I admire Ayesha Curry.
Ayesha is the kind of it girl who’s not just the wife of a popular NBA player (Stephen Curry), but instead, has made a name for herself and taken up space in cool, creative, and impactful ways. She’s more than a wife, a mother, a woman of faith, and a drop-dead gorgeous fashionista making all kinds of power moves. She’s redefined what it means to be something more than a professional athlete’s wife by using her platforms as an it girl to help change the world in some extraordinary ways.
She’s philanthropic. There’s nothing more rewarding than having the ability to give back and contribute to others in meaningful ways. And one of the ways Ayesha gives back is through philanthropic efforts such as the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. This foundation started up in 2019 and is a joint effort that she and her husband Stephen began together to make the future of children a little brighter. Their foundation serves communities and more by ensuring children can access healthy food choices, and reading resources, and by assisting in providing safe spaces for children to play and keep active. When I learned more about the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and how the lives of children and families could be changed through serving others, it motivated me to think about ways I can contribute and be a change maker in my community too.
She’s a multi-hyphenate mogul. Ayesha also happens to be known for her delicious cooking skills as a chef and cook show host, having her own cookware line, and lifestyle magazine (Sweet July). With all these things and more, she’s an entrepreneur and mogul juggling her endeavors while simultaneously solidifying her status as one of the most successful it girls in the game. When some think about what an average NBA wife may be like, she shatters any stereotypes that may come to mind because she’s a working woman who’s used what she enjoys doing and turned her passions into successful businesses. The work she’s doing models what women all over the world are capable of doing, whether they’re in a high-profile relationship or not. If you can figure out what you’re good at and passionate about, you too can transform your hard work into work that benefits you and others.
And she handles controversial moments (and her haters) with grace. While Ayesha is a successful and inspiring it girl, she’s endured plenty of criticism and shade throwing from different critics and internet trolls who have seemingly enjoyed throwing shade her way. She’s come under fire for sharing some of her personal opinions through different Twitter posts that have caused some heat (once about her feelings regarding what she felt was a rigged NBA finals game and another time for expressing her style preferences) and during the time she appeared on an episode of Red Table Talk and expressed how she felt about women throwing themselves at her husband while she received zero male attention. I’ve observed her responses to these different incidents and have seen her courage to remain vocal, clear the air, and show grace and understanding to her critics and haters by standing up for herself, and sometimes, choosing the high road by not responding at all.
Overall, I admire her work ethic and the contributions she continually makes. Ayesha's the kind of it girl this world needs more of and is a great example of how we can all change the world in impactful and meaningful ways.