THE LEGACY OF 101 | FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.

This month, we took a moment with the GOAT , boxing great, promoter, and entrepreneur Floyd Mayweather Jr! When he boxed professionally from 1996 - 2017, he won 15 major championships, was undefeated with a 50-0 record, fought in 5 separate weight classes and has a number of records that are still unbroken!

Even after he retired professionally, he still boxes in exhibition fights; continues to train; and has an amazing portfolio that includes: The Money Team, Mayweather Promotions, Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Gyms, his real estate investment firm VADA Properties and most recently 1 of 1 his supplement brand. He continues to extend his brand across verticals! We wanted to know more about how he came to boxing, his approach to his fights, his legacy, and how he looks at adding to his projects and portfolio.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What is it about boxing that drew you in and why do you love it?

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR: Boxing has been a part of my life since day one. My father and my uncle were fighters, so I grew up in the gym, watching and learning. What drew me in was the challenge—the mental and physical battle of proving you are the best. I love the strategy, the discipline, and the hard work it takes to stay at the top. Boxing is not just about throwing punches; it’s about skill, precision, and intelligence. That’s why I dominated the sport for decades.

AM: On Feb 12th, you launched 101. Why did you want to create a supplement brand?

FM JR: During my training sessions through the years, everyone was always asking which supplements kept me at the top of my game. That curiosity sparked the decision to eventually create my own line, a clean brand that is science backed and delivers on its promise. There are too many brands out there in the marketplace that still contain unsafe ingredients, so I set out to create 101 to give consumers a trusted product they can feel working. When a trusted product they can feel working. When it comes to my fitness and nutrition, I refuse to settle for less, and I want the same for athletes of all levels.

AM: What was the process like for you in creating this brand and what was the most important part of the formulation to you?

FM JR: In collaboration with industry leader Magnum Nutraceuticals, we worked hand in hand to ensure products contained only the best ingredients and have met the highest standards. Products went through rigorous testing, are backed by science, innovation, and are truly determined to be safe and effective. Simply put, athletes will feel the difference and see the results with the supplements which is why I created the One of One brand.

AM: Tell us about the initial supplements that you started with and when do you take them?

FM JR: The line of products from 101 helps any athlete’s journey, from energy and endurance to recovery and hydration. There are some products that I take daily. Whey Protein delivers high-quality protein and prebiotic fiber, and digestive enzymes for smooth digestion and muscle recovery. Greens + Gut Health helps supercharge my daily nutrients. It is packed with superfoods, prebiotic fiber, and essential vitamins to promote gut health and digestion. Peptide Builder is scientifically proven to enhance muscle growth and recovery. I reach for our Hydration to keep hydrated and to help with muscle cramping.

There are 3 products that are best used as part of your training regime. Sport Pre-Workout is meant for more moderate energy and endurance and includes caffeine for an additional boost in energy and strength. Loaded Pre-Workout is what I take before looking for high-intensity, extreme focus and maximum blood flow to carry more oxygen to my muscles. Creatine Monohydrate I also take before working out, to help with performance and cognitive function.

Together all these products provide a complete toolset to fuel performance, enhance endurance, and accelerate recovery.

AM: Are there plans to include additional products within this assortment?

FM JR: Yes, we definitely have plans to launch several new innovative supplements, several are in development and testing currently. We will be continuously looking to bring new innovative products to meet the needs of our One of One community on their fitness journey. Watch this space to see what innovations 101 will be bringing consumers next to stay ahead of the game.

AM: In your career you have fought in 5 weight classes. When you make that decision to navigate those classes what are the things that you have to do in order to prepare for that class?

FM JR: Moving through weight classes is all about preparation and making the right adjustments. It is not just about gaining or losing weight—it is about maintaining speed, power, and endurance while adapting to different styles of opponents. I worked closely with my team to ensure I was always in peak condition, no matter the division. We focused on nutrition, strength training, and the right fight strategy for each weight class. Every move I made was calculated, and that is why I remained undefeated.

AM: You have had a number of memorable fights, what are 3 fights or moments that are a favorite in your career?

FM JR: I have had so many great moments, but three fights stand out:

Oscar De La Hoya (2007) – This was a turning point in my career. It was the biggest fight in boxing at the time, and when I won, I became the face of the sport.

Manny Pacquiao (2015) – The world waited for this fight for years, and when it finally happened, I showed why I was the best. It was a masterclass in skill and strategy.

Emanuel Augustus (2000) – Not the biggest name, but one of the toughest fights I ever had. He was unpredictable, but I adapted and proved I could handle any style.

AM: You do exhibition bouts after retiring from professional boxing - why is this important to you to continue to engage in the sport in this way and for you, is the training different?

FM JR: Exhibitions allow me to keep doing what I love while giving fans around the world a show. I accomplished everything I needed to in professional boxing, so now it is about enjoying the sport on my own terms. The training is different. I do not have to prepare for 12-round wars, but I still stay sharp, stay in shape, and put on great performances. It is about continuing to entertain and inspire.

