Louisiana State University Lady Tigers forward Angel Reese took the world by storm earlier this year when she led her team to its first NCAA championship, walking away with the title of Most Outstanding Player. Her mid-game trash talking and big personality on and off the court only fueled her notoriety, earning her the nickname "Bayou Barbie," which she has since trademarked, and an estimated $1.6 million in NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals.
In fact, Reese's rising celebrity has made it impossible for her to live on LSU's campus like a normal college senior. In a new Teen Vogue interview, the 21-year-old revealed that she's since been forced to take classes online. Yet, it sounds like Reese is navigating her newfound fame with a level head, and remains pretty down to earth about it all.
"I don't feel like I'm a celebrity," Reese explained. "But I think a lot of people look at me as a celebrity now because of the impact I've had on not just women's basketball, but sports in general, and Black women. Things have changed for me."
"I didn't think I was going to be on Shade Room [the celebrity and trending news-based Instagram account] every time I post something," she said with a laugh, reflecting on the fascination surrounding her personal life.
However, she made sure to point out that while taking online classes is necessary to maintain some semblance of privacy, school is still her biggest priority. "School's first, basketball is next," she continued. "I wouldn't be here without school and basketball, so that's my priority."
Reese joins fellow LSU athlete and social media star Livvy Dunne in her switch to online education. Dunne recently revealed that she stopped attending in-person classes due to safety concerns.
As far as what's next for Reese, when she graduates LSU in 2024 her dream is to make it into the WNBA—which clearly, should be no problem for her—as she grew up watching the Washington Mystics play just outside her hometown of Baltimore. She hopes to be able to eventually earn enough to help her mother retire.
"WNBA players don’t make as much money as they should," she added. "Being able to grow this now, while I’m in college, and doing this now can help me when I go to the WNBA."
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/xkKeOcG
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