Five Black Barrier-Breakers Sparking a Shift in Sport and Fitness
In honor of Black History Month, Hypebae highlights Black creatives and athletes carving out a space for themselves and their community in fitness and sports.
In every lane, Black creatives carve their own path forward – fueled by the steadfast support of their community, a deep-rooted desire to drive their culture forward and a true calling to bring their artistic visions to life. In honor of Black History Month, Hypebae is shining light on Black creatives from fashion, footwear, beauty and sports who are making waves in their prospective industries.
There’s two types of people in the world: the ones tho leave the room when there’s told there’s no space for them, and those who stay and make space. Whether it’s in an industry that’s notorious for its lack of inclusivity (like fashion) or a sport historically helmed by white men (like skateboarding), the five change makers featured here are all doing things their own way.
WNBA players are all too familiar with the biases of the fashion industry, but under the guidance of the next generation of sports stylists — like Amadi Brooks and ItsGoldenPiece — they’re breaking down barriers bit by bit. Through carefully curated styling choices, they’re spotlighting the underrepresented physiques of female players, showcasing the beauty in all bodies.
For Beatrice Domond, making a mark as a Black skater meant leaving her South Florida hometown behind and heading to New York City to soak up the flourishing skate scene. That transformative pivot propelled Domond’s career forward — making her one of the most sought-after professional skaters in the space — a move that others have made themselves in pursuit of personal development and career-defining change.
For former college athlete-turned-stylist and content creator, Cjay Syre, making the move from the Midwest to the East Coast was an easy one. Despite being a D1 athlete and having a promising future in football, the 24-year-old felt more at ease in fashion and New York City’s creative community. However, he hasn’t strayed too far from his sports origins, merging the worlds of sport and style together as NBA All-Star Tyler Herro’s personal stylist. Together, the two showcase that there’s more to basketball beyond the game and that athletes are more than their on-court talents.
Taking a page out of Domond’s and Syre’s playbooks, Tunde Oyeneyin, a leading Peloton cycling instructor and Nike Athlete, traded her 15-year-long career in beauty as a makeup artist for the fitness industry. Inspired to make the fitness space more inclusive for Black women, Oyeneyin’s coined “Tunde-isms” — words of encouragement sprinkled throughout her cycling sessions — shot her to stardom on Peloton’s platform. An advocate for bringing accessibility to the wellness world, with each session and motivational speech, Oyeneyin accomplishes just that.
For these five individuals at the intersection of sport and style, forging their chosen paths paves the way for others to follow in their footsteps and resist limitations. In an intimate conversation with Hypebae, they share the stories behind their career beginnings and breakthroughs and how they’re shaking up the sports scene.
Continue scrolling for the full conversation below and check out last week’s chat with four Black beauty buffs whose work transcends beauty.
On breaking into the sports scene and fitness world
Amadi Brooks
Amadi Brooks
I was connected by a mentor to designer/stylist, Robin Harris. Her brand was the official fashion partner for the Chicago Sky at the time. I assisted her on a few projects which consisted of styling WNBA players for the 2018 WNBA All-Star Weekend. That’s when it clicked for me that I could make a career out of this. In 2022, I finally took the leap to pursue a career as a stylist full time. My clientele started with sports journalists and reporters. Word of mouth snowballed into me getting opportunities to styling players for tunnel, the WNBA Draft, commercial campaigns and more.
ItsGoldenPiece
Itsgoldenpiece
I happened to be in the right place at the right time when I met my clients in Dallas, Texas. They took a chance on me and the ball has been rolling ever since. The key to styling, though, is truly knowing your client. Fashion is a form of expression and before diving into any ‘fit, it’s essential to have real conversations with them to understand their vision. I always make sure to add my own Golden touch to every look.
Cjay Syre
Cjay Syre
I first got into styling in the NBA from a GRWM I posted sometime in early 2024. Tyler Herro DM’d me wondering where the pants I had were from, and I told him, but I also mentioned, ‘You might as well let me style you.’ Fast forward to about October of this year, before the season got rolling, he flew me out and I made sure we were on the same page as far as clothes and building a real relationship.
Tunde Oyeneyin
Tunde Oyeneyin
I woke up one morning [with] the realization that I was no longer fulfilled by what I was doing. My dream job had turned into something that I dreaded. In 2016, in my role as a Regional Makeup Artist, I was in New York for an annual team conference. During that trip, I’d decided to venture out and try an indoor cycling class. It would be my first time at it, but being that it was all anyone was talking about I was nervously excited. I had no idea that the 45 min ride would be my life. Following that class, I had what I call a “blue light moment.” It was euphoric. For the first time in a long time, I saw my future so clearly… I would be cycling for the rest of my life and not only that, but I’d be teaching it on the world’s largest platform. I felt it and I knew it. I didn’t even know what Peloton was at the time. Yet, I was certain I’d be connected to millions of people – through cycling.