AM: Tell us what a week is like with you in the gym and your wellness game. What are 3 exercises that we can do if we want to train like Floyd Mayweather Jr?

FM JR: I train every day because staying in shape is a lifestyle for me. My workouts focus on endurance, speed, and skill. Three exercises I recommend for anyone who wants to train like me:

Jump Rope – It builds endurance, improves footwork, and sharpens coordination.

Pad Work – Essential for speed, accuracy, and defensive reflexes.

Core Training – A strong core gives you power, balance, and control in the ring.

AM: You retired with an undefeated record 50-0, won 15 major World Championships across 5 weight classes, 3X BWAA Fighter of the Year, 6X Best Fighter ESPY Award, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021, and you are known as one of the best defensive boxers in history, and as the most accurate puncher, and one of the most lucrative pay-per-view attractions across any sport - what does it mean to you to have all of these accolades?

FM JR: It means I did exactly what I set out to do. I dominated the sport for over two decades, stayed undefeated, and broke records that may never be touched. People will always debate who the greatest is, but my record speaks for itself. I mastered the sport, changed the business of boxing, and walked away on top.

AM: I've been a fan of boxing since I was 3 years old so I grew up watching Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Lennox Lewis, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao, Marvin Hagler, and you. What do you want your legacy to be known as in this sport?

FM JR: I want my legacy to be simple: The Best Ever. Not just because of my record, but because of how I changed the game. I showed that boxing is about intelligence, strategy, and discipline. I controlled my career, I made the biggest fights happen, and I made sure I was paid what I deserved. That is the blueprint I want future generations to follow.

AM: Tell us about TMT.

FM: JR: The Money Team is about hard work, dedication, and smart decision-making. People see the success, the cars, the watches, but what they don’t see is the discipline that got me here. TMT represents a mindset - believing in yourself, staying focused, and never settling for less than what you are worth.

AM: Why did you create Mayweather Promotions and what are some upcoming events that we should keep an eye out for?

FM JR: I created Mayweather Promotions because I wanted to take control of my career and help other fighters do the same. Too many athletes let other people hand their business, and they end up with nothing. I made sure I controlled my own destiny. Now, Mayweather Promotions is one of the biggest brands in boxing. We have exciting events coming up, and we are always looking for the next superstar.

AM: You have been in the fitness and wellness space for some time with the Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Gyms. What does it mean to you to offer boxing fitness in a studio format?

FM JR: It is about making boxing training accessible to everyone. You do not have to be a professional fighter to train like one. Boxing is one of the best workouts in the world, and with Mayweather Boxing + Fitness, people can experience my training style in a fun, high-energy environment. It is about building confidence, discipline, and physical strength.

AM: We shoot a number of our editorials in luxury residences here in NY and your diversified portfolio also includes real estate where you founded VADA which has properties here in NY including 410 Tenth Ave Hudson Yards, The Copper, Two Sutton as well as properties in Jersey City, Chicago and The Villa Casa Casuarina at the former Versace Mansion in Miami - it's quite an assortment. Why is having this in your portfolio important to you?

FM JR: Real estate is about building wealth for the future. I made my money in boxing, but I invested it wisely. I own properties across the country because I understand that money has to work for you. The goal is to create generational wealth, and real estate is a major part of that strategy.

AM: We can't talk about you without talking about your style from your luxury brands, diamond necklaces, insane bags, and more. Why do you love fashion?

FM JR: Fashion is about expressing success. When you work hard, you should be able to enjoy the rewards. I take pride in my style, whether it's a custom suit, a designer bag, or a one-of-a-kind watch. Everything I wear is a reflection of my success

IG @floydmayweather

@youare_1of1

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 16 - 20 Floyd Mayweather Jr. | PG 23 + 24 Floyd Mayweather Jr./IG | PG 26 + 32 Gene Blevins Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire | PG 28 Jeff Gritchen/ZUMApress.com/Icon Sportswire | PG 30 Chris Farina/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire |

Read the FEB ISSUE #110 of Athleisure Mag and see THE LEGACY OF 101 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. in mag.

PATH TO SET | TETIANA GAIDAR

When we watch our favorite TV shows and movies, there are many people who come together in front of and behind the camera to bring a story to life. Some people hold roles which gives, us additional insight into the time, dedication and care that is involved for our programs!

This month, we caught up Tetiana Gaidar a choreographer and actress who has been in Amazon's FreeVee BOSCH: Legacy as well as Netflix's Day Shift. But she is also known as a tactical trainer due to her martial arts work. She worked with Keanu Reeves (The Devil’s Advocate, The Matrix, 47 Ronin) to prepare him for John Wick: Chapter 4 as well as a number of Hollywood's top talent! We wanted to know how she got into the industry, how she combines the talents that she has acquired along the way, the community in the industry and upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be in the arts and wanted to be an entertainer?

