Gabby Thomas explains why she was 'terrified' of interviewing Nicki Minaj at Vogue's Forces of Fashion event

American sprint standout Gabby Thomas recently reflected on being scared of interviewing the Trinidadian rapping icon Nicki Minaj during Vogue’s Forces of Fashion event. She confessed to being nervous about asking her questions in the wrong way.

After wrapping up her 2024 season at the Athlos NYC in September, the Harvard graduate dove into the world of fashion, where she made appearances at high-profile events like the New York Fashion Week. She also collaborated with Sports Illustrated for their upcoming swimsuit issue.

Additionally, Thomas had the opportunity to be on the other side of the microphone, where she had to interview celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Victoria Beckham for Vogue’s Forces of Fashion event. Reflecting on the same, Gabby Thomas said (via Ali On The Run Show podcast on Apple Podcasts):

"I had no idea what to expect when I got there, and they [Team Vogue] said OK, well, you're going to be interviewing Victoria Beckham and Nicki Minaj, and my mouth dropped. They didn't give me any interview questions; they didn't give me any tips on how to get their attention; they just said, Here's your microphone, and there they are, so I was terrified," she said. [29:58 onwards]

"But I did it, and I was really scared of Nicki Minaj. I was like, I thought I might ask a question the wrong way or something, but I had so much fun as it was really outside of my comfort zone," she added.

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"Mine is a really classic style" - Gabby Thomas shares insights on how she styles herself during race days

Gabby Thomas at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Source: Getty)

In an August interview with Vogue, Gabby Thomas stated that what she loves most about track and field is the liberty it offers athletes to express their authentic selves and style themselves however they choose.

"What I love about track and field is that style and personality are kind of embedded in our culture. People can express themselves - they can wear their hair how they want, their makeup, their jewelry," she said.

"I think mine is a really classic style, and my partner Omega really complements that. At the final I chose to wear my Constellation watch, which I love, and it’s also gold. I thought, I’m going to manifest this gold medal right now and put on this gold watch. It’s definitely my vibe. You look good, you feel good, you run good!" she added.

Gabby Thomas claimed three gold medals at this year's Paris Olympics by standing atop the podium in 200m, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay events.