On navigating the sports space as Black athletes and creatives
ItsGoldenPiece
Itsgoldenpiece
There have been moments where I’ve found myself in rooms where the majority didn’t look like me, and I’ve had to advocate for my place in this industry. But through it all, I’ve been blessed to work alongside other Black stylists who’ve shown me the ropes and allowed me to contribute to the art. As a young Black female stylist, I’m often second-guessed with many projects, but don’t let this youngin’ fool you — I get down and I don’t play!
Beatrice Domond
Beatrice Domond
[My experience has been] great! Everyone is so welcoming [in the skate scene]. It really is a place where I feel welcomed and it’s where I belong in the world. Skateboarders are my people. My only obstacles were being from a small town and not having a skate scene. Once I got on the internet and went to New York, that was when it all came together.
Amadi Brooks
Amadi Brooks
As a young Black stylist breaking into an industry that often overlooks the impact and the influence of women athletes, I faced unique challenges. The typical “How to Be a Stylist 101” blueprint just didn’t align with the needs of my clientele — especially when it came to sizing, production budgets, and the unpredictable nature of athletes’ schedules. For a long time, opportunities for styling women in sports weren’t as forward-facing or easily accessible, especially before the rise in visibility for women’s sports. I quickly learned that in this space, if you’re not advocating for yourself and your clients, you’re often overlooked. It’s a lesson in resilience and self-empowerment — fighting for what you and your clients deserve.
Cjay Syre
Cjay Syre
The biggest issue I’ve faced is some athletes or people feel very entitled to your work with them but don’t appreciate your craft. So, if you’re growing and developing new relationships, it tends to rub insecure people the wrong way if they can’t ‘recruit’ you under them. I don’t think there’s ever an issue when it comes to just paying a white stylist for their work. They rather try selling you a ‘dream.’
On witnessing the growth and rise in recognition of the WNBA
Amadi Brooks
Amadi Brooks
It’s incredibly gratifying to see the growing recognition of WNBA players. These women put in so much work and dedication to their craft — they work just as hard, if not harder, than their male counterparts and deserve the same respect, recognition, and opportunities. They’re not just incredible athletes; they’re also gorgeous, with statuesque bodies, and they have dynamic personalities and interests beyond the sport. Unfortunately, those aspects don’t always get the spotlight they deserve. That’s where wardrobe and personal style come in — it’s a powerful way to learn more about them as individuals, their passions, and their influence. And honestly, what better muse is there than that? Over the last couple of seasons, we’ve seen a significant shift in the fashion industry’s focus on dressing and including women athletes. The impact has been positive all around. Brands are expanding their reach, tapping into new demographics, while fans are discovering players not just through their athleticism, but through their unique styles—and this new connection often leads them to support those athletes on and off the court.
ItsGoldenPiece
Itsgoldenpiece
It’s been mesmerizing to witness, and I only wish it had happened sooner. The WNBA is more than deserving of this newfound recognition because of the incredible women they are. These women are at the top of the basketball world, with physiques that designers should be proud to dress. There’s definitely a shift happening, and I hope it continues to grow, especially with brands starting to focus more on tall clothing. As the industry evolves, I think we’ll see new models and muses emerge, while the league opens more doors for players to secure new brand deals, gain more opportunities, and continue to break barriers.
On working at the intersection of sport and style
Beatrice Domond
Beatrice Domond
Both [sport and style] are my home. Being a skater has impacted my style with me just wanting to be comfortable at all times and to rep the brands that fully support skateboarding and skateboarders. At Vans, they’re always so open to hear my ideas. I love shoes and I think that comes from skateboarding because you’re looking down all day. [When designing my OTW Mary Jane Elevate shoes] I would just ask questions and pitch ideas to them and they were down! A true blessing. It’s nice when someone or a company believes in you. It took a while [to design the shoe because] I would go in, research, look at all OTW Archives and text the OTW group chat at 2 am. I chose that shoe cause it was a class one and true to my personal style.
ItsGoldenPiece
Itsgoldenpiece
It’s truly a cultivation of passions because not only am I working at the intersection of sports and fashion, but I’m doing it in a field where women are leading the charge. It feels like a journey with limitless possibilities, especially when I see other women as hungry and driven to succeed as I am. I’ve always had a deep interest in sports — at one point, I almost majored in sports medicine and even considered becoming a brand developer for an NFL organization. That passion was always there, but I never knew how to merge it with my love for fashion. That’s why the chance to style Kalani Brown and Teaira McCowan was so special. It was the moment I could truly see both worlds come together, bringing everything I’ve loved into one tangible experience.
