It is always cause for celebration when a black woman breaks down barriers and makes history.
This could be Shirley Chisholm becoming the first black woman to be elected to United States Congress, Hattie McDaniel earning the distinction of the first black woman to win an Academy Award, or Alice Coachman becoming the first African American woman to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
These triumphs all took place in the twentieth century, but it’s important to remember that history is still being made in 2022.
Take Starr Andrews. At the age of just 21, she recently became the first African American woman to win a medal in a singles competition in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
Make no mistake about it: this is a big deal. While the impressive feat might not have made headlines around the world in the same way that it did when Jesse Owens picked up four gold medals in track at the Olympic Games in 1936, it’s significant evidence of how black men and women continue to prove their talents in fields that they have historically been excluded from or had obstacles to contend with.
In turn, this means that a lot of responsibility lands on Starr’s shoulders – and it’s safe to say that she’s already rising to the challenge and proving that she’s a worthy role model. She’s not shy about dreaming big, nor does she avoid sharing her opinion on sensitive issues.
Yes, her career is still young, but it’s already off to a flying start. This is what you need to know about Starr Andrews.
Getting Her Skates On
Starr was born in Los Angeles, California, in June 2001. Part of a family where she has two older sisters and a brother, she had her first experience with the ice when she was just three years old. This happened when she watched her mother, Tosh, taking skating lessons.
It was Tosh’s hope that one of her daughters would have a similar passion for the sport and this became a reality when her little girl Starr showed a huge appetite to lace up her own skates and join in the fun.
Starr was officially in training by 2005. She initially pursued the hobby alongside gymnastics, but after showing a knack for both sports her mother encouraged her to focus her attention on just one. Starr chose figure skating – and thus began the journey that we still see her on today.
While honing her skills and fantasising about the prospect of one day making it big in the field, Starr was unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight when she performed a program to Willow Smith’s ‘I Whip My Hair’ in 2010. During the routine, she could be seen executing a series of advanced moves on the ice while only nine years old.
The video was uploaded onto YouTube and became a viral hit. Now – 12 years after it first saw the light of day – it can claim more than 57 million views! In many ways, Starr was on people’s radars well before they even knew it.
During an interview with Blossom On Ice in 2020, Starr was asked about becoming an overnight sensation and how she felt about the video attracting so many hits.
She said:
“It has so many views and a lot of people know about that video. They probably don’t know it’s me now, but back then it was like, ‘Wow, that’s really, really cool’.”
Chasing Success
Starr has gotten to where she is today through a combination of natural talent and a willingness to put the work in. But while growing up with a dream of being the best, she might not have realised that the odds were stacked against her. As well as battling with a long-undiagnosed heart issue, black figure skaters have historically been faced with barriers when entering – and then excelling – in the sport.
Perhaps the greatest example of this is Mabel Fairbanks. Beginning skating in the 1920s, she became an elite competitor. However, by the 1930s, she was prevented from competing for US and Olympics titles because of her race.
While these days, race alone won’t prevent someone from entering professional figure skating competitions, it’s often the case that the cost associated with training for the profession can mean that it’s too much of a financial burden for many black families who, in many instances, still don’t have access to the same economic opportunities as their white counterparts.
In looking for inspiration, Starr had someone she could aspire towards. Surya Bonaly was a legendary French figure skater who became the first black woman to win in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating back in 1995.
Keeping It On Ice
Starr’s record-breaking win isn’t something that’s merely come out of the blue. Instead, it’s been something that hasn’t just been a long time coming – but at times felt almost inevitable.
After Derrick Delmore became Starr’s coach in 2013, she found herself in the perfect position to hone her skillset and become one of the very best. The first instance in which the competitive world could see that she was a force to be reckoned with came when she placed sixth on the novice level at the 2016 U.S. Championships.
That same year Starr would make her international debut – and once again it gave the world a strong glimpse of what she was capable of on the ice. On this occasion, she won the junior ladies’ title at the Golden Bear of Zagreb in October 2016.
