From winning a national championship ring, to becoming a Sports Illustrated swimwear model, the Bayou Barbie has 2023 by the reigns.
Angel Reese, the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player and star forward for Kim Mulkey's Lady Tigers, will make her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue debut next month joining the elite group of other female athletes to do so.
“Things have been super crazy, but I’m excited and blessed to be able to have these opportunities to just go out and being able to be who I am," Reese told SI.
The SI Swimsuit issue has been around annually since 1964 and is a catalyst for ensuring women in sports are seen and heard. It was initially created by the editor, Andre Laguerre, to fill the slow winter months, but it tackles more than just pretty women in swimsuits.
For example, the 2019 issue focused on diversity and inclusivity, while also tackling ageism, body image and the Me Too movement.
MORE: LSU's Olivia Dunne to make SI swimsuit issue debut
Dozens of Olympians, NFL cheerleaders and other athletes have also appeared in the magazine. That includes the likes of Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Ronda Rousey, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Lindsey Vonn. The 2022 issue included several WNBA icons, including Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, DiDi Richards, Nneka Ogwumike and Te'a Cooper.
Reese is the second college athlete to earn this honor. The first is LSU gymnast and social media icon Olivia Dunne, who is the highest-paid collegiate gymnast and second-highest-paid collegiate athlete in the world, according to On3, with an annual valuation of $3.4 million.
Reese is No. 10 on On3's NIL Top 100 list, and the top-paid women's college basketball player, with an annual valuation of $1.4 million.
MORE: Details on Angel Reese's NIL deals
Just before the 2023 Final Four, Reese had an NIL value of $392,000. After LSU won the title ring, her NIL value increased rapidly. She went up to $876,000 as of April 4 and $1.3 million on April 11.
On3 has Reese at a growth rate of 294 percent over the last 10 weeks.
SI reported that Reese was the most sought-after VIP at the LSU football spring game, a crowd that included Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Because of her newfound stardom, she decided to move her studies fully online for protection and safety.
Reese is using her confidence and competitive spirit, her passion and hustle, to bring as much attention to women's sports as possible. Whether that's through her on-court performance or her post-victory celebrations, the Bayou Barbie has certainly succeeded in doing so.
MORE: When is Angel Reese eligible for the WNBA Draft?
And Reese is hoping that her confidence and charisma will serve as an example to younger girls, as she outlined to Sports Illustrated.
Some advice for younger girls is just being able to be you and stand confident and stand your ground. I mean, I’ve always stood on not getting the answer ‘no’ or taking the answer ‘no.’ I’ve always just tried to find another way or just do it myself. My mom is very independent, and she raised two kids on her own, so I kind of get it from her. So just stay confident, be who you are, don’t ever let somebody tell you that you have to be in a box and just have great people around you.
"I’ve always stood on not getting the answer no,” she added. “I’ve always just tried to find another way or just do it myself. Don’t ever let somebody tell you that you have to be in a box and stand your ground."