Filipina tennis star Alex Eala showed fans a different side of herself after swapping her tennis racket for high fashion at New York Fashion Week. In an interview with Cultured Magazine, the 21-year-old professional tennis player drew comparisons between sports and style, noting that passion for both serves as a powerful form of self-expression.
Photos: Jason Silva, Cultured Magazine, Alex Eala/Instagram
The Spring 2027 presentations in New York marked Eala’s debut at the iconic fashion event. She attended her very first show on September 10, 2026, wearing a blue-striped button-down shirt topped with a bold red blazer and tailored cargo trousers for the Tory Burch presentation. She completed the look with Tory Burch footwear and the brand’s signature Bunny Knot shoulder bag.
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”This is my first fashion week. I’m a little excited and nervous. There are some amazing people in this room,” Eala shared. “Sports and fashion are common in a way where you get to express yourself and show your personality.”
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During the fashion show in MoMA’s Sculpture Garden, Eala also met fashion icon and Vogue Global editorial director Anna Wintour, who directly expressed her admiration for the young tennis star.
“I’m such a big fan,” the Met Gala co-chair said.
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Later that day, Eala headed to the Michael Kors show, where she met fellow Filipina standout Kelsey Merritt—the first Filipino model to walk the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show runway.
For her second fashion presentation, the 5-foot-9 athlete wore an elegant black dress featuring 3D floral appliqués, styled with black leather gloves and a Michael Kors Sofia Large Leather Frame Satchel.
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On September 11, Eala sat front-row at Calvin Klein’s presentation alongside international stars, including Thai actress Lingling Kwong, who starred in the hit Thai GL (girl’s love) series The Secret of Us and Only You.
While Kwong opted for a minimalist look with a head-to-toe black velvet suit paired with a sleek wet-look hairstyle, Eala served a striking contrast. The tennis star stepped out in a sharp, monochromatic white ensemble featuring a button-down long-sleeved shirt and wide-legged trousers, accented by a thin black leather belt.
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“Yes, I love the all-white. It’s very reminiscent of Wimbledon, and I love the belt—how it’s a black accent. I think it really stands out,” Eala explained.
Even before the Spring 2027 presentations in New York, fashion and tennis remain deeply connected for the young athlete, as she shared her desire to incorporate Filipino elements into her tour wardrobe to honor her heritage during a media homecoming hosted by a bank in July 2026.
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”I think, on one hand, it is a way for me to pay tribute to my culture and a slight nod to where I come from,” Eala said. “On the other hand, it’s also just because I genuinely think it’s really beautiful.”
ALSO READ: Alex Eala Is Now Southeast Asia’s Highest Ranked Female Tennis Player
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