Nike powerhouse unveils two new faces for their latest indigenous collection in the name of 2022 Miss Aloha Hula Piʻikea Lopes and Native American Professional Track, and Field Athlete Janee’ Kassanavoid.
Lopes is the first-ever Native Hawaiian featured in the special edition collection. She gracefully showcased her indigenous origin and award-winning antique sway and fashion in the Times Square advertisement.
At 22, Lopes is an accomplished young maiden: a hula dancing champion and skilled powerlifter defender who graduated from the University of Hawaii-Manoa and is soon to graduate with her master’s in teaching.
“It’s nice being noticed by a globally known brand wanting to feature Hawaiʻi and acknowledge hula as a sport,” she said.
Meanwhile, Janee’ Kassanavoid from Missouri stands in the same limelight highlighting her glory of being the first indigenous woman to victory in the 2022 World Track and Field Championships, through her passion for the hammer throw.
Geared on shedding light on Native American youth and Indigenous societies in the Northern part of America, Nike conducts multi-million dollars’ worth of extension programs to make their grantees live a wholesome, pleasing, and prosperous life just as what they are doing to Lopes and Kassanavoid.
