As the only historically Black college and university (HBCU) with a swimming and diving program, Howard University athletes have highlighted conversations around Black hair in swimming through brand collaborations.
Howard’s partnership with swimwear brand Speedo, first started in October of 2024, is more than just a sponsorship that provides equipment to the team. According to Speedo, their mission strives to create opportunities and eliminate stigmas.
Ty Triche is a 2025 Northeastern Conference (NEC) champion and member of Howard’s men’s swimming and diving team. He said that being a Speedo partner plays a significant role in bringing Black representation to swimming and allowing Howard’s teams to serve as a role model for young Black swimmers.
“Speedo is actually so supportive of our team,” said Triche, a biology major. “Speedo is such a big brand in the swimming space, so seeing Howard swim and dive definitely helps with the representation, kind of bringing more young Black swimmers into the sport.”
Zuilda Nwaeze is team captain of the women’s swimming and diving team. She said that she went through many hair phases, including relaxing her hair, before finally figuring out the best routine to have while swimming. Now she uses protective styles to try to resist chlorine and retain moisture, and dedicates Saturdays to thoroughly washing her hair.
“It was really quite a process for me to learn how to take care of my hair and to kind of accept myself for who I was,” said Nwaeze, a psychology major.
She said that before coming to Howard, she wasn’t able to have open conversations about her hair with her teammates because they didn’t relate to her struggles, with hair care and expression being a big part of Black culture.
Howard’s swimming and diving program also partners with Mielle, a Black-founded haircare brand. They provide the athletes with products that promote healthy hair care.
“It was very validating for [Mielle] to see us… and see how we’re trying to stay true to our roots,” Nwaeze said. “It just felt like an acknowledgment of the hard work that we put in, and that they were making an effort to get to know us as a program and the life of a Black swimmer.”
Black people face various hair barriers, including chemical damage to Black hair textures, and the lack of equipment to accommodate them, according to Essence.
Chanice Posada is a member of the women’s swimming and diving team. She detailed her experiences with her hair growing up swimming.
“Growing up, it was hard knowing how to manage my hair, especially because everyone around me could wash their hair every day,” said Posada, a psychology major. “Also, there were a lot of microaggressions that I went through being in a predominantly white sport and growing up in a predominantly white club.”
Though swimming is both a form of exercise and a skill, stigmas often overshadow its positive impacts.
“Black kids are [more likely] to drown because of the historical lack of access to pools and segregation,” said Samyra Benoit, another member of the swimming and diving team. “To see someone who looks like you do what you deem as impossible is revolutionary.”
World Aquatics, formerly known as Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), is the international governing body for water sports and is recognized by the Olympics. During the 2021 Summer Olympics, the organization banned Soul Cap, a swim apparel brand that designs swim caps specifically for Black hair textures.
The reasoning behind the ban was that these caps did not follow “the natural form of the head,” claiming that the swim caps were unnecessarily large. The ban ignited widespread debates about inclusivity, as it created additional obstacles for Black athletes.
According to the BBC, this explanation was not accepted by the swimming community, and they voiced their opinions about the ban. The decision was later reviewed, and the ban was ultimately lifted; however, the impact still stands.
“I was really disappointed…to know that they took away the Soul Cap,” Posada said. “If we’re trying to make the sport more inclusive and get people from different walks of life, different textures of hair to join, why would we take out the very thing that’s allowing more people to join?”
Brands created with Black swimmers in mind work to expand access for these athletes, as well as representation in the sport. Benoit feels that brand partnerships motivate more people to get involved in swimming by increasing representation.
“If anything, I’d love to see more encouragement from retailers to get all types of people in the water,” said Benoit, a TV and film production major. “Whether this looks like supporting brands like [Alma Ocean] or Soul Cap on a nationwide scale, because it starts with the companies, then trickles down to the consumer.”
Triche, a biology major, sees that the brand partnerships with the team not only help athletes navigate hair challenges but also bring more exposure to the sport overall.
“I think for all those brands, it’s just so important to see that they’re providing that support so that Black people get into swimming,” said Triche.
Speedo and Mielle’s collaborations with Howard show that hair care and swimming are not mutually exclusive for young Black athletes.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
