The Complete Transformation Of Simone Biles

Artistic gymnast Simone Biles will go down in history as a talented athlete with numerous Olympic medals, but more importantly, she will be known as the woman who changed the way we look at mental health and sports. Biles has always been true to herself — advice she got early on from her coach. "At one of my first World Championships, my coach said, 'Go make a name for yourself. You have nothing to lose, so go get it.' I would say that's the best advice I got," Biles told Elle in 2024.

And it was certainly advice that paid off. While her talent is undeniable, it has also been her transparency in interviews and her authenticity that made people across the globe relate to her. Speaking up about her mental health struggles, as well as the sexual abuse she endured, shed a different light on how the public views athletes. Thanks to Biles, they aren't considered as just ultra-talented and ambitious people who live perfect lives — instead, we now look at them as humans who have flaws and fight their own battles, all while trying to excel at their careers.

Born in Ohio and raised in Texas, Simone Biles began pursuing gymnastics at age six, when she discovered an affinity for the sport. Due to competitions and training, Biles was homeschooled during high school, something she admits was a sacrifice she had to make for her career. "I had to be homeschooled, just because if I ever went to public school, I would technically fail in the state of Texas for how many days I've missed for competitions," she told Refinery29 in 2016. "I missed it in the beginning. My ninth-grade year was really hard, watching all my friends go to public school and go to the dances, and then, obviously, senior year, everyone was talking about prom."

Even though Biles had to skip prom, she is no stranger to wearing fancy dresses. In fact, Biles admitted to Teen Vogue in 2016 that she actually styles herself for red-carpet events. "It's been a lot of fun to style myself for all of these events. I've had a number of designers reaching out about dressing me for the events I have [been] attending, and it's always super exciting to try on all of their incredible dresses," Biles revealed. In 2016, 19-year-old Biles not only wowed us all at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where she claimed an impressive five medals, but also released her very own autobiography, "Courage to Soar," in which she opened up about not only her life and her beliefs and passions.

Simone Biles has always been a great role model for young people, and in 2017, that only solidified. Biles — who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — began openly speaking about her health, breaking the stigma around athletes and mental health. "I think I'll be speaking a little bit more about [ADHD] because a lot of kids have it," Biles admitted (via Mid-Day). "They think of it as a disability, and I want them to learn that it's not. It's okay to be different because many smart and talented people have it, and they still succeed in life to the fullest."

In January 2018, Biles also opened up about being sexually abused by team doctor Larry Nassar. "Most of you know me as a happy, giggly, and energetic girl. But lately, I've felt a bit broken, and the more I try to shut off the voice in my head, the louder it screams," Biles shared on X, formerly Twitter, revealing her story as a survivor of sexual abuse.

Courageously speaking about what she has been through proved that Biles was not only brave but also ready to make a change in the world, ensuring abuse doesn't remain a taboo topic, especially in the world of sports.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Early on, it was clear that Simone Biles isn't your average athlete and that she was going to use her spotlight for matters much more important than gymnastics. In 2019, Biles revealed that she prioritizes her mental health and that therapy plays a major role in her everyday life as it helps her cope with the abuse she went through. "I go to therapy to help with that because there were times when I didn't want to set foot in a gym," Biles told The Guardian in 2019. "But am I going to let that keep me from my passion?"

Biles has also used her spotlight to empower other women, especially in sports — an industry that remains run by men. "It's important to teach our female youth that it's okay to say, 'Yes, I am good at this,' and you don't hold back," she told USA Today in 2019. "You only see the men doing it. And they're praised for it, and the women are looked down upon for it." Biles has been a major advocate for not only women in sports but in all spheres of life, always emphasizing just how crucial equality is for our future.

In 2021, Simone Biles withdrew from the Olympics due to "twisties," something athletes also describe as being "lost in the air." "Most people are like, Oh, well, that's not an injury, and mental health shouldn't be taken that seriously, but just because you can't see it doesn't mean [it isn't real]," Biles told InStyle in 2021. The withdrawal undoubtedly impacted Biles' career, but while she thought that she shunned by the country, the truth is that the public embraced her vulnerability in a way the star didn't expect.

Because she's an athlete, Simone Biles hasn't always been considered a fashionista, simply as fans mostly see her in her gymnastics attire. However, in 2021, Biles even got an invite to fashion's biggest night — the Met Gala. "This year, we had so many athletes that got to attend, and so I feel like that was really nice to be able to be recognized," Biles told ABC News. "But a lot of the people that I didn't think they would know who I was knew — it just shocks me because it's two different worlds like athlete, actors, actresses, celebrities, it's just so different." The athlete attended the prestigious event in a gorgeous 88-pound dress designed by the brand Athleta, a look that definitely made a big impact and certainly helped her become known in the fashion community as well. And while Biles loves dressing up for a fun night, the athlete is also known for looking gorgeous au naturel.

In February 2022, Simone Biles and her boyfriend Jonathan Owens got engaged, and the gymnastics star shared the news with her followers on social media, revealing that this was her "easiest yes." In April 2023, the two athletes tied the knot in a small ceremony, followed by a luxurious destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in May.

In 2023, Biles also collaborated with Athleta, the brand behind her 2021 Met Gala look. With Athleta, Biles launched the "Because I Can" collection, consisting of athleisure basics. In a 2023 interview with New Beauty, Biles admitted that dressing up helps her perform gymnastics better. "If I look good and I feel good I'll do better," she said. "I feel like I've gotten a lot better with age with my hair and makeup. We also have a designated braider on the team that helps us with our braids."

Passionate about spreading mental health awareness, Biles once again stressed the importance of seeking out help in her life. "I'm currently in therapy, seeing a therapist every Thursday for about 100 minutes, and that helps me so much to stay in the moment. I'm also a big advocate for medication. I take anxiety medicine, just because I feel that if you need an inhaler, you get an inhaler," Biles admitted. "So, it's something I personally need. I believe everybody deserves proper health care" Biles' transparency about living with anxiety and ADHD helps change the stigma surrounding athletes and mental health, something that is still a taboo topic for many.

Simone Biles — who is representing the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France — is a well-known athlete known not just for her gymnastics skills but also for being unapologetically transparent and shining a light on an industry that many don't know much about. Biles continues stressing that therapy is an important part of not only her life but also her athletic performance. "I am doing therapy weekly to keep everything in tune so that I feel comfortable and confident enough to be competing," the athlete told Elle in 2024. "It's been a crucial part of my training regimen."

"I understand and realize I have to take care of my physical appearance as well as my mental," she added. Biles also opened up about her hair, revealing that it was social media that taught her a lot about Black hairstyles. "We've been able to take care of our hair better and take care of our beauty routines better because it's self-taught," Biles revealed. "It's really special that we have access to those platforms. I'm finally learning to love my hair and the texture that I have and the styles that I can do." Now, in her late 20s, there's no denying that Simone Biles left a major impact not only on the gymnastics industry but also on sports in general. Her honest approach to her fans and the public helped open up a dialogue that was always stigmatized — and there's no doubt that this kind of change will impact the way athletes approach mental health in the future.