COVER: Saniyah Glenn

Harvard University’s sports phenom Saniyah Glenn-Bello gets candid about her experience on campus, being a Black woman in sports, and defining her personal style. Creative Direction and Styling by James R. Sanders, Photographs by Alexz Roze, Hair and Makeup by Kinshasa Hunter.

All athletes have a why — that thing that makes you pick up the ball, and play. Certainly being a student at Harvard is demanding enough, but why are you playing sports as well? What about the game, keeps you coming back?

Basketball has always been a part of my life. Both of my parents played, so I was introduced to the game at an early age. From the moment I picked up a ball, I had a natural feel for it. But basketball is more than just a game — it creates connections and builds a sense of family with people you might never have met otherwise. Once I realized the opportunities that came with excelling in the sport, I fully committed myself and never looked back

Describe your personal style as it relates to your Blackness. I am specifically referring to how you express your culture through beauty and style.