Gold Medal-Worthy Fashion and Beauty Moments at the Paris 2024 Olympics
This summer, France welcomed athletic powerhouses from around the world to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The quadrennial event marked the 33rd Olympic Games and was held across seventeen cities in France (plus one in Tahiti, French Polynesia). The European country and its overseas territory hosted forty-five disciplines, including breakdancing and sport climbing — new Olympic sports.
Staunch sportsmanship and record-breaking moments kept viewers glued to their screens. However, not everything was about the sports. Fashion, beauty and even celebrity cameos also created a steady buzz.
As the event comes to an end, Team EnVi recaps some of the best outfits, makeup, hair, nails, and tattoos spotted at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Mongolia’s Team Uniform
In the lead-up to the Olympic Games, each participating nation revealed their national uniforms. Team Mongolia made waves online with their exquisite couture. The uniforms, created by Mongolian brand Michel&Amazonka, were a reinterpretation of traditional Mongolian attire. The design inspiration comes from the opening of Mongolia’s National Naadam Festival. Each kit included a standard base, a decorated vest, footwear and jewelry or accessories. Every piece was intricately decorated with traditional embroidery, including the falcon from the Mongolian army’s flag.
Thomas Ceccon’s Curtain Bangs
Italian swimmer Thomas Ceccon was one of the breakthrough athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In addition to his impressive sports accolades — he earned a gold and bronze medal and is now a world record holder — Ceccon made rounds on the internet with his take on one of the buzziest men’s beauty trends: piecey curtain bangs. During 2024, the trend dominated men’s hairstyling on the runways, red carpets, and now, the poolside.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Thom Browne Fits
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo attended several Olympic events as part of their Wicked promotions. The stunning duo debuted several one-of-a-kind outfits during their Paris tenure, courtesy of New York-based label Thom Browne. Grande attended the opening ceremony in a custom dusty rose midi dress with a satin finish. The otherwise monochromatic pink look was broken up with white detailing in Grande’s heels and Oxford Colorblock Mrs. Thom Tiny Bag. Meanwhile, Erivo watched Team USA compete in an Artistic Gymnastics event in a preppy green ensemble. The actress wore a pastel green long-sleeved collared top, pleated black mini skirt and whimsical white footwear. No expenses were spared on details, which included a bold green striped tie, an Elfaba-approved manicure and countless pieces of jewelry.
Layla Almasri’s Bubble Braids
Palestinian-American runner Layla Almasri marked a new national record for Palestine at the women’s 800-meter round 1 heat. And the athlete did so, sporting the most charming face paint and bubble braids. Her Y2K-inspired hairdo bounced off of her shoulders for the perfect functional and cute beauty look.
Hair Pin Galore in Table Tennis
Throughout the games, table tennis players delivered lessons on how to style hairpins in the most subtle, but stylish ways. Chinese player Tung-Chuan Chien, for example, kept her hair out of her face with Chinese-inspired floral hair pins. Meanwhile, South Korean player Jihee Jeon and Japan’s Miwa Harimoto opted for pearl accessories. The players further enhanced their hair buns with colorful scrunchies and bobby pins for the perfect Olympic hairstyle.
Yeji Kim’s Steampunk Look
Since Yeji Kim stepped out in Paris for the 10m air pistol event, she has drawn eyes from all over the world. The South Korean sharpshooter took the internet by storm with her ice-cold aura, steampunk eyewear — which serves the practical purpose of increasing visual focus — and monochromatic dark athleisure. Her Fila-branded gear combined with her “main character” energy, earned her all sorts of praise and recognition in the media. The most notable part of her look, however, was a simple accessory. During the competition, a small elephant plush toy, which belonged to her daughter, was attached to Kim’s waist as a lucky charm of sorts.
Şevval İlayda Tarhan Colored Braids
Another shooter making style statements at the Olympic Games was Şevval İlayda Tarhan. The Turkish athlete won a silver medal for the 10m air pistol mixed team event, alongside the viral sensation Yusuf Dikec. Tarhan sported a hip-length braided hairstyle during the competition. Her hair featured a handful of red and white braids — Turkey’s colors — for a touch of playfulness and national pride.