TETIANA GAIDAR: When I was 10 years old, I saw X-Files with David Duchovny (Twin Peaks, The Estate, You People)! My first instinct was, “oh my God, I love David Duchovny, I want to marry him and I want to be an FBI agent!” Ha! I think that I didn’t really think that I would be an artist or an actress. I was inspired to be a spy. To become an actress and to act and turn it into a career, this happened when I saw John Wick with Keanu Reeves and I saw how beautiful the action was and the choreography and it looked so mesmerizing. I thought that by being a spy I would have that action and life, but he was doing that up on the screen with himself! So I thought, “wow, ok well, maybe that’s a career for me and maybe I can just do that in the movies and can portray those characters like assassins and my family would be a lot happier with that.

AM: In prep for this interview, your background is amazing from acting, dancing, choreography, professionally training in Kung Fu - how did you embrace all of these skills?

TG: I think that I just honestly, I don’t think about it. I go with one skill at a time and I try to be really good at it and then I go for the next skill and the next one. I’m just so hungry for it because I love it so much. It’s so inspiring to be able to do those things and I never thought about how I embrace them! I just love learning and growing!

AM: Clearly you do! You started as a ballerina in the Ukraine and due to your training, you found yourself being a choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance Ukraine. What was that experience like for you and how long did you do that?

TG: When I was a little girl, my mom, she dreamed of me becoming a ballerina because that was her dream. So she said, “well I always dreamed to dance, but why don’t you become a ballerina?” I kind of rejected the idea of doing it as a career. Dancing and ballet really came into my life because my boyfriend died and I was 18 and it became a beautiful therapy that I was able to tell so many stories through dance. So You Think You Can Dance, because I was dancing so much as a therapy, I was coming from a very poor family and we didn’t have money for a therapist. So to go through a trauma like that, I was dancing day and night like seriously, 24 hours a day learning choreography and training myself. I was so into that so things were happening around me so fast and people were noticing my talent and pulling me on the show to assist and then I auditioned myself and was on the show. Everything was happening so fast and we’re talking about a time frame of 6 months, such a super fast process. I think it happened because I was so focused on healing myself through dance that I wasn’t paying attention about the things that were happening around me as I was advancing in dance and booking jobs. It was the storytelling that was so inspiring to me and it was mesmerizing and so healing – that’s what I was drawn to. To me, it didn’t matter if it was So You Think You Can Dance or a dance studio. To me, the story that I get to tell through this dance is what matters. I think that that’s why things happened so fast in my life and in my career because I wasn’t orienting myself in terms of planning to get on a show. I just loved the process, what could I say more about the story, could I dance more?

AM: At what point did you get your first acting gig? Was it after being on the show?

TG: The first acting gig, it was actually a short film music video with Max Barskih, a Ukranian singer who has is very famous. He has actually been at war this year as he was fighting and I am very proud of him. He’s very recognized in Europe and in Russia. He actually has some music videos in English. So his first project for an American audience was called Dance and it was about zombies and it was dancing, acting and it was like a short film basically, but still very musical. It was my first acting experience playing a zombie wife and choreographing a dance like a zombie and I fell in love with that. I thought, “wow, this is awesome!” I get a chance to choreograph for his music video, to dance in it and to act, “I’m like, ok – I love it!”

AM: Yeah! It’s a nice trifecta!

TG: Then it was so funny because my first acting experience, was playing a zombie in Ukraine – a hot girl that becomes a zombie and dances! When I moved to LA, my first breakthrough was participating in Day Shift directed by JJ Perry (Iron Man, Machette Kills, Gangster Squad) starring Jamie Foxx (Ray, White House Down, Spider Man: No Way Home), Dave Franco (21 Jump Street, Now You See Me, If Beale Street Could Talk), Meagan Good (Eve’s Bayou, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Harlem) and Snoop Dogg (Training Day, Soul Plane, Pitch Perfect 2) and I was a zombie in this one too! So that was interesting!

AM: So how did you start incorporating Kung Fu into this ecosystem?

TG: Kung Fu came way before dance. My mom wanted me to be a ballerina. I told my mom that I wanted to be a spy, I didn’t want to do ballet and I was learning English from subtitles and I was going to marry David Duchovny and dancers don’t make money. So my mom was like, if you want to be a badass, then you’re going to go to martial arts school. She literally dragged me into the first martial arts school on the way home and they had Kung Fu, karate, jiu jitsu and other kinds of disciplines. That day there was a Kung Fu class and my mom asked if she could sign me up. I saw the swords, how they were fighting and dancing and I felt that that was so cool and it was like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So I was in and that’s where my journey in Kung Fu started way back in school. My parents were very strict and my said that if I didn’t win the competition that she wouldn’t go home with me and there were a couple of times when I lost competitions that my mom would just leave me there and I would find my own way home. My parents are very strict and I appreciate it so much and I appreciate the journey through Kung Fu because it gave me the core inside of my heart to be a good person and I think martial arts is very beneficial for everyone to do because it is a very good discipline to have inside of you for who you are, to stay loyal to yourself and to have good qualities in this life. I’m very thankful for my mom to do that.

