“Don’t know what they were thinking”: JuJu Watkins once talked about her parents’ plans to make her a model instead of a star hooper

Paris recently welcomed the NCAA back to the Adidas arena for a double-header. This year’s two thrilling matchups showcased the athletic prowess of Juju Watkins and UCLA. Watkins led her USC team in a nail-biting game against Ole Miss, marking her first competitive match in the French capital.

Beyond the court, Watkins recently sat down for an exclusive chat with sports journalist Ari Chambers, where she opened up about her journey in basketball and her parents’ original plan for her to pursue a career in modeling.

During the interview, Chambers asked her, "How did we go from runways to courts?" To which Watkins replied:

"I don't know what they were thinking, honestly. They were like, you're going to get somebody punched in the face."

She added, "I guess it was just the genes I have. Born this way. I guess, born a little baller, so it was just an undeniable thing."

On the court in Paris, the 19-year-old star delivered a performance with a score of 27 points. She secured 10 rebounds, made 5 blocks and dished out 4 assists, propelling her USC team to a tight 68-66 win over Ole Miss.

Following Watkins’ game, UCLA took the court in another high-stakes match against Louisville. This sealed a victory over the Cardinals with a final score of 66-59.

Juju Watkins' venture is spreading beyond the court

Besides Watkins' basketball career, she is also expanding her influence to new arenas, which includes a partnership with NYX Professional Makeup. This collaboration marks a historic step, as she becomes the first female college basketball player to represent a leading makeup brand.

This partnership with NYX isn’t their first foray into supporting women in sports. Over the past year, the brand launched the inaugural cosmetics sponsorship of the WNBA’s New York Liberty and the NWSL’s Angel City Football Club. Watkins, in an interview, shared:

"I am thrilled to partner with NYX Professional Makeup to help further amplify their mission to inspire beauty enthusiasts around the world and embrace their own personal style."

She also said:

"NYX is all about breaking boundaries and celebrating individuality, which resonates deeply with me both as an athlete and as a person. I'm looking forward to working with a brand that embraces creativity and encourages everyone to feel confident in their own skin."

NYX’s General Manager, Yasmin Dastmalchi, said that JuJu's spirit, talent and commitment to excellence make her a perfect pick for our brand.

Watkins also gave her commitment to people through her charity, "Good JuJu." That's where it aims to support young basketball players from her hometown of Watts in South Central Los Angeles and across the region.