By Kiya Wimbush-Robinson
With a strong presence on and off the court, Alabama A&M University women鈥檚 basketball coach Dawn Thornton joins the Essence Festival of Culture for the highly anticipated 鈥淧lay the Game, Get the Look鈥 panel. In addition to her superb coaching abilities, Thornton has gained a major following for her game day fashion choices, bringing in over seven million views on Instagram this season.
With the theme 鈥淢ade Like This,鈥 this year鈥檚 Essence Festival holds particular significance as it commemorates the 55th anniversary of Essence Magazine. Through its platform, BeautyCon is showcasing Southern women who are redefining beauty narratives and challenging antiquated, one-dimensional norms. Thornton is an excellent example of that objective.
鈥淢y style is definitely an extension of who I am,鈥 Thornton shared. 鈥淚t鈥檚 confident, intentional, and sometimes a little extra鈥攊n the best way. That鈥檚 how I coach, too. I鈥檓 big on presence and energy. Your preparation is your separation. Confidence isn鈥檛 just taught鈥攊t鈥檚 modeled. I want my players to always see that in me.鈥
For Thornton, fashion serves as a leadership tool in addition to being aesthetically pleasing. Her striking appearance makes it very evident to her HBCU student-athletes that they can be strong, confident, and unashamedly themselves.
鈥淚 want my players to know it鈥檚 okay to stand out, to take pride in how you show up, and to lead with confidence on and off the court,鈥 she said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to dim your light to lead. There鈥檚 strength in owning who you are. If I can show up in a bold outfit and handle business, it shows them they can do the same in any space.鈥
During the season, Thornton puts in just as much effort into her team as she does her stylish outfits, leading them to a very successful season. The Lady Bulldogs earned the third seed in the SWAC tournament after finishing the 2024鈥25 season in third place in the regular season standings. Unfortunately, they lost to Alcorn State 56-53 in the quarterfinals, ending their season. Despite the loss, the team was awarded a place in the WNIT tournament.
In-depth discussion of how beauty trends originating in sports culture impact society at large, particularly Black communities, will be covered by the panel 鈥淧lay the Game, Get the Look.鈥 The discussion will also go into the ways that feeling and looking good contribute to the winning attitude on any stage.
鈥淕ame day is a whole vibe, and my look is part of the energy I bring,鈥 she explained. 鈥淪ometimes the goal is to make a bold statement. Other times, it鈥檚 about feeling grounded and confident in my own skin. Either way, it鈥檚 part of the game plan. How I show up visually matters just as much as how I show up mentally.鈥
The Essence Festival and BeautyCon will take place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from July 3鈥6, with daily activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.