Sky Brown: ‘Gender equality means equal representation for women in every sport’

Sixteen year-old British-Japanese world champion skateboarder, Sky Brown, is anything but ordinary. She became the youngest professional skateboarder, aged 13, when she made Olympic history by winning a bronze medal in the skateboarding park event at Tokyo in 2021. Then, last year, she came back to reclaim the medal once again at the Paris games.

And if dominating one sport wasn't enough, she also has her sights set on competing in the surfing events, too, narrowly missing out on a qualifying spot by one place in the 2024 Olympic games. But, there's always 2028…

Away from sports though, the skateboarder has some tricks in her beauty locker as well as on her board. Despite keeping her routine pretty simple and glowy, she's picked up a next-level makeup hack for getting her lipstick to stay in place through thick and thin (see below) and has an edit of MVP makeup and skincare favourites that she swears by.

Now, she's teaming up with Chanel on the Rouge Coco Playground, a pop-up running for two weeks (from 21st-30th March in Covent Garden's Piazza) to celebrate freedom of movement, skateboarding and expression. Another accolade for the teen to add to her highly accomplished CV.

Below, Sky Brown spilled on the secret superpower she'd secretly love, her biggest beauty fail and where she'd be if she hadn't fallen into skateboarding…

I love it when I look and feel like myself when I skate…

My signature look is really simple. I like a glowy sunscreen base with just a touch of mascara (sunscreen really does make the best glowy base to any makeup look). My favourites are Shiseido, Raw Elements and Supergoop. I always finish with a lip and the Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lip balm in Honey Bliss is the perfect subtle shade to bring the whole look together. I love to have the ends of my hair curled with just a simple glowy makeup look. I love it when I look and feel like myself when I skate.

I want young girls to feel empowered to do what they love, regardless of who’s watching…

I always go out and do my best to stay focused on my training. I’m more focused on the other girls [than the boys in such a male-dominated sport], especially young girls, at the park because I want them to feel empowered to do what they love regardless of who’s watching and what they might think. Gender equality means equal representation for women in every sport and equal opportunity for anyone who wants to learn a sport to have access to do so. Women and girls should be equally uplifted by their peers, schools, and communities to try and succeed in sports too.

I try to focus more on what I am accomplishing and less on how I might look while doing it…

Everyone struggles with their skin from time to time, but I just try to focus more on what I am accomplishing and less on how I might look while doing it. A good sunscreen has always been a must for me since I spend so much time outside, so that keeps my skin healthy and happy. I keep my skincare routine super simple for a training day – toner, moisturiser and Vaseline on my lips, then castor oil on my brows and lashes. For hair, I make sure I condition really well before I surf so the salt water doesn't dry it out, but honestly I’ve been doing this so long my hair is used to it. I think passion is beautiful. When I skate and surf, I feel beautiful because of how much I love to do it. I also find beauty in the freedom I feel when I skate.

I have the best hack for making lipstick stay longer…

On set, I learned if you use a light layer of setting spray or powder between layers of lipstick, it stays longer.

Some people might think my wellness choices are crazy…

I love a nice cold ice bath, which some people think is crazy. And when I was working through my injury last year [Sky tore the medial collateral ligament in her knee], I went on a carnivore diet. It was intense, but I healed so fast.

I love trying new scents but I have a couple of favourites…

I love Chanel Coco Mademoiselle and Ariana Grande Cloud perfumes, they both smell amazing. When I compete, I just make sure I wear whatever my favourite scent is at that time, but I love trying new scents to change it up.

I try to focus on what I can control and keep myself prepared to stay calm under pressure…

It really helps that I love to surf and skate and both communities are really supportive, so I can just focus on being the best I can be. I love to listen to music to help put myself in the headspace for competition. I have a playlist on Spotify with some of my faves. I keep a balanced diet and eat a lot of protein so I can keep my strength up. I try and get lots of rest before a big competition, but I also practice as much as I can to get the tricks cemented in my body. Nothing feels better than accomplishing something I put my mind to – like when I land a trick I’ve been practicing and practicing.

My injury helped motivate me to keep pushing to be my best and never take it for granted…

[Sky had a life-threatening injury to her skull after falling from a halfpipe ramp the year before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.] Injuries can be really scary, but they are a part of the sport. My family and friends were by my side throughout my recovery and I couldn’t wait to get back on my board.

I'm super supportive of all of my “competition”, we're friends…

I think it’s important to stay focused on my performance and not compare what I can do to my peers because the way we each skate is a reflection of our personality. I am super supportive of all of my “competition” because we are all friends and all share a love of sport.

Flying would be my superpower…

I love to travel around the world and this would make it 10x easier.

If my beauty cabinet was on fire, this is what I'd be grabbing…

Chanel Rouge Coco Baume Shine lip balm, Supergoop Sunscreen and leave-in hair conditioner. If I have 15 minutes to get ready I'd add a quick swipe of mascara, a little blush, and my Rouge Coco Shine.

My worst beauty disaster was forgetting all my makeup…

Before a long trip once, I completely forgot to put my make-up and skincare bag in my suitcase. When I landed I realised I had literally nothing I needed.

If I wasn't a skateboarder, I'd probably be an artist or a dancer…

I’ve always been naturally drawn to ways to artistically express myself.