An ever-growing group of women athletes are breaking barriers and defying norms, becoming powerhouses in high-intensity sports. In a bold contradiction to long-held expectations of femininity, these trailblazers are redefining what it means to be a woman in an arena traditionally dominated by men.

Director’s Vision for ‘Clean Girl’

I’ve trained and competed in contact sports my entire life, and I’ve always been drawn to capturing movement, intensity, and strength on camera. When I began directing professionally, I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to land a sports spot. I wanted to create films and commercials that highlighted female athletes across different sports, but it often felt like sports, cars, and high-intensity work were reserved for the boys’ club, while female directors were given the softer, lighter commercials instead.

I’ve never been the type to wait for opportunities to come my way, so during a quiet stretch of work, I decided to make my own piece. The idea for the “Clean Girl” motif came from an online trend called the “Clean Girl Aesthetic.” If you look this up, it describes this aesthetic as a minimalist, understated style focused on looking polished, effortlessly chic, and healthy through simple fashion, natural makeup, and a well-groomed appearance. It emphasizes neutral colors, classic clothing, dewy skin, slicked-back hair, and delicate accessories.

I found this trend incredibly BORING. In my community, my culture, and among the badass women I admire, no one follows the “clean girl” aesthetic. They are bold, daring, and unapologetically different. Anything but neutral. I wanted to capture that energy through every detail: hair, accessories, makeup, nails. Anything but neutral. Anything but clean.