It’s easy to forget that Starr was only a teenager during these competitions. It’s, therefore all the more remarkable that she’s been able to perform at such a high level, especially when battling an ailment called Supraventricular tachycardia, which causes her heart to beat alarmingly fast.
In 2020 she came sixth in the US Championships before later finishing eighth in the World Junior Championships. Only a few months later, she underwent surgery in which an extra nerve to her heart needed to be burned off due to her Supraventricular tachycardia.
Who would have thought that more success – and her biggest success yet – was just around the corner?
Starr Andrews – A History-Making Win
The winds of change were blowing over figure skating when Starr Andrews laced up her trusted skates ahead of the Grand Prix Series in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada in October 2022.
Landing an impressive six triple jumps in the free skate, Starr was awarded a silver. This, of course, was the first time an African American woman had ever accomplished this feat.
Overcome with emotion, Starr was photographed smiling from ear to ear while her hands were clasped against her chest. It was clear that the magnitude of the moment – and the significance of winning the medal – hadn’t escaped her.
She had every right to feel proud of herself. Thankfully anyone watching the moment could see that she was.
Starr would later reflect on the victory, saying that she wanted to be seen as an example of what other athletes could achieve.
She told the Los Angeles Times:
“It’s huge. It’s breaking barriers and paving a way for other young athletes like me and letting them know it’s possible that they can do it. I think it’s so cool.”
With Great Power…
As the saying goes: with greater power comes great responsibility.
Now that Starr has gained even more national attention and seems well-positioned to keep making history, she is quickly becoming a role model.
She represents young athletes. She represents women. She represents African-Americans.
While the silver medal victory will be the ultimate springboard into this position, Starr has actually been fighting for her beliefs for many years and standing up for what she believes in through many different means. We saw this first hand in July 2020 – just a matter of weeks after the death of George Floyd.
Sharing a video online in which she could be seen performing a routine to Mickey Guyton’s song ‘Black Like Me’, Starr began the video with a quick note to her viewers. She said:
“This program honours the struggles that African Americans have – and still are – enduring.”
It was a fitting tribute made during the growing Black Lives Matter movement.
Coach Derrick Delmore – who choreographed the enchanting moves that people saw Starr execute with so much poise in the video – later spoke out about the importance of the tribute by Starr.
He told Amsterdam News:
“I think that was very empowering for her and made her feel like she was really standing with her community and using her athleticism and artistry to make a statement, which was wonderful.”
The footage was extremely well received and has been ‘liked’ more than 11,000 times on YouTube. It’s been seen by people all across the globe, including former First Lady Michelle Obama.
In fact, Obama was so enthralled by the footage that she shared it on her official social channels along with a special message for Starr.
She wrote: “Wow! Thank you @Skating_Starr – this is such a powerful performance. To all the Black kids out there striving for excellence in the face of those who doubt you: Keep going. Keep telling the story of your experience. We see you.”
Starrs In Your Eyes
What’s next for Starr Andrews? Well, quite a lot actually.
It’s clear that her influence is now at an all-time high. She’s followed by people across many different social channels – some of which have little or no knowledge of figure skating. Instead, they’re interested in the woman behind those oh-so-elegant moves on the ice.
The ice, however, is where Starr’s priorities still firmly remain. Silver could just be the beginning, with gold hopefully just around the corner. Yes, there’s even more history to be made.
The inspiring 21-year-old is now looking ahead to the possibility of competing at the Winter Olympics. You can bet that she’ll have her eyes on the top prize.
While Starr’s trophy cabinet could be getting a lot bigger, it’s not just about the hardware that she collects along the way. With every twist and turn that she makes on the ice, she wants to send a very positive message to anyone who’s watching from the sidelines – no matter what their own dreams are.
“I want my skating to help people remember that no matter what they’re going through or who they are or where they come from,” she told Shondaland in 2018, “that their lives matter, their dreams matter, and there’s always something to live for.”
It would seem that Starr’s journey is only just beginning – and we’re more than thrilled to be coming along for the ride!