AM: It seems like your mom put you on such a great path for you to acquire all of these skill sets that you have and that you can use them interchangeably.

TG: She did and my dad too! My dad and my mom, they’re both scientists. My entire family does physics! Everybody in my generation, even right now, my sister and brother – they’re scientists. I’m the only one that is loving the arts and acting.

AM: You’ll have that!

TG: I did! Even when I saw my mom and dad recently a few weeks ago in Poland, because I just rescued them from Ukraine. My mom said, “why didn’t you tell me that you wanted to be an actress when you were in school? I would have put you in theater. You always wanted to be a spy and an agent, I don’t understand how you are doing this now! How did this happen?” I told her I didn’t know it just happened because I was inspired by Keanu and John Wick – it truly did. I’m thankful that my mom put me in dance and Kung Fu and my dad gave me the freedom to choose who I want to be and I think that that is very important.

AM: I’m a huge fan of BOSCH and I had the pleasure of interviewing Titus Welliver (Deadwood, Lost, Sons of Anarchy) a few weeks prior to the premier of the spinoff, BOSCH: Legacy last year.

TG: Oh!

AM: Yes, loved it. We remember watching the series and loved it. You were this badass that had us holding our breath in those episodes! When you hit the screen you had my attention. What was it like for you to be on that show, to have that role that embodies the assassin/spy and to showcase all of those skills together?

TG: It was absolutely a dream come true! We were on set for John Wick 4 later on and I told Keanu that I had just came from shooting BOSCH: Legacy and I told him that he inspired me to be an actress and now I’m working with him because I was training him on weapon manipulation.

The BOSCH team gave me such creative freedom to show the character in the way that I saw it and the way that I wanted to play it. The entire BOSCH family was so nice. You have no idea, it felt like family. Everyone loved each other, the energy on set was unbelievable and we were working crazy hours like all night and then havng a 5am call time. Everyone was positive and Titus was just a sweetheart. He is one of the nicest people and an incredible human being and very talented. It was such an honor to play scenes with him. It was an absolutely fun night shooting each other, going after each other like cat and mouse. I was so proud of him because he actually wrote those episodes!

AM: I wasn’t aware!

TG: Yeah it was his first writing and it were those scenes that I was in. He did an incredible job. In post-production, they didn’t have anything that they needed to change or edit. I had the best time in my life and it was a dream that came true that you didn’t even believe that you were in it until a year after that it actually happened to me! It inspires me to keep going and I hope it inspires other people to keep going for their dreams as one day it can happen to you.

Keanu was like, “wait, I inspire you?” He got so shy and he was so cute and humble. He couldn’t believe it. I told him that I had just done BOSCH: Legacy and he knew what that was. I mean BOSCH is such a famous show and loved by people because of the people who are actually making the show – the creator, producers, Titus, everyone puts their hearts in the show and that’s what makes it so successful.

AM: We're fans of the franchise and can’t wait for future seasons as well as spin-offs, but seeing you in those episodes from last season, you had such a presence and love programs that have assassins and spies.

So being able to work with Keanu for John Wick 4, you and your fiancé worked with him for his tactile training. What was that like?

TG: For me, it was surreal, that was the person who inspired me to be an actress and here I am helping Taran to train Keanu. I was very honored and at the same time, I felt very at ease because Keanu is one of the most humble people that I have ever met. Recently, I also worked with Cameron Diaz (Charlie’s Angels, Vanilla Sky, Gangs of New York) another example of humble people that you can work with. They make you feel relaxed, they are so into you and what you do. They are not into themselves.

Keanu was into training, being better, listening and he is such a sweetheart. It’s so true what people say about him. He’s very focused and I didn’t even feel like I was working with him. I am working with one of the biggest actors in the world and it didn’t feel like that. It felt like I was working with a friend that was very interested in becoming better and I found him inspiring. It’s great when you meet people like that to be honest with you.

AM: You’re a trainer at Taran Tactical. What is this and what do you do as a trainer?

TG: I help Taran get actors prepared for their action films and we work with some of the biggest people out there. I feel very grateful but when I am out there doing my job and the people we work with make it feel like a friendly relationship. I love helping them and knowing that I have the skills to help them to where they want to be.

AM: In your role with Keanu, did you help him prior to him going on set to prepare him for his role or were you on site to tweak things as filming was taking place?

TG: On set, they have armors who will help them there. All the training for the films are done prior to shooting. So when you’re on set, the moment happens when you’re filming and so you’re not thinking about training anymore. Keanu has a le git and incredible reputation for being the actor who actually puts in 100% into his training before. So it’s like on BOSCH, same for me, all my prep and training was done before filming so that when you’re on set, you have this beautiful space to create and do the choices that you feel you need to do for the character. For Keanu, when he was on set, he was able to make the choices that he felt was right for his character in the moment.

