Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce, affectionately known as the “Pocket Rocket,” is a living legend of track and field, celebrated not only for her astonishing sprinting prowess but also for her unshakeable resilience, humility, and community spirit. Rising from humble beginnings in Kingston’s Waterhouse neighborhood, she became the first Caribbean woman to win Olympic 100m gold in 2008 and later defended that title in 2012. At the World Athletics Championships, Fraser‑Pryce is the only sprinter to win five world titles in the individual 100 m (2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2022), and yet when she enters the track, it is not her speed that they only look for; it’s her hair as well.
Now, retirement inches closer for the Jamaican legend as each day passes. Tokyo might be her final run in the yellow and green for one last time. But throughout her career, she has been a statement with the wigs she has donned. From sun yellow to teal, she wrote it all. But there was a meaning behind all of it. With her track coming to an end, she has confessed to it.
“I want to make sure that I’m enjoying the moment,” she said in an interview with Marie Clarie, “so for me, I plan my hair. I ship my hair, if I have to. I buy the color. Sometimes I do it myself.” Over the years, Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce has truly made the track her runway, rocking everything from daisy-filled green braids in Beijing to rainbow wigs in Doha and bold Jamaican colors in Eugene. Whether it’s hot pink, turquoise, or orange, each look brings flair, pride, and a little magic to every race.
She also said that there’s another layer to her hair choices: representing where she’s from. “I’m from an inner city, right? So they’re known for styles—like big earrings, gold teeth, different wigs, and colors. That’s how they represent,” says Fraser-Pryce. She was born on December 27, 1986, in Kingston, Jamaica, specifically in the Waterhouse inner-city community. Waterhouse, in inner‑city Kingston, is a powerhouse of creativity—birthplace of reggae and dancehall legends like King Tubby and Beenie Man. Its streets pulse with music, bold fashion, unity, and gritty resilience despite ongoing social challenges.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY: August 21: Shelly-Ann Fraser- Pryce of Jamaica preparing for the Women’s 100m Semi-Final heat one during the World Athletics Championships, at the National Athletics Centre on August 21st, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
The wigs are not just a part of her fashion statement but also a part of her cultural identity, a way to carry a certain piece of her home with her when she travels to distant lands. Interestingly, Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce is not the only one to do it. Athletes before and after her have been practicing the same thing.
Sha’Carri Richardson and FloJo are part of this list
Florence “Flo-Jo” Joyner wasn’t just the fastest woman in the world back in her day; she was a force of style, power, and change. With three golds, two silvers, and world records still unbroken since 1988, her legacy goes far beyond medals. Flo-Jo brought glamor to the track, turning heads with her four-inch patriotic nails, dazzling jewelry, and unforgettable one-legged racing suits. She took track and field off the sports page and onto the front page. She brought in more people wanting to know more, not just about her but also the sport, as her beauty in sports revolutionized the game forever.
One of her most memorable looks was a four-inch, star-spangled set that paid tribute to Team USA, which she proudly wore while winning medals at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. She consistently wore jewelry on the track, bracelets, earrings, defying traditional sports. Sometimes referred to as one‑leggers, her custom racing suits had one leg longer than the other, often made from lace or vibrant fabrics. She went on to inspire Sha’Carri Richardson. “Flo-Jo’s influence on me definitely comes from her creativity and her freedom to express herself in a way that no other female athlete has ever done. Showing beauty, yet being able to show hard work,” Richardson said in an interview.
She carries her legacy forward with her nails and her hair. From 2021 to 2023, Sha’Carri Richardson turned her hair into a bold form of self-expression. She debuted a fiery orange wig, famously tossed it mid-race to reveal braids, and later rocked blonde, blue, and sangria-red looks. By 2023, she had box braids and natural curls. Her long stiletto acrylic nails, often adorned with gems, charms, flames, and patriotic motifs, became a signature part of her identity as well.
At the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, she debuted a bold “bougie” set with baroque red, gold, and black gems over zebra-print and airbrush design. Her nails continued to dazzle through Tokyo Trials, World Championships, and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she wore richly decorated pieces featuring neon flame art, gemstones, and national flag themes. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
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