Model Diaries with Jordan Chiles

Photographed by Sage East

Vibrant, fearless, and unapologetically herself, Jordan Chiles continues to redefine what it means to be a modern athlete. A two-time Olympian and gold medalist, she brings an undeniable energy to gymnastics—one that extends far beyond the competition floor. From her electrifying performances on the global stage to her bold sense of style and magnetic personality, Jordan captivates with both power and authenticity. Fresh off a milestone year—from Olympic glory in Paris to a standout turn on Dancing with the Stars—she is also stepping into a new role as a mentor and changemaker with the launch of her SHERO Athlete Collective, a platform dedicated to empowering the next generation of female athletes. As she enters this exciting new chapter, Jordan reflects on her journey, the moments that have defined her, and what’s next as she steps into an exciting new chapter.

What’s the first thing that you do when you wake up in the morning?
The first thing that I do when I wake up in the morning is probably let my dogs out or go on Pinterest.

What’s always in your gym bag?
In my gym bag—since I am a gymnast—I always have to have grips, plus something to keep my lips very moisturized. Chapstick or a lip gloss.

Describe your personal style in three words.
My personal style in three words would probably be monochromatic because I just love wearing the same colors. Unique and probably very out there—like outgoing. I never like to be on the trend that’s happening. I like to be a few trends ahead of it.

Who is your style icon?
My ultimate style icon is Megan Thee Stallion—shout out to her.

What’s your go-to off-duty outfit?
My go-to off-duty outfit is most likely sweats.

Favorite city you’ve traveled to so far?
I’ve traveled to a lot of cities, and I would probably have to say New York or Chicago.

One place still on your travel bucket list?
One place on my travel bucket list would be Bora Bora or Fiji.

What’s currently on your playlist?
Currently on my playlist, I have Beyoncé, Normani, and Kehlani. That kind of rhymed.

One beauty item you can’t live without?
One beauty item I can’t live without—most likely contour.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
One thing people would probably be surprised to learn about me is that I played the clarinet all through middle school. I was first chair, and I was in marching band. I’m so cool.

As a two-time Olympic gymnast celebrated for your dynamic performances, resilience, and infectious energy both on and off the competition floor, how did you begin your journey in gymnastics?
Gymnastics, I like to say, kind of saved me. When I was younger, I had really bad ADHD, so my energy levels were really high. My parents decided to put me in gymnastics to see if my energy would calm down by the time I came home. It kind of just grew from there. I fell in love with the sport, and now it’s crazy to say I am a two-time Olympian, a gold medalist, and have so many other accolades connected to it. I’m happy my parents allowed my journey to flourish and gave me a new path to channel my energy. It’s crazy to think about—when I was a little kid, I didn’t think becoming an Olympian would be so grand. It was a dream of mine, but I’m happy I stayed in it because now it’s pretty cool to say that I am a two-time Olympian.

What was your experience like winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics meant everything. After Tokyo, where we got silver, we were determined to have a redemption. That was our whole cycle leading up to Paris—a redemption tour—and that’s what we did. Coming back with gold meant everything and allowed us to really be ourselves. That was a dream of mine—having a gold medal around my neck was the biggest goal of my career. Knowing I was able to do that with such a magnificent team means everything.

What was your most memorable moment at the Olympics?
My most memorable moment was when I got to bow down to Rebeca Andrade. That girl is iconic. She’s someone who has not only shaped the sport but also helped shape her country. To be recognized as a woman of color means everything—to go out there, be yourself, and be authentic. I gave her her flowers because she deserves them every single day. I love her so much. That’s something I’ll always remember.

What was the first thought that went through your mind before stepping onto the Olympic floor?
The first thought that went through my mind before stepping onto the Olympic floor was, “Wow, I made it.” As a little kid, we have big dreams and goals to become something great. I’m named after Michael Jordan, so I really wanted to take that namesake to heart—and I did. I think it’s really cool that I had that opportunity not just once, but twice. Every time I stepped onto that Olympic floor, I thought, “Wow, the little girl in you is so proud.”

Which Olympic routine felt the most personal to you?
The Olympic routine that felt most personal to me would probably be any floor routine I did. I danced to Beyoncé—Beyoncé watched me—the list goes on. Being able to show my personality through my floor routine means everything. Music is art, and as gymnasts, we are artists too. Combining music and sport at the Olympic Games was amazing. Every time I did my floor routine, it was something I truly had fun with.

What does representing Team USA mean to you?
Representing Team USA means a lot. It comes from thousands of athletes narrowing down to just a few. To be part of that is incredible. I’ve been representing Team USA since I was 11, and it’s not something that just happens overnight—it takes years of work. I’m proud to be part of it. We’re so connected across every sport, winter and summer, and it’s all love.

What’s been your biggest source of strength throughout your journey?
That’s a hard question. My biggest source of strength would probably be my parents. So many people have supported me, but my parents have helped me understand that life can be hard, but you can still enjoy it. They always told me if you want something, you have to work for it. My dad always said, “If you’re going to play the game, play it right.” They’ve been my rock and my heroes, and they always lift me up, even on hard days.