AM: Amazing, it’s always interesting to see what is involved behind the camera and in many cases, before you’re coming to set to shoot. You have worked with so many people from Kevin Hart (Little Fockers, Jumanji franchise, Night School), Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead, The Many Saints of Newark, American Gigolo) and Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse, The Newsroom, Six) to name a few. You must be busy meeting those schedules.

TG: Very busy!

AM: I heard that pause!

TG: Yes! It’s sometimes nice to have that break because it just gets too busy sometimes with things happening all the time.

AM: As someone who is in great shape, we always like knowing what are 3 workouts that you do that we should think about incorporating into our own practices as we prepare for the spring and the summer.

TG: I honestly know that from my own life experience, workouts are great, but your diet is the priority always! You have to figure out your diet first and what works for your body. But workouts that I love and that I personally suggest is to stretch everyday 10-20 minutes, every morning or afternoon – whenever you have time. For me, it’s mornings because I have the most time and I feel like I have accomplished something if I have worked out for 20 minutes in the morning. I like an ab exercise because that's in our core. Abs and stretch for me! My third workout is my stunt, but it’s not for everybody! I would highly suggest to do 20 minutes every morning before you eat. Warm up your body, stretch a little bit and do your abs and then you’ll see your body start to have this beautiful definition.

AM: Do you have any projects that we should keep an eye out for?

TG: I did my first short film, my own. I was very inspired last year after BOSCH so I decided to learn how to produce, how to find the right people, getting the ideas – everything and I am very happy about it. It’s in post-production right now and it should be done in a week or two. It’s close to being done and hopefully we will get to go through some of the short film festivals so it’s very exciting and we’re looking forward to releasing it publicly. I showed some pieces to Cameron and some other friends of mine and they love it! I’ve learned so much and I have also learned about how much work it is to produce and shoot your films. It’s not easy and there are so many things involved. It’s not just about having the right idea, script and actress. It’s about finding the right producers, negotiations, locations – so many things.

IG @tetianagaidar

PHOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 90, 95, 9LIST STORI3S PG 139 + 140 Josh Ryan | PG 92, 96, 99, 101 + 9LIST STORI3S PG 140 Images courtesy of Tetiana Gaidar | 9LIST STORI3S PG 140 Tony Duran |

Read the MAR ISSUE #87 of Athleisure Mag and see PATH TO SET | Tetiana Gaidar in mag.

FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH NICK SAGAR

This month, our cover story features Nick Sagar, we chat about his career with the premiere of his show Run the World on STARZ which airs this month. We talk about how he got into the industry and a number of his creative talents from martial arts, breakdancing and soccer. He also shares how he approaches his craft and picks projects that allow him to showcase his varied abilities. We also talk about the power of family and how it not only cultivates him but allows him to stay grounded. In addition, we talk about the importance of giving back and using your platform to help those that were key to his success.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve been a fan of a number of the shows that you have been in over the years and we’ve been waiting for months for STARZ’s Run the World to premiere this month. Before we get into your career, in prep for this interview, we saw that you grew up as a breakdancer and that you also loved playing soccer which is quite interesting especially since that really hits the ethos of our intersectionality! What do you love about these creative outlets and do you still enjoy doing them?

NICK SAGAR: You know what? Growing up, my parents were very keen on being focused to push us to try whatever sports that we showed an interest in. They would support us and growing up in London, naturally, soccer – or football as we call it, was a natural thing. Me and my brother, we were just obsessed with it. It would be all day everyday. If we couldn’t play in the garden, we would ball up socks in the house and we used to drive my mom mad!

But it was just that we slept, ate and drank, football! Dad used to play so it was easily passed down and we did that! I mean, probably my first 16 years of my life – I got up to playing semi-professional, but as you get a bit older, sometimes the motivation moves you and I wanted to try something different. And that’s what segued into breakdancing. But what I loved about both of them was that soccer had the team aspect as well as being able to improve on your individual skills, it was a team sport. You got to be able to be with your friends and every game was different. You know, I was thinking about it earlier – playing that sport, you’re forced to be present. Whatever was going on outside of that becomes irrelevant when you start playing and training. Being present and in the moment is really that gift of life. Not worrying about the past or the future, I think that bundled with all that stuff, I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much.

And breakdancing came because my older brother is 10 years older than me and he would show me stuff! Sometimes it was stuff I wasn’t meant to see – haha! But it would be all the stuff from his era like DJing, hip-hop and breakdancing. He showed me a video when I was a kid and that was it! I fell in love with it and then from about 12 to about 17, I kind of stalled back on football and focused on breakdancing. And again, once you were training and doing the moves, that was all that mattered and you were present!

AM: So when did you realize that you wanted to be an actor and to follow that path?

