Alana Blanchard
The issues that female athletes face are multifaceted and pervasive. Alana Blanchard, a professional surfer, model, and actress from Hawaii, serves as a poignant example of how the very thing that should be celebrated most – her ability to bring a new life into this world – is turned against her. Blanchard is a well-rounded surfer, capable of seizing any opportunity in the barrel or off the lip, and has won heats and contests against the world’s best.
However, when she announced her pregnancy, everything changed. Blanchard’s long-term sponsor, Rip Curl, parted ways with her, allegedly because they were unhappy with her having a child, as per her tearful video statement. Blanchard had been surfing for Rip Curl since she was 14 and claimed that the company started treating her differently when she became pregnant with her son, Banks. Although the brand has denied Blanchard’s claims and said they wanted to re-sign her, they could not agree on terms.
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Blanchard, who has a large following on social media platforms like Instagram and her own YouTube channel, has been struggling since the split. Her experience highlights the unfortunate reality that even successful female athletes face discrimination and adversity when it comes to motherhood and family planning, underscoring the need for more support and inclusivity in sports for women.