What lesson from gymnastics has shaped who you are today?
A lesson from gymnastics that has shaped me is understanding that failing is okay. Gymnastics is seen as perfection, but athletes aren’t perfect. I learned early on that it’s okay to fail because I’m human. I carry that with me in everything I do—failing is just a lesson.

What’s something people don’t see about the Olympic experience?
People don’t see that we don’t just wake up and become Olympians. It takes years—sometimes starting from when we’re very young. It’s not something we’re gifted; we work for it. It’s a hard process, and there’s a lo lot behind the scenes people don’t see.

Are you going for 2028?
That’s a great question. Everybody keeps asking me about 2028—I’m just going to leave it at that.

Looking back, what has the Dancing with the Stars experience meant to you personally and professionally?
Dancing with the Stars has meant so much—mentally, personally, physically, emotionally. Everything about it made me realize so much about who I am. It also helped me understand how important mental health is and how big of a role it plays, especially when you don’t always know how to express what you’re feeling. Being on the show allowed me to express my emotions and tell my story through dance. Whether it was through choreography or music, I was able to navigate what I was going through as an athlete. From the cast to my partner Ezra—who was phenomenal—to the friendships and behind-the-scenes moments, there was so much people didn’t get to see. I’m really grateful I got to experience all of that.

What moment from the show are you most proud of?
The biggest moment I’m most proud of would be making it to the finale. I don’t think a lot of people realize the last gymnast to make it to the finale was Laurie Hernandez, so when I did, I was like, “Oh my gosh, I made it.” That was huge for me. I also think overcoming self-doubt was a big part of it. I feel like some people underestimated me because I’m a gymnast, but I wanted to prove them wrong. I’m an Aries—I like proving people wrong. I had an amazing experience and stayed confident, even when learning dances got tough.

What was the funniest behind-the-scenes moment from Dancing with the Stars that viewers didn’t get to see?
A funny moment people didn’t get to see was that I scared Ezra almost every single day. I would hide behind doors and pop out—I actually have videos of it. Also, people didn’t see how many times I ordered food. It was basically my meal every rehearsal, along with a lot of Sprites and other drinks.

What are you most excited about for the Dancing with the Stars Live tour?
I’m really excited about going on the Dancing with the Stars Live tour. I’ve done two tours before and loved being able to just go out there and perform without worrying about anything else. Those tours were gymnastics-related, but this is different. I still entertain in my sport, but I have to focus a lot more. On tour, it’s just about having fun. I’m also excited to see the cast and the pros again and be back in that environment. Being on the ballroom floor meant everything to me, so getting back into those dancing shoes is really exciting.

What’s one mantra you live by?
One mantra I live by is, “Always believe in the power of your dreams.” It’s actually my own quote that I created years ago. I live by it because anything is possible. As a kid, I didn’t have imaginary friends—I had imaginary dreams. And those dreams have come true. Life can be tough, but you can still live it to the fullest.

What does confidence mean to you?
Confidence means a lot of different things. If you’re confident in who you are, it shows your authentic self to the world. I always say, if you can look in the mirror and find things you love about yourself, that’s confidence. It’s about standing your ground, understanding your worth, and accepting that imperfections are okay. I had to learn confidence—it didn’t come naturally. But once you find it within yourself, everything else starts to make sense. 

You’ve just celebrated your 25th birthday and recently concluded your athletic career—a transformative moment in your life. What are you most excited for and looking forward to in the future?
Now that I’m 25, I feel like life has so much more in store for me. I’ve accomplished a lot in my career, but I still feel like there’s so much I want to do in life. I’m excited to travel and explore new opportunities. I’ve experienced the fashion world, the music world—maybe I’ll try cooking next. I love challenging myself. I’m also taking time to process the fact that my NCAA career has come to an end and figure out what’s next. I’m spontaneous, so who knows where life will take me.

You’ve also recently launched the SHERO Athlete Collective, supporting young female athletes in every stage of their journey. What inspired this platform, and how do you hope to shape the next generation of women in sport?
SHERO actually came from my aunt who passed away. She used to call me her hero, but I always felt like “hero” sounded masculine. I wanted something that reflected powerful women—so “SHERO.” I created the athlete collective to help athletes understand they’re more than just their sport. If you want to be a doctor or pursue something else, go for it. I want to mentor and support athletes in becoming their best selves. The idea is “she walks so others can run.” I’ve done the groundwork so the next generation can go even further and truly enjoy their journey.

Any upcoming projects you can share?
I wish I could share everything, but I can’t right now. After finishing my NCAA career, I’m really focused on discovering what else I can do outside of gymnastics. I’ve done a lot in that space, so now it’s about exploring new opportunities.

When you look ahead, what kind of legacy do you hope to leave?
When people ask about my legacy, it’s hard to answer because I feel like there’s still so much more I want to show. But I hope people see that I stayed true to who I am. I want them to understand I didn’t do this alone—I had an incredible support system. Most importantly, I want people to have fun with their lives. We only get one life, so go out there and do what you love. Whether it’s fashion, racing, or something completely different—just enjoy it. That’s the legacy I hope to leave.