Kiami Whitfield spends her weekday afternoons on the football field under the scorching sun surrounded by a team of football players.
Her weekdays couldn’t be more different.
Kiami’s Saturdays are spent modeling for magazines, receiving PR packages and doing makeup.
A football manager by day and a makeup guru by night, these contrasts define senior Kiami Whitfield.
Kiami, 17, of Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City, tries to be versatile and unexpected in the eyes of others. Her love for all things beauty, her passion for sports and the contrast between the two is what she hopes will shape her future life and career.
While it may appear that beauty and football have nothing in common, Kiami says the two are very similar.
“Both require me to put myself out there, and I’m not going to go anywhere in modeling or sports if I just sit in a corner,” she said.
She believes that both connect her with others while giving her many amazing experiences.
Beginning at a young age, Kiami was always active; she did gymnastics, participated in volleyball and even played football. In addition to sports, she also enjoyed writing in all forms and exploring the fashion and makeup industry. To combine what brings her joy, she is currently a model and football manager, and aspires to attend OU to study sports broadcasting, where she can put her love of sports and being in front of the camera together.
“Broadcasting gives me the chance to be seen and recognized for my work even though I’m not able to play sports anymore,” Kiami said.
Although Kiami no longer plays sports, she loves the feeling of being part of a team and feels that the players on the football team are always there to support her.
In May 2018, an accident showed Kiami just how much they care. Kiami was involved in an accident near her school, with the other driver yelling at and blaming her afterward. Feeling helpless, Kiami saw 13 football players approaching to help and protect her, even before her first football game as their manager.
The team gives Kiami, who is the oldest of four girls, a different feeling of family.
“They’re like my brothers, when I need something they’re there,” Kiami said.
The team even spends time catering to her beauty-oriented and “girly-side,” getting manicures and pedicures with her without hesitation.
While these interests in modeling, makeup and football make her feel fulfilled, both come with their own challenges.
As a football manager, she finds people underestimate her and make assumptions about the opportunities she receives.
In the modeling industry, Kiami faces difficulty being 4’11” and a woman of color, where most models hired “aren’t below 5’7” and aren’t women of color,” she said.
Kiami uses these challenges to prove people wrong and gain respect for her aspirations of being involved in sports broadcasting.
Kiami’s work ethic and love for sports and beauty are what she hopes will take her far in life. Whether it’s helping prep football players, filling water jugs or doing her best friends’ makeup, Kiami dedicates her life to pursuing her interests in whatever way possible.
“No matter what I do,” she said, “if I trip and fall, I stand back up and try again.”
