Read the MAR ISSUE #123 of Athleisure Mag and see MATCHA BEAUTY in mag.
The Olympics has so many components, from those that are qualified to hit the podium, alternates that are ready in case they need to step in, coaches/support teams, and a host of volunteers! We sat down with Starr Andrews who is an alternate for Team USA Figure Skating for the Winter Games 2026. We talked with her about the sport, how she trains, selects the components of her program, being an alternate, and more!
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with skating?
STARR ANDREWS: Definitely when I first saw it. The first time that I ever saw skating is when I thought that it was just so cool and as a child when you see something, you just think, I love that! I was so little, but I have always loved it.
AM: Did you first see it on TV or was it in person?
SA: I saw my mom skate.
AM: When we’re watching ice skating, there is an intricate blend of the music, costuming, and various movements that take place within your routine. When you are thinking about what your routine where do you start and how does it all come together?
SA: It’s kind of a process. When I pick my music, I listen to different things and then I play it in my rink to hear what it sounds like on the big speakers. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don’t. I’ll ask my coaches opinions as well. He will either be with me or he’ll be like, “maybe not.” One time he said, this sounds better in my car and I took that as a no. The music comes first and then the costume. I pull inspiration from different designers and different pieces. Sometimes if I am skating to music in a movie, it will be inspo from that movie or a music video. So if I like something, we will take something from the outfit that she wore in her music video and to see what it would look like in dress form. With choreography It’s up to my coach Derrick Delmore or Adam Rippon (1B), he did my short the past 3 years. It will be on them and I have a bit of say so and I add a bit of my touches to them, but it is mostly my coach who has the power of the program.
AM: We always enjoy hearing about how athletes optimize themselves in their sport. Are there 3 workout routines that you do to assist you when you are on the ice?
SA: We do a lot of specific exercises of course – single leg calf raises are important. That’s because our ankles need to be strong. I also do a lot of ankle exercises with bands because we are jumping on one foot and landing on one foot and our ankles need to be strong because we are landing on a blade and there is only so much you can go left or right before you’re deeply hurting your ankle. It’s very important that we are very strong ankle wise.
Our core is very important to be strong and we do a lot of core exercises just to keep it tight because it is the center of everything. If we have a loose core it’s easy to go sideways, forwards, and backwards.
AM: In general, as you are an alternate for Team USA, as well as watching everything that is going on, what makes you the most excited for the Winter Games and is there anyone specifically that you are cheering on?
SA: Of course, I am cheering on my team members – let’s go Team USA! I was just watching ice dancing yesterday and they were all amazing! It was just a different atmosphere watching the Olympics and seeing everyone skate! I have skated with them at Nationals and have seen them there as well as getting to the Olympics knowing how hard we have all worked! It makes me happy and so proud of them and for them to be able to go out there and to skate! I’m living vicariously through them and seeing their dream! Every game is different and I have watched a lot of Olympic games. I don’t know, it hits different when some of the colleagues that are there are people that I have hung out with, we have talked about skating and a bunch of different things. To see them and know who they are as a person makes me happy and I love that they are living their best life and it is so cool!
AM: We know that we will be seeing you there soon!
SA: Oh yes! I am working even harder! I seriously have FOMO right now as I want to walk around the village and see all of the things! It makes me happy that they are experiencing it.
AM: When you’re competing, do you have things that you do earlier in the day to get into the mindset of performing, and then are there things that you do to come down from all of that energy?
SA: I would say that I try to make my day as normal as possible. The reality is that it is a normal day, I just get to perform my entire program in front of judges instead of just at home in front of my coach. When I was younger, I had a little more of a tradition such as if I skated later in the day, I had spaghetti before I skated. If it was in the morning, I would always have pancakes. So that was a tradition that I had, but now I make it as normal as possible. Now I know that I just need to put my dress on and just skate as opposed to putting on leggings and a Lululemon top and just skate at home.
AM: What is your beauty routine like and what part of it assists you in ice skating?
SA: So, I would definitely say that I have very dry skin. I moisturize to the gods because my skin sucks it all in like there is no tomorrow! I always have Chapstick on because I just can’t have dry lips. I am a lip product fanatic and I have so many and I can’t deal with dry lips and I hate the idea of dryness so moisturizing is king! In the morning, I put so many things on and the last thing is an oil based sunscreen. After my skin gets nice and thick, I love it.
AM: You have partnered with Gillette Venus, why did you want to connect with them and what are you doing with them?
SA: I have loved them before I connected with them as I used the razors. I love them! I found out that they have even more razors than I know like pubic hair razors – gamechanger! I love the fact that it is small and it’s easy to travel with it. It has this 1 razor on top that is like a trimming razor and I love that they have it. I feel that sometimes it’s hard to use razors that don’t have it because the small areas that I have it really can be focused on by having it. I am obsessed with it and I like how it is very grippy. Most razors have just the thumb that you can hold it. This one doesn’t slip at all. All razors should have this, especially when you’re in the shower and there is water!
AM: What can we keep an eye out for?
SA: I don’t have any competitions for me right now because I am an alternate for the Olympics as well as Worlds. We’ll see what happens with that. My last competitions was 2-3 weeks ago so I am just training and enjoying watching the Olympics! Make sure to follow me socially as I’m always updating my status as they say on Instagram!
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Melanie Heaney/U.S. Figure Skating
Read the FEB ISSUE #122 of Athleisure Mag and see THE 9LIST in mag.
Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE BEAUTY in mag.
Read the DEC ISSUE #120 of Athleisure Mag and see THE 9LIST in mag.
