LSU's Angel Reese signs NIL deal with hair care brand Mielle

LSU star forward Angel Reese signed a name, image and likeness agreement to become an ambassador for the multicultural hair care brand Mielle Organics. A press release said the agreement is Reese’s first major beauty deal.

“Throughout the partnership, Reese’s activation with the brand will include marketing, social media, events and a limited-edition product bundle,” the release stated.

Reese, who goes by the nickname “Bayou Barbie,” has taken an interest in fashion and beauty products. She recently joined the 2023 SI Swimsuit edition.

“Athletes are the ideal beauty icons and brand ambassadors,” Reese said in a statement. “I put it out there that I wanted to work with more beauty brands, and I’m so excited to be working with Mielle! I’m a longtime user and fan of the brand, so this is the perfect partnership. I can’t wait to share more with my fans and introduce my new Mielle bundle. The last several months have been a whirlwind. I feel really blessed.”

Mielle Organics CEO Monique Rodriguez founded the company in 2014. Today, the company says it receives orders from almost 90 countries globally. The release said Mielle emphasizes using healthier ingredients as its “root to results.”

Angel Reese’s platform has grown after LSU’s title

Angel Reese averaged 23 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks in the 2023 season when the Tigers went 34-2 and won the national championship. She was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player and she received first-team All-America honors from numerous publications.

Reese’s 34 double-doubles on the season were an NCAA record.

Since the start of April, Reese has announced NIL partnerships with Intuit TurboTax, Raising Cane’s, Campus Ink, Caktus AI and Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge. Reese, teammates Flau’jae Johnson and Alexis Morris, and LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey worked the drive-thru window at a Raising Cane’s franchise in Baton Rouge days after the Tigers won the national title.

Reese and Johnson then partnered with Campus Ink to release limited-edition basketball jerseys.

“We’re thrilled to work with Angel and Flau’jae to bring their NIL merchandise to the market at such a momentous time in their careers and in what is undoubtedly a period of inflection for collegiate women’s basketball as a whole,” Campus Ink Director of Athlete Development and Partnerships Adam Cook told On3’s Pete Nakos.

Reese signed an endorsement deal with Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge with the help of the NIL collective Bayou Traditions and the marketplace MatchPoint Connection. She drives a Mercedes-Benz EQS58, which she partially paid for in addition to the assistance of the deal.

Reese has an On3 NIL Valuation of $1.4 million, which is No. 1 in women’s college basketball and 10th in the On3 NIL 100. Her valuation has increased 257% over the past 10 weeks.