Sha'Carri Richardson has cultivated a style of her own over the years. It just so happens to captivate the masses, too.
Richardson struts to the starter block dressed to the nines, not only outfitted in her storied USA strip but also with elegant hair and, most notably, eye-catching acrylic nails.
Many in the sports world have dabbled in nail art in the past, including Angel Reese and Didi Richards. Few have adorned their talons in as much color as Richardson, however, who maintains her nails with the finest of potions.
How did such a fashion choice come to be? And what is the significance of Richardson's appreciation for acrylics?
The Sporting News has the skinny on all things related to Richardson's nail style.
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Sha'Carri Richardson fingernails, explained
Richardson is one of the U.S.'s most recognizable athletes. A big reason why is due to her acrylic nails, textured and lively, which regularly catch the camera's glare.
Richardson has sported a number of iconic styles, some scrawled with gold and gemstones, others more reminiscent of a flower.
She's been doing so for much of her collegiate and professional career. According to Richardson, her search for intricately designed nails is her tribute to a family tradition; Richardson's mother and grandmother also paraded meticulous nail looks when they were younger.
“My grandmother, my aunt and my mother all influence the beauty I exude to the world on a day-to-day basis, especially in big moments,” Richardson told Elle in June. “They kept their nails well-manicured. Hair was also something that I saw a lot of attentiveness to.”
Plenty of athletes have opted to drape their nails in various different pigments, including Duke's Jared McCain and Bears stalwart Caleb Williams. Unlike them, Richardson adds attachments to her look, increasing her nail's volume like few others.
In the world of track, there are numerous athletes who have turned their nails into mosaics. None have had the success of the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, however, who not only captivated audiences with her otherworldly speed but also her fashion sense — an element that included those lengthy nails.
Much like Griffith-Joyner, Richardson is a burgeoning fashion icon. And if she can reach even a modicum of Griffith-Joyner's on-track success, Richardson stands to become an even bigger star in the years to come.
For nail art enthusiasts, that can only be a good thing.
