Rachel Stuhlmann struts by means of the US Open crowd with a assured smile glued to her face.
The tennis influencer is at house the star-studded match in Flushing — her favourite occasion — the place she turned heads in a fiery purple tennis outfit that featured a pleated mini skirt and a plunging crop high.
Stuhlmann skilled the US Open for the primary time on the age of 12, after she gained an essay contest explaining why Arthur Ashe is an inspiration to her — one thing she referred to as a “full circle second.”
Stuhlmann is on a mission to show that the game will be horny and relatable whereas remaining true to its longstanding traditions.
The 30-year-old performed tennis on the College of Missouri from 2010-’14, and earned a nationwide rating in each singles and doubles earlier than she transitioned to a profession in journalism. She works for Prime Courtroom, a tennis platform, the place she writes weblog posts and acts as a worldwide occasions and media supervisor.
Stuhlmann additionally has a profitable profession as a tennis influencer and media character, boasting over 150,000 Instagram followers. The 6-foot brunette has scored numerous model partnerships, together with Bodyarmor, Topgolf and DraftKings.
“I wish to convey consideration to this sport in a optimistic means,” Stuhlmann informed The Publish in an hour-long interview. “It’s humorous as a result of there are lots of women type of like me in golf, however there’s nothing actually intense in tennis. And I’m like, ‘you realize, you will be your self, you'll be able to look a sure means and nonetheless be enjoyable round this sport.'”
When Stuhlmann first started specializing in a profession as a tennis influencer three years in the past, she was admittedly “scared to be [herself]” as a result of there isn’t precisely a playbook for the function.
“I used to be like, ‘wait, I wish to do photoshoots and present that tennis is cool and that it may be scorching and enjoyable,'” Stuhlmann stated.
Stuhlmann travels to tournaments all over the world and creates content material on varied courts, the place she sports activities her signature look. The vast majority of her photoshoots embody native photographers that she books previous to touchdown of their metropolis.
Stuhlmann normally scouts native photographers within the cities she is touring to and contacts them through Instagram. She has entry to courts all over the world by means of her shut connections throughout the sport.
“I do know that what I’m doing is nice for the sport and I’m simply going to maintain being myself and maintain making an attempt to make the sport extra mainstream and relatable — be unapologetic,” Stuhlmann stated. “I really feel like I’m within the sport that has all the time been tremendous conventional, so I used to be a bit bit scared to actually be myself at first.”
Stuhlmann’s largest following is on Instagram, although she stated she’s engaged on constructing her Twitter (24.6k) and TikTok (53.7) accounts. She compares her journey — from taking part in her chosen sport to turning into a well-liked web character — to Paige Spiranac, who's a former golfer-turned-Instagram sensation.
“I actually like what she does in golf and in order that’s what I’m making an attempt to do in tennis,” Stuhlmann stated. “I really feel like I’ve been impressed for some time by Paige Spiranac. She posted a tweet that I might actually relate to:
“‘I was so apprehensive about being taken significantly and pleasing individuals who didn’t even like me. Every thing modified in my profession once I began having enjoyable with my content material and doing what I needed.'”
Stuhlmann stated she would love to fulfill the golf influencer and even be part of forces on a possible collaboration.
“I respect her a lot for what she’s executed for the sport. And I do know that we've got lots of mutual pals,” Stuhlmann stated of a doable introduction. “Somebody informed me that she needs to play tennis. I wish to play golf. I’m like, ‘I gives you classes.’
“Paige does her factor with golf and she or he’s an incredible particular person to hunt inspiration from, however there’s nothing prefer it in tennis. And so I simply really feel like for me, I might like to maintain bringing consideration to all of the totally different tournaments I wish to journey to. My major targets are to make the sport extra mainstream and relatable. So no matter aligns with that, I’ve all the time stated sure to opportunity-wise and throughout the sport and simply maintain creating content material across the sport, get folks enthusiastic about it, present them the totally different life tales across the sport and in a optimistic means. That’s what I wish to maintain doing.”
Stuhlmann, an Missouri native, is considerably of an area superstar when she’s again house within the Midwest. When she’s not touring the world to amplify the sport of tennis, Stuhlmann enjoys drawing and attends church each Sunday.
“Household is essential. I really like hanging with my siblings [she’s a triplet!} and my dad and mom. I really like hanging out with pals and attending sporting occasions,” she stated. “It’s like my favourite factor ever is dressing up in heels and a bodysuit and going to a sporting occasion.”
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