Female Athletes like You’ve Never Seen Them Before: On the Red Carpet

There’s an old stereotype of female athletes being somehow less feminine than other women. But it’s an outdated way of thinking. And when you take a look at these female athletes, you’ll get the point.

When these women aren’t playing ball, snowboarding, running laps, or wrestling, they appear on red carpets in full glam.

Let’s see these photos already!

Maria Sharapova (Tennis)

Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova looked striking at this red carpet event. Sharapova is no longer a tennis player. She’s now a successful businesswoman who owns her own candy company, Sugarpova.

This photo was taken at the ESPY Awards, which is short for Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly. They recognize individual and team athletic achievements and other sports-related performances during the year.

Jennie Finch (Softball)

Jennie Finch, the softball player, was born and raised in California. She made a name for herself as the pitcher for the Arizona Wildcats. She also played in the US national softball team and excelled at every level in which she competed.

Of course, looking great on the red carpet isn’t hard for this softball player. She blended right in with her blue dress, high heels, and red carpet smile.

Paige Spiranac (Golf)

Paige Spiranac first got major attention for her looks, but fans quickly realized that they weren’t giving her the credit where credit is due. She’s also quite skilled on the golf course, too. She really knows how to send a ball into the sky.

Like all the ladies on this list, Paige is a double-threat and an example of how wrong it is to think that golfers aren’t great athletes. Maybe if we had more women like Paige on the grass, more people would tune into the sport.

Caroline Wozniacki (Tennis)

Danish tennis superstar Caroline Wozniacki frequents the top spot in women’s world tennis rankings. She’s also no stranger to getting stared at on the red carpet. This red red-carpet dress was from a couple years back.

Between 2008 and 2011, Wozniacki won the most WTA single titles of any other female player. In 2018, after being a runner up, she finally won her very first Grand Slam.

Anastasia Yankova (MMA)

Anastasia Yankova is a mixed martial arts fighter in the Bellator Fighting Championships. She’s currently one of the best flyweight fighters in the world.

It’s not every day that you see MMA fighters on the red carpet, let alone a bada$$ lady like Anastasia Yankova – a woman who could win against your boyfriend any day.

Ronda Rousey (MMA)

Love her or hate her, the former UFC champion and professional wrestling superstar Ronda Rousey knows how to get all eyes on her. She’s made a dent in the world of MMA, that’s for sure.

Her fame seems to get bigger and bigger every day. As fierce as she is, she knows how to look her best on the red carpet. She looks elegant and feminine as ever in this glamorous dress.

Anna Kournikova (Tennis)

If you think of any name in tennis, chances are you think of Anna Kournikova. The Russian-born tennis superstar stepped onto the court back in the day, changing the world of tennis forever.

Anna has been a star in the world of sports for a while now, and there’s no denying that her natural beauty helps her ride the fame flame. See her in her element on the red carpet.

Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

Simone’s Olympic stardom began when she was 19 years old. She had to deal with a huge amount of pressure at an age when most people just worry about not failing a college exam.

When many thought Simone would retire, she’s preparing for a comeback to the sport that she loves – gymnastics. She’s probably looking to go for the gold.

Candace Parker (Basketball)

Basketball is embedded in Candace Parker’s family. She’s the younger sister of Anthony Parker, the former NBA player. Before Candace, we never really thought about beauty and basketball going together.

Candace not only earned a number of college and professional accomplishments, but she also won the title of Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year twice.

Nastia Liukin (Gymnastics)

In the 2008 Summer Olympics, gymnast Nastia Liukin took center stage when she won the individual all-around gold medal. Nastia’s apple of talents didn’t fall far from the tree.

Her father, Valeri, was on the Soviet team which won gold in 1988. He also won a gold medal on the high bar. Her mother, Anna, was the 1987 world champion in rhythmic gymnastics.

Anastasia Ashley (Surfing)

American surfer and model Anastasia Ashley was born and raised in California. She started surfing at the age of just five. It led her to eventually earn her first major national title when she was 16.

Anastasia won many more awards and even showed up on our screens on an episode of ‘Hell’s Kitchen.’ A proud vegetarian, she supports organizations like PETA. Anastasia is 32 years old.

Barbara Blank (Wrestling)

Most people see women in WWE as the ones that stand on the side and add some sex appeal to the drama of the “sport.” Okay, so professional wrestling isn’t so much a sport as it is an aggressive soap opera.

But Barbara Blank (aka Kelly Kelly) is proud of her wrestling chops. Blank is also a model, actress, reality TV personality, and professional wrestler. She has a background in gymnastics as well as cheerleading. She was a model for Venus Swimwear and Hawaiian Tropic.

Urszula Radwanska (Tennis)

Polish professional tennis player Urszula Radwanska peaked at the 29th spot in world tennis rankings. She also has doubles titles from both the WTA and ITF tours to sit next to her four singles titles.

