Ellie the Elephant Gets Game Ready With Essie Nail Polish
Ahead of the 2025 WNBA season, the New York Liberty mascot is named the brand’s first-ever celebrity spokesperson.
To commemorate the launch of Essie’s newly reformulated gel range, the brand is teaming up with none other than the WNBA’s most beloved mascot, Ellie the Elephant — its first-ever celebrity spokesperson.
The perfect partner, Ellie’s always-on-the-go lifestyle demands beauty that keeps up without chipping, fading or slowing her down. Essie is also announcing that it is the first nail polish partner of the New York Liberty, 2024 WNBA Champion and the team that Ellie is a mascot for.
“Between rehearsals, performances and all my high-energy appearances, I’ve become one of the busiest, hard-working mascots in the game. I’ve always dreamed of adding the perfect set of nails to my game-day fits on and off the court. The challenge? Keeping them flawless through all the action,” Ellie said in a press statement. “Thanks to gel by essie, my nails are stronger than an elephant’s left stomp. Just like my game-day hustle — no chips, no quits, just high shine that lasts.”
Essie’s revamped gel line is game-ready and glam-approved — perfect for wear both on and off the court. With up to 15 days of chip-resistant color, long-lasting durability and a high-gloss finish, it delivers salon-quality results. For application, there is no UV lamp needed for curing and no base or top coat required, making it ideal for someone as hard at work as Ellie.
“Women’s sports are experiencing unprecedented growth, with the WNBA recognized as the fastest-growing brand last year,” said Zoe Housman, Head of Marketing and Strategic Projects US at L’Oreal. “As proud nail polish partner of the New York Liberty, essie is honored to champion this momentum and join the ever-growing fusion of beauty and athletics with this unique partnership.”
Ellie will steal the show in a continued campaign across essie’s and the New York Liberty’s social media channels, partnering with internet personality Tefi Pessoa. Expect to see your favorite mascot rocking her new favorite nail polish all season long.
For more beauty news, check out our coverage of Starface’s new “Big Pink” hydrocolloid patches.