Queen Saray Villegas’ Back Tattoo
Colombian cyclist Queen Saray Villegas was just shy of winning the bronze medal at the BMX Freestyle Park event. The BMX star still caught online attention and sparked Colombian pride with an Olympic diploma and talent to spare. Why is she on our list? For having the coolest expansive tattoo on her back.
Rebeca Andrade’s Glam
Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade made gymnastics history at the Paris 2024 Olympics. For her women’s floor routine, where she took the gold, Rebeca stood out with her stylish outfit and elaborate glam. The gymnast’s beauty look included a braided updo, a glossy lip and metallic and black graphic liner that matched the color of her bodysuit. The Olympic champion won her sixth Olympic medal and now reigns as the most decorated Brazilian Olympian in history.
Estefanía Gómez Hurtado
Nail art reigned supreme at the Paris 2024 Olympics. From subtle nods to their nations to intricate manicures, athletes showcased their creativity and Olympic spirit on their nails. Team Colombia’s Estefanía Gómez sported one of the most iconic manicures at the games. The professional swimmer adorned her nails with the Eiffel Tower, her country’s colors, this year’s Olympic mascot Phryge and the Olympic logo.
Emma Chamberlain
Online personality Emma Chamberlain took to Paris for the Summer Games with Polo Ralph Lauren. Celebrating Team USA ahead of the Olympics, the label released a collection featuring the recognizable Polo Bear decked out in red, white and blue. Accordingly, Chamberlain showed her support for Team USA in Polo Ralph Lauren looks, including an archival peplum jacket with statement buttons that reflected the grandeur of the Opening Ceremony. She also opted for a dressed-down look at a separate event, wearing a navy tank top and pleated skirt. At yet another event, Chamberlain sported a race jacket over a white outfit, paired with dainty heels.
The Brazilian Gymnasts’ Self-Designed Uniforms
When the Brazilian team won bronze in the artistic gymnastics women’s team final, more than their performance made them shine. Rebeca Andrade, Jade Barbosa, Lorrane Oliveira, Flavia Saraiva and Julia Soares stood on the podium clad in elegant dark blue leotards designed in-house. Barbosa, who has designed her own competition attire for over a decade, has participated in creating the Olympic team’s leotards since 2018. The four-time Olympian creates each design in collaboration with Tennessee-based company Ozone Leotards.
The leotards worn at the finals were arguably the team’s most sophisticated. Each piece’s deep blue base and yellow rhinestones were a nod to the Brazilian flag — even the glittering details reflected the scattered constellations that decorate the flag’s center. Andrade and Saraiva wore a yellow version of the leotard, also designed by Barbosa, for the women’s all-around final.
Simone Biles’ Viral Touch-Up
In one of her many viral Paris 2024 moments, Simone Biles was spotted touching up her makeup during the artistic gymnastics women’s team final. Standing off the floor, Biles cleaned up her makeup post-performance with the Fenty Beauty Invisimatte Instant Setting and Blotting Powder. NYX Cosmetics’ Professional Slim Lip Liner Pencil also made a cameo before Biles went on to win gold.
The American gymnast shared her pre-Olympics beauty routine on her personal TikTok in a Get Ready With Me video. Some of Biles’ go-to products include tarte’s Maracuja Creaseless Concealer and Maneater™ Silk Stick Bronzer, NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer, Benefit Cosmetics’ Hoola Matte Bronzer, One/Size by Patrick Starrr’s On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray and Ben Nye’s Final Seal Setting Spray.