As you can see by her red carpet attire, she doesn’t just know how to play her cards right on the tennis court. She has skill in choosing clamorous outfits, too.

Miesha Tate (MMA)

The one-time fight star Miesha Tate retired from mixed martial arts not too long ago, but she still makes appearances on red carpets that bring with them a lot of ogling.

Miesha is a female athlete with a huge Instagram following, which doesn’t surprise anyone. She’s fiery and powerful. Who doesn’t want to see what she’s up to? It’s hard to believe that she used to knock people out for a living!

Laila Ali (Boxing)

If you’re Muhammad Ali’s daughter, you’re going to get attention. She did her best to fill her father’s shoes and became one of the most successful female boxers ever. She even finished with an undefeated record by the time she hung up her gloves.

She stayed in remarkable shape despite not getting the boxing workout she was accustomed to in the ring. She frequented the ESPY Awards red carpet in her career and even afterward.

Silje Norendal (Snowboarding)

Silje made quite a name for herself recently. The accomplished snowboarder competed in both the Winter X Games and the Winter Olympics, proudly representing her home country of Norway.

Silje competed in the 2018 World Championships, and the 25-year-old has a full career ahead of her. She’s married to Alexander Bonsaksen, the Norweigan hockey player.

Carmen Jorda (Racing)

The Spanish Carmen Jorda is a race car driver who could easily spend the rest of her days in front of a camera instead of behind the wheel. If this was the first time you saw her, you wouldn’t expect her to be a race car driver.

It’s almost a shame to think that she spends so much time all covered up in uniform and wearing a helmet, no? Maybe she’ll end up expanding her career and entering the world of Hollywood.

Camila Giorgi (Tennis)

This Italian tennis star may not have any Grand Slam titles yet, but Camila Giorgi is getting better every year. Six years after her first appearance a Wimbledon, she reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at Wimbledon Championships last year.

Giorgi has earned some great victories in her career. She’s already won against Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, and Caroline Wozniacki, to name a few.

Angela Ruch (Racing)

Angela Ruch is quite famous in the racing world. She and her twin sister Amber are the first twins ever to race in NASCAR’s top three series. Angela is Derrike Cope’s niece – he’s a famous racecar driver who won the Daytona 500.

Angela currently races her Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. She’s been quite a sensation in her early years and has earned a number of wins to her name.

Mikaela Shiffrin (Slalom)

Anyone who watched the 2014 Winter Olympics will remember what a major hit Mikaela Shiffrin was. She broke a record for being the youngest slalom champion in the history of the Olympics.

Aside from Olympic fame, she’s a well-known alpine skier. And when she’s not in slalom and skiing gear, she can be seen all dolled up on the red carpet. And she cleans up nice!

Danica Patrick (Racing)

Danica Patrick is a woman who crosses barriers. Even non-racing fans heard of Danica Patrick – the daring brunette who broke NASCAR’s gender barrier. Before Danica, the only people who heard of race car drivers were fans.

She’s one of the most famous female athletes for a reason; she’s actually an amazing driver. She retired in 2018 to focus on recording health and wellness videos. She has a podcast called ‘Pretty Intense Podcast.’

McKayla Maroney (Gymnastics)

McKayla Maroney isn’t the most decorated gymnast of her time, but she gained a lot of attention in her career. A lot of it was because of a certain smirk she would give, and her social media account full of lovely pictures.

No one can forget the famous “not impressed” face after she didn’t get the gold at an Olympic event. She since moved on and is now working on a new career in music.

Paula Creamer (Golf)

If you’re wondering who the best female golfer was, it’s probably Paula Creamer. She’s something of a pioneer in the golf world because of her ability to dominate on the course and also turn heads.

She even brings everything to her red carpet appearances, like her winning smile and glow. She’s certainly a female athlete to remember. This dress is a far cry from traditional golf attire, that’s for sure.

Ellen Hoog (Field Hockey)

Field hockey isn’t as mainstream as the other sports in the United States, but athletes like Ellen Hoog represent the sport pretty well. She gives a face to the somewhat unknown sport.

Ellen is from a Dutch family and proves to us that you don’t need to show too much skin in order to turn heads on the red carpet. This field hockey player is nothing short of classy.

Gabby Douglas (Gymnastics)

Another woman who stole the headlines in the 2012 Summer Olympics is Gabby Douglas; a true history maker. She was the first African American in the history of the Olympics to become an individual all-around winner.

She also does a lot of community and charitable causes while still finding time to star in a reality TV show. Douglas is hoping to dazzle at the Tokyo 2020 games.

Eugenie Bouchard (Tennis)

In the world of tennis, Eugenie Bouchard is seen as a fierce competitor, but on the red carpet, her fierceness remains in terms of her style. She really cleans up nice after a tennis match!