NS: It’s funny. It’s like what I was saying earlier about my parents, pushing us to do many things. In school, we always had these drama classes and weekend classes in the local theater where I grew up and I just gravitated towards it. I did a lot of performances and showcases and I just found it that was something fun to do. A lot of my friends were allowed to play out in the neighborhood and my dad was kind of strict – he didn’t really let us out until about 12 or 13. So up until then, it was all social activities and acting classes and theater and that type of stuff. We always had an enjoyment for it and we would recreate stuff we saw on TV. The family, we were huge movie buffs so it was always kind of there, I just never knew it was a career path until I got older and I decided to give it a go.

AM: When you get a project that comes your way, what are you looking for when it comes to you ultimately deciding to accept that role?

NS: Um, it depends you know? Variety – I like the people involved – that’s a huge thing. But I do like variety. If I did something before, I will try to do something that’s not too similar straight after. I like to switch it up. One of the things that I fell in love with acting is that it’s the ability to play so many different roles and to be able to walk in so many different shoes. It’s amazing in real life that some of those things transfer and you get to play into these people’s different walks of life. Being a huge movie buff from love and romance movies, comedies and dramas, thrillers, horrors – I just want to do a bit of them all! For me, it’s more the role, the script, the people involved – but I do like variety.

AM: Well, a number of our readers and ourselves included, we loved you in USA’s Queen of the South, Tyler Perry’s Have and Have Nots, Freeform’s Shadow Hunters – what is your process like when you’re preparing for your roles? To your point, they are so different. Do you have a set way that you go about it?

NS: Kind of! It varies for different roles. My main thing is to read the script several times over first. The second or third time, things usually start popping out as opposed to when you read it for the first time. Then I begin to delve into the world of the character. I look at what the director and the producer wanted originally in the audition and I try to take that into the character breakdown and then I use a lot of my imagination to create the rest because, I kind of trained in both using my own life’s circumstances and imagination and they both work for different types of roles. I like to use at the end of the day, imagination more because that’s why I got into it – to create. It’s kind of like an escape from your own life – not like I’m trying to run from my own life. Sometimes, we can get so pinned down in our own lives and concerned about our own things that sometimes don’t matter. The beautiful thing about acting – especially when using your imagination, you get to create this whole new world and you get to live in it!

AM: You just completed filming the third installment of Netflix’s The Princess Switch which has become quite the obsession and the talk around the team at Athleisure Mag as well. What can you tell us about it and when is it slated to drop?

NS: Well definitely expect a lot more switching shenanigans for sure!

AM: Ha – that show is crazy! It’s like wait, that’s Vanessa Hudgens again!

NS: Yeah, Vanessa is terrific. She really had to carry the lion share of all of the switching that she’s doing. I mean, in this new one, there’s even more shenanigans and the gang is back together. I don’t want to give away too much, but it’s a little different and it’s new things that arise. I’m trying not to give away too much, but it’s pretty fun!

AM: We assumed that’s what you were going to say – not too many spoilers to share!

NS: Haha this one is keeping it the same, but showing something a bit new for the third one. It comes around Thanksgiving of this year.

AM: We love podcasts and your character, Officer Ramirez in QCODE’s Borrasca, an audio fiction thriller was really good.

NS: Oh thank you!

AM: QCODE’s immersive approach to sound in their podcasts and stories are really well produced. How was it to prepare for that medium as opposed to when you’re doing something for film and TV?

NS: No I don’t think it changes it. It wasn’t something that I had done before, but I actually really enjoyed it because with film and TV, obviously you have to worry about your look and appearance. It becomes an aspect because of the camera and having so many people in this huge unit because it’s on TV. The beauty of doing the podcast and just being in the recording studios is that it’s just you and your fellow actors and you’re less worried about your appearance and it’s focused on the internal work and it’s just funny that it ties into what you asked earlier about preparing for a role – the internal work is really where you plant the seed and then water it and let it grow from the internal and that becomes the role. Something about the podcast is that you don’t have to worry about any exteriors so you’re just watering that seed and enjoying the moment of being. You can get really lost in it and it’s really funny, I always wanted to do things like voiceovers and animation – doing that made me realize that, “man I would love to just turn up in sweats and voice Bugs Bunny for a couple of weeks.”

AM: This month, Run the World premieres. What can you say about the show and about your character, Anderson Louis?

NS: I’m really excited about this one. I really am and I think that this show is definitely needed and is coming at the right time. I don’t think that there is anything quite like it at the minute. You know, it’s 4 strong Black women who are running the world. They’re living in NYC which is a wonderful place and it covers the trials and the tribulations of their life and running their own world which is career, relationships, community and how they navigate it. The beauty of it is that I think that people are really going to resonate with it just because we haven’t seen something like this – 4 strong Black leads and they’re crushing it. I do love all forms of drama and I just think that a lot of it has been focused on a lot of struggle up until now. So now it’s nice to see thriving love, healthy love, forms of toxic love – just life in general at this day and age and what it’s like for this generation. This generation right now, we’re all trying to balance our careers, love life, friendships, our community and still growing as a person. I think that this is really grounded in that and credit to the creators Leigh Davenport and Yvette Lee Bowser because they are just phenomenal and I’m really really excited about this.