Read the NOV ISSUE #119 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE BEAUTY in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Chloe Wine Collection
And just like that, we’re in the Holiday Season. We are days away from a New Year and yet the final month is filled with weeks of activities that can definitely make our calendar look like complete chaos! We know that we have a number of events, deadlines to meet, gifting to do, meals and more! With all that is going on, we want to look amazing wherever we’re going. Chloe Wine Collection and Drybar have launched their Holiday Bow Bar at participating salons that allows you to mix beauty, gifting, and your favorite Drybar studio across the country.
Today through Jan 4th, you can book the Holiday Bow Bar Experience Bow & Wine Upgrade to take your blowout to the next level with a glass of Chloe Pinot Grigio (21+ at participating locations to enjoy responsibly) and a designer Lele Sadoughi bow. In addition to booking your appointment, you can bring up to 2 gifts to be professionally wrapped complimentary (during 2 of busiest holiday weekends if you are in NYC - Tribeca, LA - Culver City, or Dallas - North Park on Dec 13th, 14th, 20th, and 21st for the Holiday Bow Bar Wrapping Experience) while getting your hair done and enjoying a glass of wine.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
Read the OCT ISSUE #118 of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure Beauty in mag.
This Summer we have enjoyed a number of our favorite songs, ticked off things on our bucket lists and with a few weeks left, we continue to add to our playlists. We need to make room for Sommer Ray - DJ, fitness influencer, and entrepreneur who has been dropping singles and touring here in NY, Las Vegas, Cancun, and Cabo San Lucas to name a few must visit destinations as she finishes phase 2 of her Summer tour.
We wanted to find out more about her background, her passions, and the importance of fitness in her life. Of course, we explore who she has worked with as a DJ, music she has dropped and what we can keep an eye out for. We also wanted to lear more about projects that she is working on from beverages to Imaraïs Beauty.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we delve into your recent tour and DJing, we’d like to get to know more about you. When did you fall in love with fitness?
SOMMER RAY: Fitness has been part of my life since I was a kid. My mom was a competitive bodybuilder, so I grew up in the gym and around that lifestyle. I loved the way training made me feel, both physically and mentally, and that connection never left.
AM: As someone who is constantly on the go, what are 3 workouts that you enjoy doing as we are always looking to add to our routines?
SR: I love weight training, Pilates, and yoga. Weight training keeps me strong, Pilates works my core and improves posture, and yoga helps me stay flexible while giving me a mental reset.
AM: What led to the launch of your fashion brand of fitness apparel and what do you enjoy about designing it?
SR: I wanted to create pieces that I would actually wear myself, things that feel good, move with you, and look great both in and out of the gym.
AM: Tell us about Imaraïs Beauty.
SR: Imaraïs Beauty is a plant-based beauty brand that focuses on gummies for skin, hair, and overall wellness. Everything is vegan, cruelty-free, and made with ingredients that really work. It’s about beauty from the inside out!
AM: We grew up as kids drinking Shirley Temples and have loved the trend of Dirty Shirley. You have Tempted. Why did you want to create this brand?
SR: I can’t share too much yet, but I’ve been teasing something in that space and there are some big things coming. It’s fun, it’s fresh, and I think people are going to be really excited when they see the full picture.
AM: What do you love about EDM music?
SR: I love the energy and the way it can instantly change your mood. EDM brings people together without needing words, it’s all about the vibe and the shared experience.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be a DJ?
SR: I used to host club nights, and after a while I realized I’d rather be the one curating the vibe than just sitting in the club. Once I started learning to mix, it clicked for me that this was how I wanted to be part of the energy.
AM: What is your creative process like when you are creating music?
SR: It usually starts with a feeling or a vibe I want to capture. I’ll think about the energy I want people to feel, then start building around that, whether it’s a beat, a hook, or a bass line that sets the tone.
AM: You dropped No Sleep last fall with Martin Jensen and earlier this year LaLaLa (Everybody’s Up) with a remix by HEDEGAARD. What was it like to release these songs?
SR: Both were amazing experiences. No Sleep had a fun, uplifting energy, while LaLaLa was heavier and more club-focused. Seeing people connect with them live has been the most exciting part.
AM: You recently dropped She’s A DJ. Why did you want to create this song and what was the process like for you?
SR: I wanted to make a song that was cheeky and empowering, especially as a female in a space that’s still very male-dominated. The process was fun, I leaned into personality and made sure it captured that “own the room” vibe.
AM: As you continue to navigate your music career, what artists would you like to work with?
SR: Calvin Harris and Martin Garrix are both at the top of my list. They’re legends in dance music who know how to make tracks that hit globally while still feeling fresh. Collaborating with either of them would be a dream, and I think we could create something high-energy that really connects with people.
AM: You have been touring for the past few weeks. What do you love about sharing your music with those in the cities that you are stopping in?
SR: Every city has a different energy. I love seeing how crowds react to certain tracks and how the vibe shifts depending on where you are. It keeps every show fresh.
AM: Since you’re traveling so much, how do you make your hotel and the city you’re in feel like home?
SR: I make time to hit the gym, explore local food spots with my team, and meet people at the shows. Those little routines and experiences make each city feel personal and keep the travel from feeling too repetitive.
AM: What upcoming projects do you have that you would like to share with us?
SR: I have more singles coming this year and a few exciting collaborations in the works. I’m also building out my live shows to make them even more of an experience.
AM: How do you take time for yourself as you have a lot going on as an entrepreneur, DJ, etc.?
SR: I carve out small daily routines that keep me balanced, morning workouts, staying active, and making time to unplug from my phone. Even when life is busy, those little moments to reset are important.
IG @sommerray
PHOTOS COURTESY | Sommer Ray
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see THAT IT VIBE | Sommer Ray in mag.
Read the AUG ISSUE #116 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE BEAUTY in mag.
