Gabby Thomas knows a thing or two about speed, success, and the spotlight. The owner of three Olympic gold medals has been the buzz on and off the track. However, when Vogue released its Winter 2025 issue, featuring her alongside WNBA sensation Angel Reese on its cover, it perhaps didn’t move the needle. Track enthusiasts did not receive it well, as Thomas had wished.

Instead, the whole moment turned controversial instead of being celebratory. Fans called out everything from the wardrobe to the photography. This was not a moment of basking in the glory of high fashion. Rather, Thomas found herself at the center of an unexpected backlash.

Gabby Thomas and Angel Reese’s fashion takeover hits a snag

The cover was one of those necessary moments for Gabby Thomas. It was about going the whole nine yards to prove that. And that just like a basketball or football star, a track and field sensation deserves their due respect in high fashion. After all, many former and current athletes have taken this path. And it includes names like Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Sha’Carri Richardson.

They all have made statement after statement with raw sensuality on and off the tracks. For Thomas, this seemed like a natural progression. Already, she was dipping her feet into high-profile fashion events, presenting last year’s award for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. And with three Olympic gold medals secure in her kitty, she sought to make a mark off-track.

Meanwhile, Angel Reese had already been a style icon in women’s basketball: “Bayou Barbie” was the brand she’d long since built off of flawless glam, flashy outfits, and unapologetic confidence. When Vogue announced that both Thomas and Reese would be featured on the Winter 2025 cover, it seemed like the perfect moment for sports and fashion.

Vogue has certainly had its share of controversies regarding placing athletes on its covers. From Serena Williams’ 2018 cover felt the image played into racial stereotypes—to Angel Reese’s own Vogue feature in the past, sparking debates about whether mainstream fashion platforms truly understand and represent Black women in sports. The magazine often finds itself squarely in the middle of criticism. But with Thomas and herself on the cover now, fans are way beyond critiquing photos. They’re second-guessing creative direction altogether.

Fans react, WTF is this?

One fan didn’t mince words, posting, “I’m so proud of her, but WTF at everything about this picture?” That seemed to be a prevailing sentiment on social media. And a lot of people just felt the styling and photography were a letdown for Thomas and Reese.

Another fan chimed in, “So much wrong with this photo.” But what did go wrong? The blame wasn’t on Thomas or Reese themselves; rather, it was the creative direction of the shoot.

“I bet it was one Anne Lubitz or whatever; she did crap with Simone, Zendaya, and plenty of others—well, made them look crazy.” This reaction moved the blame around to Vogue for its creative team. To some, even this was partly about a pattern of racist styling of black female athletes.

Another fan seconded the criticism, writing, “Credit to Gabby for making it onto the cover. No credit to the wardrobe or the photographer? WTF is this?.” The consensus? Viewers felt that the execution did not represent Thomas’s and Reese’s charisma and athleticism.
Still, with the negative came some who continued to clap for Thomas’ break into fashion. One fan, though grateful she at least tried, appeared to still be disgruntled by the outcome: “Not nearly justice for this lady, but well done.”

But more than that, it also speaks about how black female athletes are styled and presented in sports media. The greater question is who dictates and directs such style and presentation and how, when, or whether those being represented feel accurately reflected in what ultimately ends up in front of readers and viewers. Fans, mostly, thought Vogue had blown an opportunity to celebrate Thomas and Reese in a way that truly mirrored their power and personality.

But Gabby Thomas isn’t slowing down. On the track and in front of the camera, she proves she is more than just an athlete. She’s a brand. And Thomas is ready to carve out her space in fashion. Even if fans don’t receive it well. Sports stars are increasingly stepping into high fashion. And with this, the line between athlete and influencer is blurring. But for now, fans are just hoping that next time, the execution matches the talent.