Cameron Brink has added another dimension to his already illustrious resume by appearing on the cover of Flaunt Magazine.
The LA Sparks rookie was featured in the Canadian publication’s Gold Standard issue and modeled various pieces for designer brands such as Versace, Alexander Wang and Dolce & Gabbana just weeks before suffering a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.
“I want to be both masculine and feminine. It depends on the day. There are many days where I embrace it, but there are also big parts where I really identify with my femininity.” “It’s a big step forward,” Brink said in a wide-ranging interview.“I love wearing heels, putting on make-up and doing my hair. The process of looking good, feeling beautiful and feeling confident is very important to me.”
“It’s a hot topic in the basketball and sports world, honestly, because there are a lot of people who think women shouldn’t wear makeup when they play basketball or sports. And you know me, I pretty much wear a full face. I don’t think I need makeup, but I love it and I feel like I’m the best version of myself when I wear makeup.”
The shoot sees the 6-foot-3 women’s basketball star posing on the beach and leaning against a car, with intimate close-ups adding to the appeal.
Brink gave her followers a sneak peek at the shoot on Instagram on Monday, and her fellow WNBA stars gave her loads of gusto in the comments section.
“Die, rumble,” Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese commented, adding a heart emoji.
Throughout the interview, the former Stanford University star spoke about the lessons she’s learned since joining the WNBA and how she’s juggled being a professional basketball player while also pursuing off-court activities.
“To be honest, it’s hard to cover living expenses on a female basketball player’s salary, especially year-round,” said the 22-year-old. “That’s why endorsement deals are so important and I’m so grateful for the brands that I work with, because that’s what makes up the majority of my income, not my basketball salary.”
Following the 2024 WNBA Draft, the debate over the pay disparity between WNBA and NBA players has been heating up, with the salary of Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, this year’s No. 1 overall pick, sparking much of the discussion.
Amid the salary negotiations, the WNBA has experienced a surge in viewership and popularity.
“This is groundbreaking. It’s really exciting and honestly the first time we’ve seen this much attention on women’s sports and women’s basketball, but we’re excited about it and we’re hopeful that the momentum will continue,” Brink said. “I do worry that people will fall off the bandwagon.”
Brink suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a game against the Connecticut Sun on June 18 but is currently on the mend.
The injury came just days after she was selected for the USA Women’s Basketball 3×3 National Team to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The three-time Stanford All-American averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists during his rookie season with Los Angeles before the injury.
“I will not give up and I will continue to love this life. I am not defined by basketball, but it is something I love deeply and I will work every day to get it back,” Brink said in a statement on social media following his injury.
For Brink, the high fashion shoot with Flaunt wasn’t her first experience in the modeling industry.
She appeared in a campaign for Kim Kardashian’s Skims underwear line in May, along with other WNBA stars Candace Parker, DiJonai Carrington, Kelsey Plum and Skylar Diggins Smith.
