Photo: Shaniqwa Jarvis
Tennis championNaomi Osakahas been landing fashion campaigns like they’re Grand Slam titles. The 23-year-old athlete has collaborated on collections with Nike and Adeam, starred inLouis VuittonandTAG Heuerads earlier this month, and now she’s serving up another fashionable hit, appearing inLevi’snew"Beauty of Becoming" series.
The powerful campaign and video highlights the “journey of becoming” with an inspirational lineup of stars including Willow and Jaden Smith,13 Reasons Why’s Brandon Flynn, actress and model Leyna Bloom, celebrity stylist Karla Welch, activist Dolores Huerta, disability rights advocate Haben Girma, and Osaka, to name a few.
“It was important to share my story in case I can help or inspire anyone,” Osaka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, tells PEOPLE about participating in the series. “My goal is really to raise awareness, so this campaign gave me that platform, which I’m very grateful for.”
Speaking with PEOPLE, Osaka say she hopes to inspire anyone currently figuring out their path to greatness to remember to stay true to themselves. “Don’t compare yourself to anyone because the path that you’re on is yours and yours only,” she shares. “You decide the outcome of your life.”
Shaniqwa Jarvis
Osaka says she had “a lot of fun” filming on the “very chill” set and has been a longtime fan of Levi’s adding, “I mean isn’t everyone? It’s so iconic and a heritage brand.” Her go-to style is a wide-leg jean, and says she loves pairing feminine tops with light washes when she wants to look “casual but a bit more elevated.”
“I’d like to start my own brand one day, probably together with my sister, but for now I’m loving collab’ing with some great designers and learning the craft and the business,” Osaka says, referring to her older sister Mari Osaka, who is also a professional tennis player.
In addition to starring in Louis Vuitton and TAG Heuer campaigns this month, which she called “such an honor,” she’s not done yet. “I’m working on a few more collaborations that will come out in 2021. I can’t say exactly what yet, but I’m super excited. Watch this space.”
Naomi Osaka with her US Open trophy in Sept. 2020.Matthew Stockman/Getty
Osaka has not only been cultivating her fashion career the past few months, but she’s also been gearing up to compete in the Australian Open which starts on Feb. 8. So how does she balance it all, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic?
“I think having interests outside of tennis, like fashion, has definitely helped me have a balance,” she shares. “It’s been such a difficult time for so many people — I’m grateful to have been kept busy and able to work. Not everyone has been so fortunate.”
source: people.com
