Naomi Osaka on Advocating Against Injustices: “I Knew I Wanted to Create Change”

Since winning her first U.S. Open title in 2018, Naomi Osaka, 24, has taken the tennis world by storm. Quickly becoming a fan favorite, she rose through the ranks as a fierce competitor. And while the athlete is known for being a tough opponent on the tennis court, in the past year, Naomi has become renowned for her work advocating for marginalized communities and mental health.

In 2020, she flew to St. Paul, Minnesota, to pay homage to George Floyd after he was murdered in May and hit the streets to protest police brutality. During the 2020 U.S. Open, she wore seven face masks with George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, Elijah McClain, Tamir Rice, and Breonna Taylor written on them. Each mask Naomi wore represented Black-Americans unjustly killed by police officials or civilians.

In 2021, Naomi continued to speak up. First, she fought to destigmatize mental health in sports by sharing her struggles and publicly announcing her decision to drop out of the French Open to prioritize her well-being. Most recently, she's developed KINLÒ to provide Black, Brown, and Asian-Pacific communities with access to sun care products. For Naomi, using her voice to highlight injustice is the only option.

What inspired you to start using your platform to advocate against social injustice?

I feel it's an honor to use my platform towards positive change and education. Be it advocating for social injustice or standing up for people that feel they are voiceless, or raising awareness and education on health issues in underserved communities via my line KINLÒ. Just having the chance to touch people is such an honor.

What moment did you realize you wanted to use your platform for positive change and education?

For me, it wasn't a moment but more a nagging feeling I really couldn't pinpoint. I knew I wanted to create change but wasn't really clear how. I then realized that when I decided to speak up about things that personally mattered to me it resonated with others and gave me the courage to speak up more.

How do you manage being a renowned athlete while also being an advocate for social justice and mental health?

I hope what I do on the court inspires others. And for me, it inspires me to align on issues that matter off the court.

Can you talk about the importance of prioritizing your mental health and well-being while advocating for marginalized communities?

The work we are doing with my company KINLÒ to raise awareness about skin cancer and educate marginalized communities about protection is so rewarding. Those are the activations that drive me in my own life to live and do better.

How do you prioritize your own mental health while educating and advocating for others?

I am a fan of meditation and like to meditate in the morning even if it's for a short period of time. There are some good apps that anyone can use, and I find them helpful. Music is also a calming force for me; I listen to it often when I just need to clear my head.

What message do you hope to leave with future generations of athletes that follow in your footsteps?

This isn't an easy question as I feel each of us has our own paths that are so unique. On that note, perhaps my message is don't follow in anyone's footsteps, do what feels right to you, and create your own journey, and no matter what, believe in yourself. Nobody else's opinions of you matter, only your own.

What does being a Voices of the Year honoree mean to you?

Its been an honor to use my voice for positive change, and I would say thank you for the platform.

Photos courtesy of KINLÓ; Design by Yoora Kim

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