MANILA, Philippines — Filipina tennis star Alex Eala stepped into the fashion world as she attended New York Fashion Week for the first time, taking a front-row seat at the Tory Burch show alongside Anna Wintour, Amanda Seyfried and Lauryn Hill.
Eala, who has been increasingly embracing fashion alongside her rising tennis career, described the experience as "exciting" in an interview with "Cultured" magazine.
“I’m so excited, I’m a little nervous. There are some amazing people in this room, so I’m so happy to be a part of it," Eala shared in the interview posted on Instagram Friday (Manila time)
The appearance comes as Eala’s interest in fashion has gained increasing attention. Wintour, "Vogue’s" global editorial director, recently singled out Eala during a US Open interview, noting the young Filipina’s enthusiasm for fashion and the growing connection between sports and style.
“I think it’s really interesting, especially when you look at players obviously like Serena [Williams] or Naomi [Osaka] who really embrace fashion and express themselves with it,” Wintour said. “And we had the young Filipino star. You know, you could see even in such a young star how interested she is in fashion and how she wants to learn about it and follow it, and I think it’s great.”
Eala has also named Maria Sharapova as her tennis style icon, telling "Vogue" that she admired Sharapova’s fashion, while also citing Chris Evert, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
At the Tory Burch show, Eala said she has long viewed fashion as another avenue for self-expression, much like tennis.
Asked by "Cultured" what connected sports and fashion for her, Eala said, “Sports and fashion are common in a way where you get to express yourself, and you get to, you know, show your personality.”
She acknowledged, however, that she was still learning her way around the fashion world.
“Sports is very physically demanding, and fashion... Maybe come back to me after this week, and I’ll know more about it," she added.
Her connection to Tory Burch also had a personal element. Eala recalled growing up with her mother wearing the designer’s shoes.
“You know, my mom growing up really had a lot of Tory Burch shoes, so I have to say the shoes,” she said.
The tennis star’s fashion journey has increasingly included Filipino touches. She previously said that incorporating elements of Filipino culture into her wardrobe allows her to pay tribute to her roots while also expressing her personal taste.