The 24-year-old Canadian didn’t win a Grand Slam contest yet, but it’s only a matter of time until she becomes number one. She definitely has a long career ahead of her.

Lolo Jones (Bobsledding)

Lolo Jones, one of the most successful Olympic athletes in recent years, achieved such success in one of the most dangerous winter sports: bobsledding. And I gotta say, I would never have guessed that this bombshell bobsleds!

You need to keep cool to succeed in the sport, but she heats things up when she glams herself up and heads onto the red carpet. She can work it like no other.

Alex Morgan (Soccer)

The US women’s national soccer team is, no doubt a force to be reckoned with! Team USA ruled the international scene for the last two decades, and Alex Morgan is a huge influence on the team’s success.

The striker scored almost 100 goals for her country. They won the World Cup in 2015 and was a runner-up in 2011. And she’s only in her 20s! So you can imagine what the future holds for her.

Heather Watson (Tennis)

Those female athletes who seem to wear killer dresses on the red carpet – their sport is definitely tennis. Tennis has been home to some of the most striking athletes around, and Heather Watson is one of them.

Here she’s got a “girl next door” smile and stylish green dress that can be said to be a little unorthodox. Check out her amazing shoes, too. Only a tennis player can pull those off!

Sally Fitzgibbons (Surfing)

The surfing world has some red carpet beauties, too. Sally Fitzgibbons, for instance, knows how to strut down the red carpet. Her dress is literally sparkling, to match her smile.

The Australian-born surfer is in the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour. At just 14 years old, she started her career by winning the ASP Pro Junior open. By 16, she was already representing Australia in sports like touch football and running.

Alana Blanchard (Surfing)

Here’s another wave-making surfer to add to the list of red carpet attractions. Take a look at Alana Blanchard. She doesn’t only ride Mother Nature’s biggest waves; she can also steal hearts.

Surfing is a dangerous sport, so she’s also pretty bada$$. Blanchard makes it look so easy, though, which is anything but fair! Blanchard also ventured into modeling, promoting Rip Curl swimwear.

Chelsea Pezzola (Golf)

The golf course also attracts some glamourous women, and Chelsea Pezzola is one of them. She’s been a major powerhouse on the golf course for years and doesn’t shy away from the cameras.

She totally rocks her dress. More than just gold skills, this young woman also has killer fashion sense. When she’s not knocking out hole-in-one’s, she’s walking down red carpets with style.

Gina Carano (MMA)

Before Ronda Rousey took over MMA fame, there was Gina Carano. She raged some unforgettable battles in that cage. Battles that people are still discussing today.

The former MMA fighter is now an actress, so getting red carpet opportunities are a lot more frequent for this fierce lady. And we can see that she didn’t face any ill effects from her cage fights.

The Bella Twins (WWE)

The Bella Twins bring strength and some diva-ness in the WWE. Their debut was in 2007, and the twins have been stunning audiences since. Both of them have awesome fashion sense.

Brie and Nikki have gone past wrestling and into modeling and even acting. But they’re are always loyal to the WWE and make appearances on the show.

Becca Longo (Football)

Becca Longo made history as the first woman to earn a football scholarship to an NCAA school. This will definitely change the name of the game. She rose to fame when she went to Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona.

While the young athlete hasn’t exactly gone down a red carpet yet, she’s been interviewed by the news and is expected to make great things happen. You’ll be seeing more of her.

Becky Lynch (WWE)

Becky Lynch is known for rocking the WWE ring and kicking some serious butt. She made her professional wrestling debut in 2002 and has been on fire. She’s originally from Ireland and only got into the WWE recently.

The diva became an instant hit due to her amazing skills. She likes to create a fury on the red carpet, too. The sky is bright in this young lady’s future. Maybe even a championship victory.

Tori Bowie (Track and Field)

Track and field gets some famous names floating around in the mainstream. And there’s no track and field star quite as huge as Tori Bowie. She runs tracks and wins medals all over the world.

She’s from a small town of Sand Hill, Mississippi and is rocking the red carpet in a fashionable way. It looks like turning heads doesn’t just resort to the track.

Michelle Waterson (MMA)

Michelle earned the nickname “The Karate Hottie” and garnered a reputation in the UFC as one who knows how to look fantastic while also inflicting pain on her opponent.

There’s also a lot going on in her life outside of fighting. She made various TV appearances, participating in ‘American Ninja Warrior.’ She was also in the music video for the first single of the metal band Megadeth’s album Endgame.

Antonija Sandric (Basketball)

Sandric used to be known by her maiden name Antonija Misura. She’s one female athlete in the basketball industry who’s seen it all. And she’s only 30 years of age.

Sandric played for Croatia at the international level, but her finest hour came in 2009. She helped her country win the bronze medal in the Mediterranean Games in Pescara. NBA player Nate Robinson said she is “the most beautiful woman basketball player ever to lace up some sneakers.”