Whether they are entrepreneurs, businesswomen or creatives, women play a pivotal role in shaping the fashion and beauty landscape. In our series “Words of Women,” EnVi highlights the achievements, goals and journey to success of women across fields and industries. In the latest installment, EnVi spotlights Olympian athlete, Layla Almasri. She talks representing Palestine, her Olympic journey and beauty staples on the track.
Palestinian American athlete Layla Almasri set a record for Palestine at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Olympian stepped onto the track with the weight of her country on her shoulders. What was once a far off dream became a reality for Almasri. Paris brought much success for the young track star, but it also gave her a platform to authentically present herself to the world.
Born in Colorado, Almasri grew attached to the track from a young age. The sport slowly became her livelihood and landed her a spot in the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs’ women’s cross country team. After graduation, Almasri received an invitation to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Her Olympic pursuit marked a pivotal moment in her life.
Almasri’s Journey To The Paris 2024 Olympics
Almasri broke records for Palestine at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but for the start of her Olympic journey wasn’t far off from her usual training. “I actually didn’t do anything different than usual,” she tells EnVi.
During the training season, the athlete and her coach were unsure she would participate in the Paris Games. Despite the uncertainty, she continued to practice her standard 5000 and 1500-meter events. Reflecting on that period, Almasri remembers being in a good place physically and mentally. “I ran great personal bests that season in those events and even without 800-meter specific training, I knew I was ready to run a solid race in Paris,” she says.
However, the Colorado native got the opportunity to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics under the Universality Qualification system. The system extends a hand to national Olympic committees with traditionally small parties. The rules made the 800-meter event her only option.
Almasri’s Olympic journey resulted in a new national record for Palestine at the women’s 800-meter round 1 heat. “It was definitely exciting!” she says looking back on the experience. “I had expected to run well under the previous record, based on where my fitness was, but it’s always exciting to add another national record to my resume!”
In the Right Headspace
The track star prepared for the Olympic Games as if they were an ordinary race. Visualizing the track and the race before it happened is a tool for Almasri. “It allows me to assess any scenario of a race and how I will handle any kind of race plan before it comes,” she explains. Almasri also fine-tuned her routine leading up to the games. Listening to upbeat music, eating healthy meals, and sneaking in a few episodes of Grey’s Anatomy helped her get on the right track.
Almasri didn’t forget her tradition — her pre-race checklist. “I know I could do it by memory, but checking off all the items I need before I head to the track helps give me peace of mind.”
Although the Olympic Games are the biggest sporting stage in the world, Almasri kept her nerves at bay. She focused on her main goal — representing Palestine. “I had no nerves knowing that my main goal was to raise the Palestinian flag and that I had the world standing behind me as a Palestinian,” she says. “I just wanted to make everyone proud during such a critical time in history.
Growing Up Palestinian American
“Growing up in the United States, but being so connected to my Palestinian roots sometimes left me feeling like I was stuck in the middle of two cultures,” Alamsri tells EnVi. Her parents are first-generation Palestinian immigrants and ingrained their culture into Almasri’s life in Colorado Springs.
In 2022, Almasri visited her parents’ hometown, Nablus, in the West Bank. She felt everything fall into place. “The kindness and warm welcome from not only my family in Nablus, but all the people who were just workers at the stores or servers at the restaurant really made me feel like I belonged,” she recalls.
The links missing in her life in Colorado finally became clear. From seeing her parents’ school to eating the local food, she soaked up each experience. Living the daily life of a Nablus native became an immersive and healing experience for Almasri.
Social Media as a Tool for Connection
Along with the lack of Palestinian people in her surroundings, Almasri didn’t recall having much exposure to AAPI athletes in Colorado. The lack of representation fueled her to use social media to reach out to the next generation of AAPI athletes. She regards social media as a power tool to create a butterfly effect of representation.
“The amount of young girls who have reached out to me, who are excited and inspired to pursue their sport, has been so special. It even extends beyond sport — to all endeavors. Younger generations can see the older generations become athletes, directors, lawyers, journalists, doctors and identify with the ones that look like them, grew up like them and see what is possible,” says the runner.
Finding community and inspiration from fellow athletes is a familiar experience for Almasri. Palestinian Olympic runner Hanna Baraka’s presence at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics showed Almasri that “it was possible to reach that stage.” The two have grown close over the years and are now big supporters of each other.
Representing Palestine
On and off the track field, and even from miles away, Almasri stands with her fellow Palestinian people. Since March 2023, Almasri has been registering under Palestine for her events. The athlete ran under the Palestinian flag at the 2023 Arab Athletics Championships, the Asian Athletics Championships, and the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
Most unsponsored athletes choose to participate as unattached, but Almasri took it as an opportunity. “When I choose to have the name of my country in the results or on my jersey, it continues to show the world we exist and are not going anywhere,” she says.
