Fast and Fierce: Is the World's Fastest Woman En Route to Being One of Its Most Fashionable?

Give me a workout session, but make it fashion. That’s what Olympian Tori Bowie did for fashion site Coveteur, which covered the world champion runner in a fashion-fueled stretch, pose and sprint session just prior to her appearance on the red carpet as one of Sports Illustrated’s Fashionable 50 on July 12.

The 27-year-old Bowie, who was also featured in Vogue’s July issue, tells Coveteur she’s “just a country girl from Mississippi.” But despite her humble beginnings as a foster child eventually raised by her grandmother in the small town of Sand Hill, she wears Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Louis Vuitton and Chanel like a highly-seasoned high-fashion model, sporting a chic short natural styled by celebrity artist Corey Tuttle.

Bowie, who earned gold (for the 4 x 100), silver (for the 100-meter) and bronze (for the 200-meter) medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, was crowned “the fastest woman in the world” at the 2017 World Championships after placing first in the 100-meter dash; a feat she seems to have found even more validating than her medals.

“I always felt like I was the fastest, even though the results never showed it and I never got the gold medal [laughs]. But I still felt like that in my heart,” she told Coveteur. “I told myself, ‘I’m going to continue to do this until I get that title.’ Now I have it, and it feels amazing.”

But aside from her literally fast-tracked career as a professional runner, we’re also intrigued by Bowie’s growing fashion chops. In addition to her honor from Sports Illustrated, in 2017, she modeled for Valentino’s 2018 resort campaign. At the time, she told InStyle that her style icons included Rihanna, telling the magazine, “When you look at her style it’s always something very, very unique. She puts a touch of the modern and classic mixed with the throwbacks. It’s always fun watching Rihanna dress.”

Now, Bowie’s getting into the fashion game as an entrepreneur, launching a line of headscarves inspired by the ones she wears on the track. While it’s too early to divulge too many details, she tells Coveteur she won’t be using silk, as it’s too slippery for competition. “I finally found my stitcher, which was the hardest part,” she tells the site.

But through it all, Bowie remains humble, with plans to continue competing and to mentor kids who, like herself, have spent time in foster care. Because while life has certainly gotten bigger for the track star, she’s never forgotten where she comes from.

“Life is still the same,” she tells Coveteur. “I feel like I’m more comfortable now ... but for the most part my life is the same. My grandmother is my heart... I have the same friends ... I’m just a country girl from Mississippi.”