Anderson, I’m interested to see how people take on him. I don’t want to give away too much, but he is Ella’s (Andrea Bordeaux) – at the star, he is her ex-boyfriend and he’s trying to navigate winning her back. They have been on and off for a very long time. They know each other so well and they have a deep deep connection. I think that the beauty about it is that I think that this generation – we’re trying to navigate love lives and careers. We want to grow and have something outside of our love which drives us. Often, the struggle comes with balance, especially with two people who work very different careers. We get to see a little bit of that with some of the stuff that goes on in the first season without giving away too much!

AM: As someone who is a Black Co-Founder of Athleisure Mag and seeing that show, thinking of a lot of my other girlfriends who are also killing it whether they are running their own businesses or just running massive departments, it’s so exciting – especially in this time, to see something like that that is so beautifully done. I was just drawn to it from the first 30 seconds of seeing the teasers for the past 7 months. So what drew you when you read that script to saying that without a doubt, you wanted to be in this?

NS: I just read the breakdown. I read the pilot and I was like, this is so so needed. Like I said, I am a fan of all forms of media, film, TV, drama and I just felt like this was needed. Something that shows a different point of view and something that is prevalent. Like you said yourself, there are people living this lifestyle and it hasn’t been represented as much as we would like. I think that we need more stuff like this to showcase what is possible and what is going on now. To bring in some fun, laughter, tears and love – it’s got an incredible mix of everything and I’m not just saying this – the 4 ladies are fantastic. I remember doing Zoom read throughs because we had to navigate the whole shooting due to what was going on last year, but I remember reading on Zoom and watching them. Zoom is really hard because you’re not in the room and you can’t really pick up the energy and I remember cracking up – these ladies have it down. They are hilarious and so talented and yeah, when we got to watch the season, I was like, “this is incredible” and I’m excited for the journey.

AM: Definitely looking forward to this! In terms of entertainment, do you ever think about other areas that you want to tackle in terms of behind the camera?

NS: Yeah – absolutely. I love all things film, television. I studied media in both school and college. I went to university because I figured – I mean, I didn’t last very long because I picked the wrong courses – but I figured that I would go behind the camera to get in front of it. It worked out the other way around, but I do think that maybe one day in the future, being able to direct, produce and to dabble into creating some of my own stuff. So I’d really love to be able to get into that absolutely in the future.

AM: Are there other projects that you’re working on or shows that you’re able to share with us that we should keep an eye out for?

NS: At the minute, just the Run the World season. I’m taking a lot great meetings and opportunities, so I’m just waiting to hear back on a few of those. I’m kind of in a position right now, where I am incredibly fortunate and grateful that for the past 5 years, I have been able to work on some amazing projects. At the moment, I’m kind of looking for something more where I can really delve in and use some of those skills that I have been training on. Especially here with some martial arts, with Shadow Hunters, I was able to do some things there, but I would love to do something that’s action based which would be so fun!

AM: You’re a certified fitness trainer, but how did you get into doing martial arts and why was that something that you wanted to be able to have within your routine?

NS: It’s a combination of things. You know as I said, my parents – my mom pushed us into karate. Like many things I did as a kid, we got really far and then I quit. But when I moved to Los Angeles at 21, my dad came with me and I was always interested – when I grew up, I was very close to my dad’s uncle’s older brother and we’d watch all the Kung Fu movies with Bruce Lee – they were constantly playing in the house and me and my older brother were constantly beating each other up to re-enact our favorite movies and we would drive our mom mad. When we moved, my dad pointed at this studio which was Taekwondo and he said that I should start there in case I got into any kind of action stuff. I went in, met my master and I just fell in love with it straight away. Once I started with that, I just kept going which was nice too! The audition process can be so stressful and you just dwell on it all the time, that gave me something that I could focus energy on that I could take on. I could take it as I wanted. I didn’t have to rely on someone to give me a job. If I wanted to train, I could go do it and that really gave me a wonderful balance. After studying and getting my black belt, I’ve kind of branched out into studying Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu. It’s just fun for me. I’m not trying to compete or anything.

AM: Was just going to ask that.

NS: Well, I’ve done small competitions in Taekwondo and maybe I’d mess around sparring in Muay Thai and maybe I’d try a competition one time but for me, mainly it’s for movies. I grew up watching Bruce and Jackie Chan and I know they were real fighters! Mine is just for the movie and TV outlet.

AM: What’s a typical workout session like for you? Do you have go-to moves that you would like to put in your routines – what is that like?

NS: It’s kind of varied. I like to wake up and see how I feel. I usually take 1 day off a week. I’d go to a gym which would be more weight training because I was really into that in college. Then the following day would be martial arts, but I really like to mix it up and keep throwing in different things – something I saw on Instagram or YouTube and I’d say, “that’s kind of cool – I want to try that.” Because you can run the risk of your workouts being stale so I just like to flip and alternate. So I do the gym and then martial arts the next day and then maybe – I used to when things were a bit more open, I’d do football or soccer and I was getting into rock climbing – I’m just a fan of sports in general! Growing up, I liked tennis, swimming – just fun physical activities.

