American star Coco Gauff has recently been honored with the Style Influencer of the Year award at the 39th annual FN Achievement Awards. She accepted the award while donning Miu Miu’s elegant black dress with a halter neckline and black high heels.
Gauff impressively concluded her 2025 season by making her fourth WTA Finals appearance and winning the French Open title, as well as the Wuhan Open title, along with delivering impressive performances throughout the season.
Coco Gauff Accepts the Style Influencer of the Year Honour
The current World No. 3, who is well-known for setting fashion trends both on and off the court, was recently honored with the Style Influencer of the Year Award at the Footwear News Achievement Awards, also known as the Shoe Oscars, held in New York City, which she attended in a striking black dress, with minimal accessories.
In her award-acceptance speech, she reflected on the pressure that female athletes face and its limitations. Furthermore, she added that they are not allowed to show interest outside of sports, but over time, she has gained the confidence to grow in other areas, and that her sport is a part of herself, not her entire identity.
She added, as per Women’s Wear Daily, “Being a female athlete often means being told to stay in our lane, to focus on the sport and nothing else. But as I’ve grown in this sport, I realized that while it’s my passion, it isn’t my entire identity.”
She continued while sharing the significance of fashion in her life, “Fashion has become a way for me to express who I am beyond the court through what I wear, I get to show a side of myself that shouldn’t be defined by a box, a rule or an expectation. I love fashion because it gives you full permission to be creative and unapologetically yourself.”
While ending her incredible speech, Gauff once again reiterated her message for female athletes, sharing, “So thank you to the Footwear News for recognizing me with this honor, and I hope female athletes everywhere continue to embrace their authentic selves, no matter how others try to categorize them. Thank you.”
Throughout the year, Gauff was consistently praised for her excellent performances and stylish outfits, including those she wore at the Wimbledon Championships, the Cincinnati Open, and the US Open.
She also wore multiple outfits in collaboration between Miu Miu, an Italian high-fashion women’s accessory and clothing brand, and New Balance, which she has been promoting since 2018.