Athletes and Celebrities’ Pin Collections
You probably have never heard of them, but pins are the Olympics’ unofficial currency — sort of. Every Olympic edition, athletes, delegations, journalists, and frankly any attendant trade pins specially crafted for the occasion by country delegations, sports federations and even individual athletes and celebrities — case in point, Simone Biles and Snoop Dog’s pins were the most coveted this year. The idea is to collect as many pins as possible and display them for everybody to see. Part Olympic tradition and part style statement, the most common way of wearing Olympic pins is to stack them on accreditation lanyards — but people have found more than one creative way to wear them.
Among the many celebrities and spectators, the likes of rugby Olympian Ilona Maher, gymnastics icon Simone Biles, American singer Snoop Dog and K-pop star Choi Minho received online attention for the custom pins they took to the Olympics to trade with fans and athletes.
Minho, member of the legendary boy band SHINee and a consummate sports enthusiast, was spotted exchanging personal and group-branded pins with fans and fellow South Korean stars, including actor Lee Dong Wook.
Aya Nakamura’s Look at the Opening Ceremony
The world’s most-listened Francophone artist, Aya Nakamura, set Paris on fire when she walked out of the Institut de France to the rhythm of her hit single “Pookie” during the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. The French-Malian singer made a strong statement, mixing her most popular music with the iconic “For me formidable” and “La bohème” by French-Armenian legend Charles Aznavour. The French Army Choir and the Republican Guard accompanied Aya as she walked down Pont des Arts (or Pont d’Aya, as fans have dubbed the bridge now), which connects the Musée du Louvre and the Institut de France.
For the big night, Aya was outfitted by the LVMH-owned French Maison, Dior. Her haute couture dress by Maria Grazia Chiuri reinterpreted one of the silhouettes from the Dior haute couture Fall Winter 2024 collection. The ensemble combined a corset and shorts entirely stitched with golden feathers hand-embroidered one by one by Lemarié artisans. The same embellishments adorned the costumes sported by Aya’s dancing crew.
Imane Khelif’s Headband
Argelian boxer Imane Khelif took the Olympic gold in the 66kg class after defeating Chinese athlete Lu Yang at the Roland Garros Stadium on August 9. Khelif made history, joining gymnast Kalia Nemour in winning an Olympic medal for Algeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But while much was said and written about her historic win, Khelif’s style didn’t go unnoticed.
In an Olympic edition with notable beauty and fashion moments to spare, Khelif took a rather nonchalant approach to hairstyling. During her first appearances in the ring, the Algerian boxer sported her hair entirely braided. However, in the next rounds, Khelif replaced the braids with sports-friendly elastic headbands. Yes, we know. Athletes wearing elastic bands is not exactly groundbreaking. However, in a year when elastic headbands have emerged as fashion items — and everyone is embracing the trend, from the runways of Tibi to the likes of Bella Hadid and Zendaya — Khelif’s headband moments were effortlessly refreshing. After all, there’s quite nothing as cool as an unplanned style statement.
If you’re still craving more style moments, keep scrolling to see an extensive gallery of (EnVi-selected) noteworthy fashion and beauty from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Thaisa Daher’s Quotable Tatoo
Alison dos Santos’ Purple Hair
Cynthia Erivo in Louis Vuitton at the Opening Ceremony
Flavia Saraiva’s Family Tattoo and Elaborate Hair Bun
Mekdes Woldu’s France-inspired Nails
The Beauty Game on the Women’s 100m Hurdles Podium
Guðlaug Edda Hannesdóttir’s Olympic Logo Nails
Emily Campbell’s Olympic Logo Braids
Cyréna Samba-Mayela’s Coquette Braids
Arianna Errigo’s Olympic Nails
Neisi Dajomes’ Red Graphic Liner and Matching Braids
Noah Lyles at the OMEGA House Paris’ Closing Night
Suni Lee’s Olympic Gear and Glam
Tumo Nkape’s Olympic Manicure
Kaylia Nemour’s Post-Olympic Glam
Yseult’s Dior Look at the Closing Ceremony
Angèle’s Coperni Outfit at the Closing Ceremony
Interested in more Olympic content? Read about the Lartn American and Caribbean Athletes making history at the Paris 2024 Olympics here.
