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Deals & Collabs

From the Hardwood to the Runway: How Angel Reese and Cameron Brink are Redefining the ‘Model-Athlete’

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Photo: Unsplash, New Balance, McDonald’s

Oftentimes, especially when one becomes a public figure, there is a tendency for the general public to box you into a certain label. This is especially true of female athletes, who are quick to have criticisms of distraction if they pursue other interests during the course of their playing career. Enter: Angel Reese and Cameron Brink, two WNBA stars who are dismantling outdated dichotomies, proving that you can get buckets *and* walk down runways (hello Angel Reese for Victoria’s Secret). Simply put, double-doubles and high-fashion editorials can and should exist. This leads us to branding. Reese, in particular, has become known as the “Bayou Barbie” and is often associated with the color pink. In fact, as per Parade, Reese is set to appear at Barbie Dream Fest as a featured speaker at its 2026 weekend celebration in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Let’s make one thing clear, Reese and Brink aren’t just athletes who happen to model; they are brands within themselves, using their aesthetic as an extension of their competitive power.

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The Power of Branding

@overtime

SHE ATE AND LEFT ZERO CRUMBS 🤏💖 @Victoria’s Secret #angelreese #victoriassecret #fashion #wnba

♬ Make It Look Sexy – Stunna Sandy

On that note, Reese has become known for her custom eyelashes and manicures, scoring brand deals with companies like Mielle Organics. On the fashion front, Reese has also secured endorsements with the likes of Reebok, Calvin Klein and Good American. Brink has had similar successes, as she, too, is known for her model-esque beauty. Brink has notched deals with Urban Decay, Skims and Gorjana, to name a few. Sure, there have been criticisms about “distractions,” but you can’t exactly complain when Brink is leading the league in blocks, and Reese is on double-double hot streaks. This leads us to our next point, the NIL revolution.

The NIL Revolution

This leads us to Reese and Brink being two of the purveyors with the rise of the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era. Both have secured numerous deals (even outside of the beauty and fashion space), with Brink becoming the first basketball athlete signed to New Balance. Reese, herself, has been featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and has deals with Amazon, Playstation, Beats by Dre and more. Additional deals for Brink include partnerships with Chegg, SoFi, Tops, Daps, GOAT and more.

The Impact

Make no mistake, these types of deals have been game changers for current and future athletes. By embracing the “model-athlete” tag, Reese and Brink have made one thing clear, You don’t have to dim your light to fit into a locker room. No, you don’t have to wear team-issued sweats; you can rock curated couture. No, you don’t only have to take brand deals for shoes and sports drinks; you can take deals in the beauty, lifestyle and tech realms, too. No, you don’t only have to show your highlights on social media; you can make it a mix of lifestyle and fashion, as well. This is the new WNBA.

The Future

The WNBA is surging in viewership, which means brand identity is more important than ever. Fans aren’t just tuning in for the 40 minutes of gameplay anymore. The people have spoken, and they also want a mixture of lifestyle, fashion and personalities. Simply put, Angel Reese and Cameron Brink aren’t just changing the game—they are changing the culture.

Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.

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