Concerned about the misinformation spread in the media, Almasri also feels empowered to share Palestine’s story from her lens. “It’s really important to convey a message and explain what is going on. Sometimes that comes in the form of press and media, but other times it just comes in the form of showing up as myself and letting my actions show the world what being a Palestinian looks like,” she says. “Upholding strength, resilience, and kindness. I’m so honored and lucky that I am in the position to be able to do this.”
Running Under The Palestinian Flag at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Growing up in Colorado with such a strong Palestinian culture gave Almasri a unique viewpoint going into the Paris Games. With a heavy heart, she focused on bringing hope and pride to her parents’ home country. “It’s bittersweet and painful to know I got to be in Paris while my brothers and sisters in Gaza were enduring so much pain, so the weight was heavy. But to witness their resilience and strength helped make me show up resilient and strong. Palestine is my hero, my hope, and my inspiration,” explains Almasri. “I may not live in Palestine, but Palestine lives in me. It is in my heart and my blood.”
As previously mentioned, Almasri’s main goal was to represent Palestine at the Olympics with a worthy performance. She used beauty as a tool of expression. In various event photographs, she was portrayed wearing the Palestinian flag on her face, a tradition her teammates would follow back in their college days. Once Almasri was en route to Paris, her friend gave her a pack of temporary tattoos in the shapes of hearts and Palestine’s colors.
That was when the Palestinian American athlete decided it was the right time to adorn herself with her family’s flag.
Beauty From The Inside Out
Throughout the Paris 2024 Olympics, Almasri sparked attention for those bold makeup statements and hairstyles. However, in our conversation, she stresses the importance of not only looking beautiful but also feeling beautiful.
Her beauty routine starts the night before an event, she says. “I think that a lot of people overlook the power of a good night’s rest. This is when our bodies recover from the day and can really make or break how you feel on a run.” She also emphasizes the importance of fueling your body with healthy, nutritious food.
Due to her profession, Almasri’s makeup routine remains simple and sweat-proof. She swears by any long-lasting setting spray to seal her makeup and follows with a glossy lip. “On the track, a good setting spray that keeps my makeup in place [is non-negotiable]. I’m in the market for a new one, so any suggestions are welcome!” she says breezily. “Other than that, my day-to-day life is generally the same. I love a good lip gloss, and my current go-to is the Kosas Wet Oil Plumping Treatment Gloss in the shade Unbuttoned.”
Style wise, the athlete holds onto one key fashion principle — authenticity. “[I like] being able to wear what feels good to me in terms of comfort and what represents my own personal style,” she explains. The runner is also big on accessorizing. “I’ll always have a cute pair of earrings in, and my go-to rings that I wear with every outfit”
Almasri became the queen of aerodynamic hairstyles at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite being recognized for her bubble braids hairstyle, she has sported various styles and experienced “a lot of trial and error.” Before getting creative, she always slicks back her hair (especially her baby hairs) and parts it down the middle. Her favorite product for this step is the Got2B Glued Styling Spiking Hair Gel. The template locks her hair in place, so she can stay focused on the game.After locking in her hair, Almasri taps into her creative side. “I always change it up, anything from a basic ponytail to a braided pony, or, like in Paris, bubble braids! I have even done just normal French and Dutch braids in the past too,” she tells EnVi.
Life After The Olympics
After flying home from Paris, Almasri settled back into her usual daily life in Midwest America. The athlete gained many followers and supporters online due to her Olympic appearance, which has been an adjustment for her. She also started to coach at her alma mater. Even though her life has relaxed, she teases, “I’m back to training and ready to chase some more personal bests this coming track season. Although I’m taking it a little bit at a time, I can’t say that Los Angeles 2028 isn’t in the back of my mind!”
Before wrapping up the interview, Almasri shares words of advice for the next generation of West Asian athletes. “I think showing up can speak volumes,” she says. “We have a place in sport, and a place in all spaces. I think that goes for all West Asian countries. Showing up can be the biggest way to enter ourselves into the conversation.”
She also encourages people to not be afraid of non-traditional pathways. “The opportunities for you are endless. Be brave. Put yourself out there. It may not be the traditional route but take it anyway,” she advises. Enjoy the process more than the outcome. The races/games/competitions are only a product of the day-to-day grind, and if you don’t fall in love with the process, you won’t ever reach the outcome.
Almasri has walked under the Palestinian flag for years, and she won’t be stopping anytime soon. Despite being across the world, she considers the Palestinian cause an unwavering propulsion for her career. “It has been a long, painful, and exhausting [year]. But we owe it to the people of Gaza to shake off the fatigue and continue showing up in whatever way you can. For some it’s donating, some of us it’s posting, some of us it’s protesting. Regardless of how you do it, just don’t stop.”
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