American gymnast and KISS ambassador, Sunisa Lee shares her beauty inspirations, mantra, and her favorite thing to do before a competition.
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“I’m obsessed with anything beauty,” exclaims Sunisa ‘Suni’ Lee. Glowing skin. Glossy nails. And fluffy lashes. Even while gliding through a routine on a vault or a bar, the American gymnast has a beauty look that is equally stunning to her performance. A peek at the now viral photo of the 21-year-old athlete kissing a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, shows how the athlete wins with a perfect manicure and perfectly-set makeup.
At a recent press event with KISS Nails, the decorated Olympian took time out of her busy schedule to share her love for beauty and how it prepares her for the pressures of performing on a world stage.
How A Love Of Gymnastics Began
Barely into her 20s, Sunisa is a highly decorated gymnast and 2x Olympic Gold Medalist. But, her career in the sport began at a young age- tumbling into tables and lamps. “As a kid, I was always tumbling around and eventually my mom got sick of me breaking things at home, Sunisa explains. “So my dad built me a beam and then my mom decided to take me to gymnastics. From then on, I’ve never been able to be away from it. It’s been my passion ever since.”
Passion is what fueled her desire to balance school while competing around the world and overcoming obstacles along the way. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunisa was sidelined due to an injury in 2020 only to compete and win a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games (held in Tokyo in 2021). In 2023 she was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease that forced her to opt out of the world championship team. “There were so many times when I thought about quitting and just giving up because I was so sick,” the athlete said to Today. But, thanks to a support group of doctors, coaches, and teammates, Sunisa was able to once again pursue her passion and compete in this year’s Olympic games. “I knew that this was something I wanted.”
The Role Of Beauty In Competing
“When competing it’s so important to have our artistry represented across all points of my performance- whether it’s my outfit, my nails, my lashes, my choreography.” Sunisa shares how her beauty routine prepares her for the bars. “Getting ready for a competition is probably one of my favorite things- making sure everything is on fleek. I want to make sure that I feel my best before I go out there and compete and that I’m representing my personality.” The Olympian also shares that she loves to tie her look together by matching her nails or lip color to her leotard.
Like every beauty maven, Sunisa has her go-tos and favorites. Hailey Bieber is her current beauty inspiration. “She’s so dewy, glowy, and natural,” Sunisa says of the inspirational beauty look. Must-haves in her beauty arsenal include a dry shampoo, a setting mist to keep her makeup in place all day long, and a nude lip liner. Her fluffy lashes come courtesy of lash extensions and her nails are quick press-ons from KISS. “I love nails because they allow me to express myself in a fun and creative way,” Sunisa says. “I love that I can change up my look to match my mood or an outfit.”
But, as an athlete experiencing long days of training and competing, Sunisa admits that her look is simpler at the moment. “Right now- less is more. I’ve been going with a minimalist makeup look and focusing on my skincare.”
Strengthening Self-Care And Mental Health
“Staying mentally strong for me, is definitely a practice.” Sunisa shares how overcoming obstacles, gliding through long training days, and competing aren’t simply about being physically fit. It requires mental clarity and endurance as well. “It’s been a long journey making sure my mental health has developed and I’m able to compete in these big meets,” she says. “I journal a lot. I visual. I have these things I say right before I compete. And, when I compete it clicks when I’m on the apparatus. It’s good to be a good headspace when I’m up there.”
In addition to mantras, journaling, and visualization, the athlete has also learned how to avoid putting excess pressure on herself and to feel good about her performance. “My mantra is ‘Nothing more. Nothing less.’ Your average is good enough,” she explains. “I actually believe that what you do every day is what you get in the competition. So every day I step into the gym and I give 100% of my effort and that’s what I’m going to get in the competition because that what’s I give every time.”
