Bouchard Likes Color
Is it just us, or do all tennis stars know how to work a red carpet? We know they can maneuver with a racket in their hands, sending balls flying at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.
Here we see Eugenie Bouchard sporting a colorful and gorgeous dress that stops mid-way down her thigh. The Canadian star can wear whatever she likes and always makes it look like she's on a Vogue shoot.
Aly Raisman In Red
Gymnast Aly Raisman played a critical role in helping Team USA secure gold at the Rio Olympics, but she also won an individual one on her own. That deserves some good old fashioned partying in a stunning dress.
At the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year event, she pulled off this futuristic, scale-and-sheer red dress. Raisman owns the daring yet flattering look with a confident smile that can melt hearts.
Surf's Up With Erica Hosseini
Surfing isn't a sport as popular as some of the others on this list, but that doesn't mean the athletes don't compete just as hard. You also shouldn't count them out when it comes to fashion sense. Just look at Erica Hosseini.
She arrived at the 6th Annual Billabong Design for Humanity Event looking like a surfing princess. The colorful leopard print with the black pencil skirt is a wonderful combination you don't really see that often on the red carpet.
Allison Baver In This Cutout Dress
Olympic speed skating sometimes gets overlooked in comparison to other sports at the Olympics, but it's one of the most exhilarating activities to watch. And Allison Baver makes it look good.
In 2006, Baver had the number one ranking in the world. We're almost one hundred percent sure that she has no trouble charming everyone, especially dressed like this on the red carpet. The criss-cross number she is wearing looks great on her.
