There is no single definition of an athlete. No matter if you're a runner, dancer, or even just prefer a nice stroll, you need the gear to get you there. And if you're looking for inspiration to "do more," there's no one to better exemplify the idea than multi-hyphenate trendsetter FKA Twigs. As the creative director for Nike's new Zonal Strength Tights campaign, Twigs has created an inspiring new vision that unites Olympic athletes, dancers, and track stars alike.
"Since as early as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with training and taking classes. When I was three years old, I started taking dance classes at a local youth center and by the time I turned seven, I was training in six different dance styles."
Said Twigs in an open letter for the campaign, "When Nike reached out to me about collaborating together on this project, I saw it as an opportunity to inspire people who want to use their bodies in a positive way." Twigs goes on to share more thoughts about the intersection of creativity and athleticism. Watch her campaign video below, and check out campaign photos along with her inspiring quotes.
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"You have to be incredibly in tune with yourself and focused to be able to compete or create - vulnerability and strength have a lot to do with this."
"As an athlete, in your final moments of competition - everything you’ve done, everything your parents have sacrificed and everyone who has supported you are there in that one second. You have to accept your destiny and have both the physical power, willpower to do what you need to do."
"I cast a group of amazing people who take their physicality seriously and have their own sense of style, in order to push people to be healthy and understand, through any genre of sport, they can be the best versions of themselves."
"People don't always see dancers as athletes, but we are."
"As a dancer, I try to embrace my fragility and accept that where I’m at is good enough. Dancers are taught to always looking in the mirror, from an early age, making sure we have perfect alignment. There comes a point when you just have to let go and trust that you're going to get where you need to be."
"For me the dream is that you don't even realize you're working out. You're just doing you, and then the results come, and you value them as they're happening."
"When I'm dancing, I'm not thinking about working on my abs or my legs. But if I train hard, I feel so confident in my body. Just through training, enjoying music, being with my friends, and exploring my body, all of a sudden I feel stronger."
"Overall, dance makes you realize that there’s beauty in the imperfections. I think that's what can make it most intriguing for people to watch."
"I truly believe that success is when preparation meets opportunity. It’s the same with any creative endeavor or athletic journey."
"It's not about the moment you jump off the diving board. It’s not about any one beat you’ve produced. It's about the moments before that – the preparation is the training, the hard work and the opportunity is the moment you reach your fastest time, how creative you can be, or how good your beat is."
"Through dance and fitness, I’ve met young people who work really hard and have dedicated their lives to being physical. To me they represent 'modern movement,' which I define as exploring any genre of sport without boundaries."