Meet LSU’s 6ft 3in ‘Bayou Barbie’ who is raking in the cash with massive NIL deals

Get ready to meet March Madness’ most lucrative new star – LSU’s 6’3″ ‘Bayou Barbie,’ who has become a social media sensation and has raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars thanks to her massive sponsorship deals, all while dazzling with her impressive basketball skills.

Angel Reese, 20, has captivated the world both on and off the court recently – thanks to her fierce determination, powerful drive, and unapologetic attitude.

The athlete, who is leading LSU’s women’s basketball team in its 26-win campaign, has become a viral online star, gaining more than half a million followers for often flaunting her lavish lifestyle as one of the top college athletes in the nation.

Along the way, she has reportedly earned a staggering $384,000 from her numerous partnerships with brands like Coach, Calvin Klein, and Bose, among others.

Get ready to meet March Madness’ most lucrative new star – LSU’s ‘Bayou Barbie,’ who has become a social media sensation while dazzling the world with her impressive basketball skills

Angel Reese, 20, has captivated the world both on and off the court recently - thanks to her fierce determination, powerful drive, and unapologetic attitude

Angel Reese, 20, has captivated the world both on and off the court recently - thanks to her fierce determination, powerful drive, and unapologetic attitude

Angel Reese, 20, has captivated the world both on and off the court recently – thanks to her fierce determination, powerful drive, and unapologetic attitude

The athlete has become a viral online star, gaining more than half a million followers for often flaunting her lavish lifestyle as one of the top college athletes in the nation

The athlete has become a viral online star, gaining more than half a million followers for often flaunting her lavish lifestyle as one of the top college athletes in the nation

Along the way, she has reportedly earned roughly $384,000 from her numerous partnerships with brands like Coach, Calvin Klein, and Bose, among others

Along the way, she has reportedly earned roughly $384,000 from her numerous partnerships with brands like Coach, Calvin Klein, and Bose, among others

Along the way, she has reportedly earned roughly $384,000 from her numerous partnerships with brands like Coach, Calvin Klein, and Bose, among others

Angel grew up in a town near Baltimore, Maryland, called Randallstown. She had a love of sports right away, participating in basketball, swimming, and track as a kid, as well as ballet.

Angel (seen as a kid) grew up in a town near Baltimore, Maryland, called Randallstown. She had a love of sports right away, participating in basketball, swimming, and track as a kid, as well as ballet

Angel (seen as a kid) grew up in a town near Baltimore, Maryland, called Randallstown. She had a love of sports right away, participating in basketball, swimming, and track as a kid, as well as ballet

After high school – where she was ranked as the number two player in her class by EPSN – she headed to the University of Maryland for college.

She played for the Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball team for two years, and during her time at Maryland, she broke records when she became the first player to average a double-double since 1975.

In 2022, when Angel announced that she wanted to switch schools, she was branded as the most heralded transfer on the globe.

She ultimately opted to head to Louisiana State University, where she now plays for Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers. 

‘A fresh start, that’s what I came to LSU for,’ she told Yahoo! Sports earlier this month. ‘I just wanted a fresh start.

‘Being able to be within a program with Kim Mulkey, where she was going to push me every day and keep me humble and to get me to the next level, I think what was important for me.

‘I came from Maryland and I succeeded at Maryland, but I wanted more. I needed Coach Mulkey, that’s just what I needed.’

Since joining the Tigers, she has averaged 23.2 points per game – ranking her as the fifth college basketball player – and she’s currently leading the number of three throws made and attempted in the sport. She also holds the SEC single-season record for double-doubles with 32. 

After high school, she headed to the University of Maryland for college, where she played for the Maryland Terrapins women's basketball team for two years before transferring to LSU

After high school, she headed to the University of Maryland for college, where she played for the Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball team for two years before transferring to LSU

Since joining the Tigers, she has averaged 23.2 points per game - ranking her as the fifth college basketball player - and she holds the SEC single-season record for double-doubles

Since joining the Tigers, she has averaged 23.2 points per game – ranking her as the fifth college basketball player – and she holds the SEC single-season record for double-doubles

‘When somebody else is shooting, she’s very hard to block out,’ her coach, Kim, said. ‘She’s not going to give up just because you put a body in front of her. 

