The Burnouts with Phoebe & Sophia Meet the Stanford genius who modeled for Victoria’s Secret and won Olympic gold (ft. Eileen Gu)
80 snips
Jun 12, 2025 
Eileen Gu, an Olympic gold medalist, fashion model, and Stanford student, dives into her multifaceted life. She candidly discusses post-Olympic burnout and the challenge of defining success on her own terms. Eileen shares insights on negotiating brand deals at a young age and the pressures of being a visible young woman. She reflects on the importance of self-worth learned through solo travel, her journey through the fashion world, and the realities of balancing athletics and academics while embracing her identity.
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Fashion Meets Athletic Identity
- At 14, Eileen transitioned from wanting to be a boy in male-dominated skiing to embracing femininity through fashion.
- Fashion opened her eyes to creative expression without sacrificing her athletic identity.
Power of Humility and Criticism
- Being the 'small fish in the big pond' taught humility, openness to criticism, and fueled fast growth.
- Valuing criticism as a tool helped her resilience and learning capacity.
Embracing Biracial Identity
- Eileen faced racial bias growing up in China but stopped trying to prove she belonged.
- She embraces her biracial identity as a cultural bridge, enriching her worldview and role.