Amadi Brooks
Amadi Brooks
Amadi Brooks
Working at the intersection of sport and style feels like the perfect blend of my passions—a true testament to the fact that God’s plan for our lives is already written. I grew up playing sports my entire life and earned a full-ride basketball scholarship, but I was also blessed to have parents who encouraged me to pursue my interests off the court. The fusion of these two industries has been long overdue, and those gaps have driven my purpose. My initial goal was simply to find a way to help close those gaps, and now, I’m honored to be recognized as one of the trailblazers in the space of styling women athletes.
Cjay Syre
Cjay Syre
Cjay Syre
It feels good [to work at the intersection of sport and style.] Considering I played sports and didn’t necessarily care to make it to the next level because I liked creating and art. It gives me a segue into [sports] again, while being in it for a different reason. [Although,] funny enough, I never wanted to be a stylist. It was never [a thought] in my mind. I think the transition happened as soon as I moved to NYC. I think it was a bit hard to change my football audience to a fashion audience so, there were some low periods but that’s with anything. I learned a lot about myself and the certain will to win that I have in my head. A lot of ‘that’s weird’ or ‘fashion is for girls’ or in football team meetings saying ‘I want to do fashion,’ the whole room would turn around and look at you like you just mentioned a bomb was coming.
On their transition from one field to another and the motivation behind it
Tunde Oyeneyin
Tunde Oyeneyin
It was difficult because I was leaving [beauty,] something [that] I had loved for so long. I was turning away from security. I was moving away from something I was really good at in hopes of filling what felt like a hole in my life. I knew I couldn’t allow fear to steer. I couldn’t let it hold me hostage so I leaned into uncertainty. [But, I believe] movement should be as accessible as air. I think the more that people that look like us encourage people that look like us the more that people that look like us survive. Our health is everything. The way we lift up and support our loved ones and our friends the longer we are here to make an impact on the world together.
Cjay Syre
Cjay Syre
I graduated from high school early. I was in the class of 2019 and I left early with [the class of] 2018 to go practice early in college. During the entire time I played football, I’d always felt a disconnect. I think once you go D1, it’s not just about the fun of the sport anymore. Everything becomes [about] business, and I noticed coaches never really cared about your dreams and aspirations outside of sports. It’s like the schools want you to give everything but [receive] nothing in return. I remember as a freshman telling people who were sixth-year seniors, that only [knew] football, how much life there was out there to live [outside of football] and to make money.
I ended up dropping out of school because I didn’t think football was fun. I feel like school just teaches you how to work for other people, and my time in college taught me that I don’t work too well in systems. I dropped out and went back to St. Louis and started a warehouse job thinking I’m going to move to L.A. or NYC to do content. Six months went by and I was living in New York City. Keep in mind, I’d never even visited NYC, I just felt like I had seen enough for me to thrive here. There’s so much more to this story but I’ll cut it there.
On inclusivity in fitness and sports
Tunde Oyeneyin
Tunde Oyeneyin
I try to make everyone feel seen. I play a variety of music [in my classes], hopefully you know at least one song on the playlist, and if you don’t, then hopefully you find something you can shift your shoulders to. I’m known for being one of the more challenging instructors which can be intimidating especially for a beginner. I try to meet each member where they are at. I ask them to give “today’s best.” For me, your best is always good enough, even on your worst day. [During my sessions], I typically share [my Tunde-isms], thoughts or phrases that encourage me. Odds are if I’m speaking it, myself or maybe a loved one has gone through a similar experience. My hope is that someone on the other screen benefits from my experience.
Beatrice Domond
Beatrice Domond
[The skating world is] for sure, [more inclusive these days.] We’ve come a long way but definitely, there’s more opportunities for women and people of color in skateboarding. [The skating scene in South Florida] was just smaller, not as many skateboarders, not as many skateparks, so it was cool to come up here with likeminded people and get to see what [the scene] is like.
On styling WNBA and NBA stars
Amadi Brooks
Amadi Brooks
Amadi Brooks
Before A’ja [Wilson] and I started working together, I had styled a few of her Aces teammates, Sydney Colson and Jackie Young. One evening over dinner, she asked about my process as a stylist, and after a few conversations, we decided to work together. Having A’ja as a client has been a rewarding experience. She already had a strong sense of her own personal style and knew what she felt comfortable in, so our stylist-client relationship was very collaborative. I’ve shared many milestones with A’ja, including styling her for the book tour of her New York Times Best Seller. We spent time brainstorming creative ways to style a 6’5” athlete in a sporty yet feminine aesthetic that felt trendy, authentic, and uniquely her — A’One.