When it comes to what makes her so good, Angel, who plays forward, told the New York Times that it's her 'dog mentality' that separates her from other players

When it comes to what makes her so good, Angel, who plays forward, told the New York Times that it’s her ‘dog mentality’ that separates her from other players

‘You’d better get some position, you’d better get some strength because she’s going to fight you in there for it.’

When it comes to what makes her so good, Angel, who plays forward, attributed being ambidextrous and her ability to figure out where the ball is going to go next.

‘When I know the ball is going up, I know which side it’s going to go to,’ she told the outlet. ‘And then I don’t let my defenders kind of box me out.’

She also told the New York Times that it’s her ‘dog mentality’ that separates her from other players.

‘I always want to go out there and win and I’m very passionate about that,’ she added.

‘Whoever’s in front of me, I’m going to go get it, and I’m going to talk trash to you the whole entire game, and that’s that.’

And while the athlete has made numerous strides on the court, she has also engrossed the world with spunky personality.

The star is certainly not afraid to own her impressive skills, and she knows she’s one of the tops in the sport.

'I always want to go out there and win and I’m very passionate about that,' she added. 'Whoever’s in front of me, I’m going to go get it, and I’m going to talk trash you the whole game'

'I always want to go out there and win and I’m very passionate about that,' she added. 'Whoever’s in front of me, I’m going to go get it, and I’m going to talk trash you the whole game'

‘I always want to go out there and win and I’m very passionate about that,’ she added. ‘Whoever’s in front of me, I’m going to go get it, and I’m going to talk trash you the whole game’

The star is certainly knows she's one of the tops in the sport. In fact, before every game, she has someone from the opposing team bring her a crown

The star is certainly knows she’s one of the tops in the sport. In fact, before every game, she has someone from the opposing team bring her a crown

She has also become well-known for wearing lip gloss and eyelash extensions on the court, and having her nails done for every game - something you don't see that often in basketball

She has also become well-known for wearing lip gloss and eyelash extensions on the court, and having her nails done for every game – something you don’t see that often in basketball

She branded herself as the Bayou Barbie last year, and she has since begun selling merch with the term written on it

She branded herself as the Bayou Barbie last year, and she has since begun selling merch with the term written on it

Back in January, after she went viral for making an intense play that involved her shoe flying off, she spoke out against people who called her 'too hood' or 'too ghetto' on Twitter

Back in January, after she went viral for making an intense play that involved her shoe flying off, she spoke out against people who called her ‘too hood’ or ‘too ghetto’ on Twitter

In fact, before every game, she has someone from the opposing team bring her a crown. 

Angel often flaunts the many glamorous perks that come with being a successful collegiate athlete on her Instagram, where she has gained more than 546,000 followers

Angel often flaunts the many glamorous perks that come with being a successful collegiate athlete on her Instagram, where she has gained more than 546,000 followers

She has also become well-known for wearing lip gloss and eyelash extensions on the court, and having her nails done for every game – something you don’t see that often in basketball.

She branded herself as the Bayou Barbie last year, and she has since begun selling merch with the term written on it. 

Back in January, after she went viral for making an intense play that involved her shoe flying off, she spoke out against people who called her ‘too hood’ or ‘too ghetto’ on Twitter, writing, ‘I don’t fit the narrative and I’M OK WITH THAT. 

‘I’m from Baltimore where you hoop outside and talk trash. If it was a boy, y’all wouldn’t be saying [nothing] at all. 

‘Let’s normalize women showing passion for the game instead of it being “embarrassing.”‘ 

Angel often flaunts the many glamorous perks that come with being a successful collegiate athlete on her Instagram and TikTok accounts, where she has gained more than 546,000 followers and 633,000 followers respectively.

The sports star’s feed consists of photos and videos that show her jetting off on lavish vacations, staying in five-star resorts, relaxing beachside, toting around designer handbags, and donning expensive clothes.

