Athleticism vs. Appearance: Prioritizing Talent Over Looks in Sports
BY CHARLEY SCHARF ’28
Professional athletes work incredibly hard, giving their all to compete at the top of their game. While sports have always been about skill and performance, recently people are paying more attention to how athletes look instead of how well they play. This has been especially true for female athletes, who face judgment about their appearance rather than gameplay. Professional soccer player Skye Stout and professional rugby player Georgia Evans, for example, have impressive records, but instead of talking about their skills, the public has been talking badly about their appearances. This negative focus has been detracting from these female athletes’ actual athletic achievements.
Skye Stout is a 16 year-old soccer player from Scotland. Despite the impressive accomplishment of earning a contract to play for the Scottish professional soccer club Kilmarnock, Stout wasn’t praised; instead she received backlash for her appearance–specifically her acne. Kilmarnock’s Instagram posts announcing Stout’s contract were flooded with negative comments targeting the appearance of Stout’s skin. On August 15th, 2025, Kilmarnock FC was forced to remove photos celebrating Stout’s signing because she was mocked by online trolls for her acne. Fans, journalists, and sponsors condemned the attacks, offering messages of support. Although Stout continues to prove her worth on the pitch–she scored a goal during her first game with Kilmarnock–she will forever be defined by her appearance. Stout’s signing was not a joyous celebration, but was instead marred by cyberbullying. Her name is associated not with her abilities or accomplishments on the field, but instead her appearance.
Similar to Stout, Welsh rugby player Georgia Evans has an international rugby career, yet is most known for her appearance on the field–specifically for wearing a bow and makeup during matches. Evans has received criticism for her feminine appearance, and was scrutinized on a larger-scale during the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Evans faced enough online abuse for her appearance that she responded on her Instagram. Evans said, “The bows in my hair, the tape around my arm, the eye lashes and full face of make-up that I choose to wear has no bearing on my ability, my passion or fight for this game.”
The scrutiny that female athletes face for their appearance is also seen in high school sports, as shared by Jericho High School Student athletes Taylor B. ’28 and Ethan R. ’28. When asked if, as athletes, they have ever been critiqued for their appearance on the field, their answers differed: female athlete Taylor said, “yes,” while male athlete Ethan said, “no.”
Like Welsh and Stout, even young female athletes at Jericho feel that their athletic performance can sometimes matter less than their physical appearance. “Sometimes, even without anyone saying anything, I feel judged on the field when I wear makeup. It seems as though people focus more on my appearance and what I’m wearing rather than how I actually play,” said Taylor.
All athletes, regardless of gender, should be evaluated based on their performance, skills, and dedication to their sport. As the sports community continues to prioritize appearance over athletic ability, it is important for fans and media to celebrate raw talent, hard work, and achievement.