5 Beauty Buys Olympic Star Suni Lee Swears By
Including the nail extensions that keep her podium-ready in the least amount of time possible.
If you’re into gymnastics, there’s no doubt in our minds that you’ve heard of Suni Lee. Standing out for her dazzling routines and exceptional skill, her relentless drive has brought her to the Olympic world stage twice: winning big in the Tokyo and Paris games. Knowing from childhood that she had her sights set on being an Olympian, Lee’s dedication to her sport could not have continued without the support of her community.
We’ve seen the superstar’s grace, power and determination on the floor, but we’ve also noticed her top-tier makeup and skincare routine. From her perfect manicure to her makeup (which does not seem to budge one inch) Lee is a true beauty icon in our eyes. Most recently, she’s partnered with Kiss, a leading brand in the nail space, to get her looking the best in the least amount of time possible.
“I’m enjoying some much-needed rest right now, but I’m looking forward to building my brand on and off the competition floor,” says Lee, who won gold and two bronze medals at the 2024 games, making her one of America’s most decorated gymnasts in Olympic history. “My mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of young girls and women, and to be an advocate for rare diseases and mental health.”
Below, the gymnastics star tells Hypebae about how her life has changed since winning gold in Tokyo, her self-care must-haves, and her favorite, performance-first beauty buys.
On her journey to becoming an Olympic gold medalist
I started gymnastics at the age of six, in my backyard. I had a natural gift that my family identified from that age, and I was fortunate in that they did everything they could, along with our greater community, to help me pursue my dreams. I always knew that I wanted to be an Olympian. I knew that I had to dedicate all of myself to this dream, and that’s exactly what I did leading up to Tokyo. Winning gold was obviously a hugely pivotal moment in my life, but I think the most impactful moment came a couple years later when I got sick. I was told I’d likely never do gymnastics again.
That moment was a defining moment in my life. I made a decision at that point that nothing would stop me from achieving my dreams, which at that point was making a second Olympic team. I pushed through some of the darkest and hardest times in my life these past few years and, even though there were times when I wanted to give up, I didn’t. I held on to that dream and made my second Olympic team.
On how her life changed after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Everything changed after Tokyo. All of those years of hard work and dedication manifested in a way that I was never truly envisioning, and I’m so grateful that the sport I love has allowed me to have these experiences and opportunities. Professionally, I was able to begin my life as an entrepreneur, working with some of the most incredible brands and getting involved in some of the causes that I care deeply about.
That was also the year that NIL came into play in the NCAA, so unlike the athletes that came before me, I was able to “go pro” while also being a college athlete. On a personal level, I think a lot has stayed the same, though. I’m a private person at heart, so I like to keep a close circle of great friends who have been with me through everything. I’m truly so lucky to have the most incredible support system.
On her self-care and beauty routine
I’m a huge beauty junkie, and I think that self-care is an essential element of mental health, so both of these things play a huge role in my daily routine. Whether I’m preparing for a competition and doing my makeup myself (that’s a superstition of mine), doing my own manicure with whichever KISS Salon X-Tend design I’m in the mood for (I usually opt for French tips) or doing a face mask at night while journaling, I think these little things that we do for ourselves are so important. Beauty and self-care are little happy moments we can give ourselves throughout the day.
On what inspires her the most
My teammates are some of my biggest inspirations in life. What each of them had been through to get to Paris was such a journey, and they are all just such special people.
@sunisalee_3 medals laterrr & HEAVY on the tweet and deleters😂❤️♬ original sound – XXL
On her favorite beauty icons
I really love Hailey Bieber’s approach to beauty. She always lets her natural beauty and skin texture shine through while being playful with colors and trends.
On being a role model
I think it’s so important to lean into things that are uniquely you, the things that make us different from each other. I love my heritage and the Hmong community, and I hope to carry those traditions with me wherever life takes me.
It’s important for young girls to see people who look like them represented across all arenas. It makes you think, “Oh, she’s like me and I can do that, too.” I think a lot of changes have been made in the past few years, but we can always be pushing for more diversity, demanding it even. I think it’s important to talk about representation in the context of sports, too.
We’ve seen this revolution in women’s sports where it’s like, yeah, of course everyone is watching women’s sports because they’re amazing. Women can do so many things, and so many hard things. We can be moms and businesspeople and athletes and we can care about fun things like beauty and fashion and that doesn’t make us any less serious. In fact, it makes us more interesting.
On her top 5 beauty and wellness products
From her Kiss Salon X-Tend Nails to her signature Got2B Glued Blasting Freeze Spray, Lee lets us know what it takes to look and feel like a gold medal.
KISS Salon X-tend Nails
Salon X-tend is a huge favorite of mine because they are lightweight, comfortable and long-lasting (up to two weeks) which is so convenient when I’m practicing and competing. It’s convenient to be able to do my manicure at home and not have to worry about scheduling an appointment at the salon, giving me more time back for practice or myself.
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Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve in Citrus Sunshine
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Make Up Forever Anywhere Caffeine Extreme Waterproof Lip Liner
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Got2b Glued
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Jo Malone Scarlett Poppy
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