Styling athletes comes with its own set of unique challenges compared to other celebrity clients — especially when it comes to sizing, scheduling, and truly defining an athlete’s personal style. For many of my athlete clients, this is often their first time exploring fashion and style on their own. When the fashion world isn’t always catered to their body types, the process of discovering and experimenting with different styles can feel frustrating. As a stylist, part of my job is to help open their minds and shift their perspectives on what it means to “get dressed.” It’s a challenge, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when they start to embrace fashion as a form of self-expression that goes beyond the game.
Cjay Syre
Cjay Syre
Tyler [Herro] and I have a really good relationship in my opinion and in [some] ways I think we’re really similar. We’re the same but [our relationship] is not transactional. He really likes clothes so it makes it easier. [I don't have to] pull teeth to try to get him out of his comfort zone with fashion. It literally took two days [for him] to adjust. We hang out and workout together when I’m in town. Our girlfriends are friends too. I think [to successfully style athletes] you have to actually know your client, which is why I make it KNOWN that our relationship needs to be more than ‘Hey what do I wear today’ and then we never talk or see each other until the next game.
[With high fashion styling] there’s some differences but I [also] think they are one and the same. During fashion week, the things that you’re buying/pulling are from the brand so you have to curate looks specifically with one brand. I honestly believe that NBA Tunnel ‘fits are a [mode of] self-expression for the players and their “runway,” so the goal is to kill it every time but also keeping in mind they have over 82 runways. All in all, my job is to elevate the outfits so, I think there’s a certain switch that stays on just form[ing] [ideas] around ‘why we’re getting dressed.’
ItsGoldenPiece
Itsgoldenpiece
Working with clients who are 6’7” really opened my eyes to how many brands aren’t tall-girl friendly. [However,] as a stylist, it’s all about problem-solving. There’s no challenge without a solution. There’s not much difference in styling athletes and celebrities. Both worlds move at a fast pace, with quick turnarounds, and you’ve got to stay on your toes no matter who you’re working with.
On their mission and how they aim to leave a mark in sports and fitness
Cjay Syre
Cjay Syre
I want to leave my mark by showing people you can thrive in this industry while still being YOU. I don’t think there’s much conforming you have to do if you stand tall on knowing yourself and your morals. I’m a straight Black male stylist, I have hand and neck tattoos, I like to wear baggy streetwear clothes. I’m not perfect, I cuss, I smoke. [I'm saying this all] to show [that] there’s PLENTY of things about me that have seemed to be a ‘no’ for a lot of people in the industry in the past but there are a lot of kids who look like me and want to be where I am. I want to be the [one] that [shows] you don’t have to conform to all [of] these rules and perfect standards to be in this field and thrive. I think that along with [my] community [and] the ideas I have for my brand, IDK New York, it will open up more opportunities.
Amadi Brooks
Amadi Brooks
I genuinely hope that the growing attention on the WNBA and women’s sports continues to shine a light on the incredible marketability of athletes across the board. My goal is to play an integral role in building intentional connections between brands and athletes — connections that set a new standard in the industry. This not only creates opportunities for Black creatives to showcase their work on major platforms, but it also helps Black athletes who are creatives themselves understand that there’s a life after their sport. It’s about paving the way for a smooth transition, showing them that they can thrive in other areas while still staying true to their roots.
Tunde Oyeneyin
Tunde Oyeneyin
My mission is to create a space for women to activate their full power. Both physical strength and their mindset. As a Black woman in this space, one that is historically dominated by white men, I understand the significance of my reach. It’s something that I do not take lightly. I’m motivated by the countless stories I hear every single day from individuals whose lives have changed simply by beating on themselves. Movement is medicine, breathing is medicine. Connecting the two enriches us not only through physical strength but also the energy we put into each day. Believing in yourself goes a very long way.
Beatrice Domond
Beatrice Domond
I hope kids can look at me and say, ‘I can do it too and do it.’ That’s all I hope for! Because they can! [With] faith, stillness and perseverance [they can.]
ItsGoldenPiece
Itsgoldenpiece
Lately, this has become my driving force—not to give up. I want to become a household name, someone Black creatives can look up to and know that these opportunities are within reach. The journey may not always be easy, but it wouldn’t be as challenging if there wasn’t something waiting for you at the end. I hope to leave a lasting mark through iconic looks and memorable moments that people will talk about for years to come. My skin may not define my success, but it will be a part of my legacy. And that is something to be proud of!
