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Izabel Goulart for Nike 

In stark contrast to their usual sports star campaign casting, global sporting juggernaut Nike has tapped a former Victoria’s Secret Angel as the face of its new range. But given the collection is tagged Beautiful x Powerful, it’s not hard to see how Brazilian beauty Izabel Goulart fits the bill.

The campaign also centres around icon-status runner Joan Benoit Samuelson, who created history by winning the first Olympic marathon race, obliterating the myth women aren’t physically capable of covering more than 1500m in a competitive arena. 

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Izabel Goulart with Olympic pioneer Joan Benoit Samuelson for Nike Beautiful x Powerful

Where Benoit Samuelson, now aged 59, brings the competitive prowess, Goulart brings the sport luxe glamour. In these official campaign shots, she wears a new style of premium leather off-duty trainer likely to go head-to-head with Adidas’ Gazelle and Superstar styles in the street style stakes when it’s released on October 6.

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Nike Beautiful x Powerful Cortez Premium Leather Sneaker

The collection also includes set of eye-catching jacquard-woven sneakers sporting swanky speed stripes that were inspired by Benoit Samuelson’s winning race footwear. These jacquard versions will go on sale on December 1.

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Nike Beautiful x Powerful Cortez Jacquard Sneaker. On sale December 1

Whether Izabel will remain a regular fixture in the Nike global family is yet to be seen. But for now, this is fear-allaying proof there’s mainstream commercial life after retiring from the Victoria’s Secret stable. 

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Izabel Goulart for Nike
Credit: all images courtesy Nike