The Best Olympic Beauty Moments of All Time
With the start of the 2016 Olympics, we have a little nostalgia. The Olympics have been a stealth source of beauty inspo over the years, from sleek hairstyles to bold makeup choices (looking at you, Michelle Kwan!). It's not always easy showing your true beauty style at the games, thanks to unavoidable conditions (like, you know, sweat) or safety regulations. The official USA gymnastics rulebook even bans hair near the face in case it obstructs a clear view of the landing (hello, buns and braids!). Despite it all, the best hair and makeup looks still manage to emerge victorious. To honor our favorites, here are the Olympics beauty moments that deserve their own games.
1/11Click through to see the hair and makeup moments that went for the gold (and totally won it).
LA Times via Getty Images2/11Gabby Douglas, 2012
When we weren’t busy gaping at Gabby’s jaw-dropping routines, we were falling for her pretty flush (which, by the way, matched her leotard) and what we think might be blue eyeshadow.
Getty Images3/11Michelle Kwan, 2002
Dark red lips stand out when you’re on the ice, and even though Michelle’s free skate routine only scored her the bronze that year, we think that lipstick merits a gold of its own.
Getty Images4/11Laurie Hernandez, 2016
Ah-ma-zing brows, voluminous eyelashes, and equally show-stopping curls (which are weirdly tough to find on the gymnastics floor) mean Laurie is one to watch — for her beauty game as much as her routine.
Getty Images5/11Meryl Davis, 2014
Meryl went with bold red lips and rosy cheeks for her win in Figure Skating Ice Dance — a total classic.
Sports Illustrated/Getty Images6/11Mary Lou Retton, 1984
Most gymnasts wear their hair in a ponytail — the slicker, the better. We can only assume that it helps not to have hair flopping in your face during a beam routine. But Mary Lou stole the gold with a shaggy pixie. #respect
Getty Images7/11Sanya Richards-Ross, 2012
Most runners opt for simple ponytails, but for the Women's 4 x 400m Relay, Sanya stepped it up with a side braid and long, gorgeous waves.
Getty Images8/11Lisa Leslie, 2000
Lisa’s minimalist makeup (except for that red lip, natch) and side-parted braids are worthy of a champion.
Getty Images9/11Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias, 1932
This isn’t so much a beauty moment so much as a “YAS, QUEEN” moment, since Babe took gold in both hurdles and javelin at the Olympics before going on to win every golf title available. That totally counts.
Getty Images10/11Nastia Liukin, 2008
Before there was Snooki and her Bump-It (and Katy Perry and her Bump-It), there was Nastia with what we suspect is non-Bump-It volume near the crown of her head. It’s a pretty detail to add to an otherwise sleek ponytail.
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