She's also often seen toting around designer handbags, and donning expensive clothes

She’s also often seen toting around designer handbags, and donning expensive clothes

She also loves to show off her stunning body, and has shared numerous snaps of herself in bikinis and revealing outfits that leave her curves on full display

She also loves to show off her stunning body, and has shared numerous snaps of herself in bikinis and revealing outfits that leave her curves on full display

She also loves to show off her stunning body, and has shared numerous snaps of herself in bikinis and revealing outfits that leave her curves on full display

Her mother, who is also named Angel Reese, recently revealed on Twitter she she's received a ton of messages from guys who believe that she's her daughter

Her mother, who is also named Angel Reese, recently revealed on Twitter she she’s received a ton of messages from guys who believe that she’s her daughter

She also loves to show off her stunning body, and has shared numerous snaps of herself in bikinis and revealing outfits that leave her curves on full display.

Along the way, Angel has landed many lucrative sponsorships - with Yahoo reporting that she has more NIL brand deals than any other player in college basketball

Along the way, Angel has landed many lucrative sponsorships – with Yahoo reporting that she has more NIL brand deals than any other player in college basketball

It’s no surprise that young men are fighting to get her attention, and her mother, who is also named Angel Reese, recently revealed on Twitter she she’s received a ton of messages from guys who believe that she’s her daughter.

‘FYI… I am Angel Reese, the mom, not the LSUwbb player. Please be mindful when you tag and/or send me DMs that your intent is to me not my daughter,’ she wrote on Twitter earlier this week. 

‘I’m getting some crazy dating request from men who are my kid’s age, who clearly by the content of message think they’re sending it to Li’l A.’

Along the way, Angel has landed many lucrative sponsorships – with Yahoo reporting that she has more NIL brand deals than any other player in college basketball.

She has posted ads for companies like Calvin Klein, TurboTax, Bose, McDonalds, Xfinity, JanSport, Outback Steakhouse, and Wingstop within the last few months.

She also teamed up with Coach in August 2022, announcing that she had become the company’s ambassador and that they were teaming up to drop a collection of purses together.

She has posted ads for companies like Calvin Klein, TurboTax, Bose, McDonalds, Xfinity, JanSport, Outback Steakhouse, and Wingstop (seen) within the last few months

She has posted ads for companies like Calvin Klein, TurboTax, Bose, McDonalds, Xfinity, JanSport, Outback Steakhouse, and Wingstop (seen) within the last few months

She has posted ads for companies like Calvin Klein, TurboTax, Bose, McDonalds, Xfinity, JanSport, Outback Steakhouse, and Wingstop (seen) within the last few months

Thanks to her impressive abilities as an athlete, strong social media presence, and captivating personality, she has amassed a huge fanbase

Thanks to her impressive abilities as an athlete, strong social media presence, and captivating personality, she has amassed a huge fanbase

She has even caught the attention of celebrities like Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union, Drake, and Li’l Wayne – who have all spoke about her on social media

As for what's next for Angel, she said during an appearance on the Outta Pocket podcast that she wants to continue playing on the college level for as long as possible

As for what's next for Angel, she said during an appearance on the Outta Pocket podcast that she wants to continue playing on the college level for as long as possible

As for what’s next for Angel, she said that she wants to continue playing on the college level for as long as possible since she can make ‘way more money’ as a college athlete

In addition to the $384,000 that she reportedly racked up from her branding, she also earns somewhere between $63,000 to $75,000 yearly for her basketball career. 

Thanks to her impressive abilities as an athlete, strong social media presence, and captivating personality, she has amassed a huge fanbase who often lineup outside her games in an attempt to see her.

The Times reported that at a recent game, more than a thousand people attended – and that it’s gotten so intense that the team now has to travel with a police officer. 

She has even caught the attention of celebrities like Dwayne Wade, Gabrielle Union, Drake, and Li’l Wayne – who have all spoke about her on social media.

As for what’s next for Angel, she said during an appearance on the Outta Pocket podcast that she wants to continue playing on the college level for as long as possible.

‘The amount of money I can make in college is way more than the amount I can make in the WNBA,’ she admitted. ‘I’m definitely going to be taking that into consideration.’ 



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