Angel Reese proudly shows up with her mustache, her glow, and her game—challenging outdated beauty norms.
Angel Reese has taken the basketball world by storm with her exceptional talent and unapologetic confidence.
Born on May 6, 2002, in Randallstown, Maryland, Reese quickly established herself as an elite player.
Nicknamed “Bayou Barbie” and now “Chi Barbie,” she dominated college basketball at Maryland before transferring to LSU, where she led the Tigers to their first national championship in 2023 while being named Most Outstanding Player.
Her record-breaking college career included setting the NCAA single-season record for double-doubles and the SEC single-season rebounding record.
Selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA draft, Reese immediately made her mark as a rookie, earning an All-Star selection and setting the league single-season rebounding record.
Her dominance extends beyond the WNBA to Rose BC in the Unrivaled basketball league.
Reese has become not just a basketball phenomenon but a cultural icon, appearing on the cover of Vogue and securing numerous endorsement deals with major brands like Reebok and McDonald’s.
Mustache or Not, Angel Reese Sets Her Own Standards
Angel Reese stands at the forefront of a beauty revolution in women’s sports by embracing her natural features, including her facial hair and rich melanin.
Unlike many female athletes who feel pressured to conform to traditional beauty standards, Reese confidently shows her authentic self both on and off the court.
Her occasional appearances without makeup have revealed light facial hair—something completely normal for women of all backgrounds—yet her comfort with this natural feature has sparked important conversations about beauty standards.
Angel Reese looks like she has a drawn on mustache https://t.co/3IFRsOZdE1
— Luke (@FragaLuke) July 17, 2024
Reese’s relationship with her melanin is equally powerful. As a dark-skinned Black woman in the spotlight, she proudly celebrates her complexion through partnerships with skincare brands like SheaMoisture that specifically cater to melanin-rich skin.
In one campaign, Reese showcased her radiant skin with the message, “You see that glow? SheaMoisture got me right,” highlighting products like Coconut & Hibiscus Body Butter and Raw Shea Butter Body Wash that nourish and protect darker skin tones.
When addressing beauty standards on her “Unapologetically Angel” podcast, Reese directly confronted critics:
“I hate when people say, ‘Oh she’s too worried about her makeup and her hair and her lashes and her nails and her outfits.’ They complain and say that WNBA players are too manly, not feminine enough. We don’t dress cute enough. They don’t want to watch a bunch of little boys running around the court. Now, we’re too much.”
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Reese’s beauty routine, which she shared with Vogue, demonstrates her balance between embracing natural features while enjoying makeup. She explained,
“That’s my thing: Normalizing being able to be super girly and super cute but also be a dog on the court.”
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Whether appearing makeup-free courtside or glamorous at the Met Gala, Reese consistently challenges narrow beauty standards while celebrating her natural melanin and features.
Through her visibility and refusal to conform, Angel Reese actively combats misogynoir—the unique intersection of racism and sexism faced by Black women.
By proudly displaying her natural beauty in all its forms, Reese sends a powerful message to fans everywhere: authenticity trumps conformity, and every feature, from melanin to facial hair, deserves to be celebrated rather than concealed.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Angel Reese learned basketball from her mother at a very young age and grew up playing against her brother Julian in their driveway.
- During the 2025 WNBA season, Reese changed her hairstyle from long flowing hair to cornrows and has experimented with various looks, including a “healthy outgrown bob.”
- Reese keeps her Laneige lip products on the bench during basketball games and applies them during timeouts as part of her game-day routine.