AM: When you’re taking time for yourself and relaxing from your schedules, what would we find you doing?

NS: Good question – that varies too! I mean, mostly, I love movies and TV. I’m always catching up on new shows and new films. I have an excuse to enjoy it because you never know, I might get an opportunity in that – so I watch that. Other than that, I love spending time with my friends and family. I have a lot of friends and family that are back home so FaceTime and Zoom calls – watching stuff together. Just hanging out with people that I love! I think that the business is wonderful and I enjoy it, but I try not to make it the be all and end all of everything of my life. I try to make sure that family, friends, community and just other things go on as well. I love what I do, but it can be a bit consuming if you give it too much energy. I’m likely to have good people around me that give me that balance and keep me in check! I’m a huge fan of meditation, reading books and that just really helps me as well.

AM: You know, over the last year, the most insane year yet to navigate – a pandemic, fighting for social justice, the election – just all these different things and now with the vaccines being here and various forms of reopening’s that are happening, what are you looking forward to doing this year in terms of coming back into life?

NS: Just human connection! Being able to be around others. I know it’s always been something that was very important to me and I’m sure it is to many other people as well. Being able to freely be around family and friends and enjoying those moments. If anything this year that it has made me personally realize is how vital that is to us and as people sharing that experience. How much connection and communication is so huge and important – it’s a wonderful and beautiful thing. I’m just looking forward to seeing people with smiles on their face and doing what they love!

AM: You grew up in London and you also currently live in LA, what are your 3 favorite places you like to eat at in each city?

NS: Oooo that’s a good question! In London, it’s going to be my mama’s house!

AM: There we go!

NS: In LA, it’s going to be my aunties house! No joke! I like – I mean, I have to control myself sometimes. I have been known to dabble into fast food – in the past – I’m getting better at it. But growing up, especially in London, my friends who read this will laugh. There’s a place called Dixy Chicken – kind of like a Popeye’s Chicken sandwich – I’m talking about in the past though haha –

AM: Right, you’re just qualifying this answer haha –

NS: Yeah, it don’t qualify, it don’t qualify but you know, any Jamaican or Guyanese in any of those cities, that’s my go-to. But mainly, it would be mom's and aunt's because there’s nothing like home-cooked food when it is cooked with love.

AM: Your dad was a bespoke tailor and that you’re thinking about reinventing his suit line. Can you tell me about that?

NS: You know, these are some amazing questions – fantastic!

AM: It’s what we do!

NS: No it’s really good. Yeah, my dad. I have a funny story about him – he wouldn’t find it funny. But, he never got the support that he needed for his artistry and he was very much into fashion and sports. Very similar to us as children. So that’s why I think he pushed us so much. He had a factory where he used to create women’s leather and clothes in the late 80’s and 90’s. Then he had a market store which was big back in the 90’s and I think there was a crash back then, but I don’t really remember. He was always into fashion, creating and that stuff. It wasn’t until 2005 or 2006 that he had gone back to creating men’s suits which was based out of Hong Kong and he really does make great pieces, I’m not just saying it – but so much so that I wore his stuff to the Ill Manors movie that I did years ago. He fitted me, my brother and a friend and it looks amazing and I wore some stuff to Queen of the South as well from the line. He believed in me so I’m in the position now where I need these types of things and I have to say, "hey dad, I believe in you" and repay the favor. He just has really good talent. We have to wear so much of this stuff so why not keep it in the family? We’re working on it and getting it back out there, creating pieces again and hopefully in the future, our line will be something that is recognized by many.

I’m very grateful to my parents. When they say it takes a village to raise a child, it’s very true! My aunties, my uncles, the neighborhood we grew up in, the teachers – there have been some fantastic people that have been in and out of my house. My family, they’re still there and are able to recognize things from when we were growing up. So I can say, I enjoyed this then, there’s no reason why I can’t enjoy it as an adult. That really gave me a great foundation. I had friends that were super talented, but they didn’t have those outlets or the ability to explore those opportunities. So when they got older, when you’re looking for something new or you want to try, they didn’t know that these things were in their realm. So I was lucky to have martial arts, or fashion or movies or whatever it may be. I’m very fortunate for my parents and the way that they brought us up. So grateful – shout out to moms and dads and uncles and aunties – and grandmas and grandpas.

AM: Even the faux ones that you call Uncle So and So, but you don’t know where they came from, but they were always there!

NS: Yeah yeah for real – so true! Some of my uncles I mean, Uncle Leroy, he loved martial arts and he was always pushing that. Uncle Harry was just a jokester. My Auntie – so many of them. Just wonderful, lucky and very grateful!

IG @NickDSagar

PHOTOS COURTESY | PG 16 - 25 Tina Turbow | PG 26 - 31 STARZ/Run the World

Read the May Issue #65 of Athleisure Mag and see For the Community with Nick Sagar in mag.