A lot has changed for Suni Lee since she stepped off the podium at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a bronze medal in the all-around and uneven bar finals. The 22-year-old gymnast is in the midst of a major life transition: stepping back from competitive gymnastics, moving from her hometown of Saint Paul, Minnesota, to New York City, and reinventing herself as a fashion and beauty influencer. She’s walked runways, posed for the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue alongside teammate Jordan Chiles, and now regularly shares GRWM videos with her followers.
But amid all the change, one constant remains: her passion for beauty. “I started getting my nails done and having a full beauty routine at 16,” she shares. Now, as she collaborates with brands like Tatcha, Make Up For Ever, Laneige, and Ole Henriksen, Suni champions affordable, drugstore staples over luxury hype. “A face full of drugstore beauty is refreshing to me,” she explains. “Just because something is super expensive doesn’t mean it’s good. You can find amazing products at Target or CVS. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars just because something’s trending on TikTok.”
The Beauty Routine That Keeps Her Grounded
For Suni, simplicity is key. Despite access to professional estheticians and luxury products, her prep routine is low-key. “I have really sensitive skin,” she admits. “I’m not really into facials. Every time I get one, my skin looks amazing for a day, then breaks out a few days later.” Instead, she relies on a collagen mask—specifically the salmon DNA type—and a depuffing gua sha routine before events. The night before a big shoot or competition, she does her gua sha, applies a mask, and goes to sleep. The next morning, she washes her face and lets her glam team do the rest.
While she enjoys makeup more than skincare, Suni’s routine is deliberate. “When I used 15 different products, my skin freaked out. Now I stick to three,” she says. She never skips moisturizing with Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream, a product she models for (she’s the face of the Tatcha Dewy Milk Moisturizer), and sunscreen. “Makeup always makes me feel confident,” she adds.
The Confidence Boost of Makeup
Suni’s love for makeup began with her sister, but it became an essential part of her identity during competitions. “Makeup makes me feel confident and pretty, and I usually have the best competition of my life wearing it,” she says. This connection between performance and appearance is something many athletes can relate to. She recalls wearing a red lipstick during a championship meet because her leotard was red. “From that meet on, red lips became my good luck charm,” she reveals. It worked: she wore red to Olympic trials, made the team, and then wore it again during all-around finals. Now she’s embracing red more often, breaking what she once called a “red leotard curse.”
Her go-to everyday look avoids foundation, instead using concealer all over. “I want my beauty marks to shine through,” she says. Her current favorites include Maybelline Instant Age Rewind under the eyes and Hourglass concealer for the rest of the face. She also relies on lash extensions for a confidence boost, especially since they speed up her routine to just three minutes. Taking them off can feel like an identity crisis, but she’s learning to embrace her natural appearance over time.
Embracing Natural Beauty and Mental Health
The pressure of having cameras zoomed in on her face at competitions has forced Suni to address unrealistic beauty standards. “It’s been a tough journey, but also amazing because I’ve learned to be confident in my skin,” she says. She underwent therapy and uses daily self-affirmations to remind herself she looks beautiful. “The cameras get me excited about my makeup now,” she says, reflecting a shift from anxiety to fun. She remembers when junior elite gymnasts were told to be serious and focused on the Jumbotron. “Now we want younger girls to see you can compete on the biggest stage and still have fun,” she emphasizes.
Mental health is a priority for Suni. Since moving to New York without her family, she’s leaned on journaling, close friendships, and daily calls to stay grounded. “A self-care day for me is a face mask, a bath, a good meal, and watching TV,” she says. She’s also taken up coloring to keep her mind occupied. “If I don’t, I just sit in my thoughts, which isn’t always best.” She sets small goals, like eating alone or taking a walk, to push herself out of her introverted comfort zone. Her favorite crime shows—You, Black Mirror, and Law & Order: SVU—help her relax. She even dreams of guest-starring on SVU.
From Minnesota to New York: A Style Evolution
Moving from the Midwest to New York has transformed her fashion sense. “In Minnesota, I wore baggy sweatsuits everywhere,” she recalls. “There’s no distraction, and I only trained, so why get dressed up?” Now, she finds inspiration in street style: “Everyone is so chic and timeless.” Her new uniform includes sweaters or cardigans with trousers and heeled boots. “In New York, you can wear heels to run errands. In Minnesota, people would think you’re trying too hard.” This newfound sense of style is a daily motivation. “I wake up excited to put on a cute outfit and go for a walk,” she says.
Travel has also broadened her horizons. Her favorite city so far is Medellín, Colombia, where she went for a gymnastics competition. “It was the most beautiful city,” she says. Now that her gymnastics schedule is lighter, she has time to explore. She’s excited about an upcoming three-week trip to Thailand with her sisters and best friends—a long-awaited family vacation she missed because of training obligations. “My parents have been four times, but I was never allowed to skip practice.”
Lessons from Teammates and the Future
Suni credits her teammates, especially Simone Biles, for practical beauty tips. “At the U.S. Classic, Simone was using a lip stain, and I thought it was genius,” she recalls. That tip helped her avoid dry lips during competitions because it “doesn’t come off ever.” She also embraces the camaraderie of trying new looks at the Olympics, letting their personalities shine through the cameras.
As she transitions out of elite gymnastics, Suni is focused on building a career in beauty influencing and modeling. She wants to prove that athletes can be multifaceted and that drugstore makeup can be just as effective as high-end products. “You don’t need to spend hundreds to feel beautiful,” she reiterates. Her journey from a small-town gymnast with big dreams to a confident young woman navigating a new city and industry is just beginning. Whether she’s doing a face mask, attending New York Fashion Week, or planning a trip to Thailand, Suni Lee is embracing every moment—with a red lipstick on, of course.
Source: AOL.com News