24 hours, two job titles: How Tuskegee guard Joirdyn Smith balances basketball and styling

At 5 years old, if Tuskegee University guard Joirdyn Smith grew too quiet at a family gathering, her family knew the one place to look for her: her grandmother’s or mother’s closet. From trying on their heels to experimenting with their necklaces, rings and purses, Smith wanted it all.

It was like someone combing through every rack in a thrift store for a one-in-a-million find. That’s how Smith treated the closets of her family’s matriarchs.

“Those were my Barbies. I never really had toys or similar things,” Smith said.

That passion never left Smith, and now, the 20-year-old has expanded beyond dressing herself using her family closets.

“I feel like it’s a full-circle moment now, being a stylist,” she said.

As Smith creates her vision board year after year, her long-term goals are quickly becoming reality. Today, she balances life as a student-athlete with a growing styling business.

Her styling and sourcing roster includes Indiana Fever guard Tyasha Harris; New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears; Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss; Washington Mystics guard Cotie McMahon; former South Carolina guard Brea Beal, who is Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn’s partner; and Jaylin Taylor, wife of Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor.

“Having a stylist isn’t about changing your style or personality,” Smith said. “It’s simply enhancing it. It’s adding to their imagination and turning them into an elevated version of themselves. The goal isn’t to make my clients different people or anything like that.”

To be on her A-game on the court and while styling, Smith keeps a tight schedule.

Her day usually begins with a team workout at 4 a.m. or 7 a.m., followed by two classes. She then returns to the basketball gym for an individualized skill workout and gets home between 4 and 5 p.m. A self-described night owl, Smith produces much of her best work after hours.

“It’s honestly really hard,” Smith said. “It’s super tedious. I’m always working and busy, but it’s super fulfilling. Styling never stops for me. On the way to games, I’m answering emails. My mind may drift in class, thinking of outfits. I do have to turn down plans with friends. In college, it’s tough, because you don’t want to miss out. It never feels like work to me. It’s my passion. I use styling as a way to escape the stressors of life, like school and even basketball sometimes, and just personal things.”

Since transferring from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta to Tuskegee University for her junior year, Smith has faced a slight obstacle when shopping for clients in person: the limited number of stores in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Being in Atlanta made it easier to shop in person and connect with established figures in the styling community. It also led her to work at Jaide, a women’s streetwear boutique where she met various people in the fashion industry.

“My friend Jesiah Thompson introduced me to [stylist] Samuel Johnson, whose roster features a number of NFL clients,” Smith said. “He’s been very helpful in my journey as a whole and has really helped me get a keen eye for pieces for male athletes.”

When working with Johnson, Smith learned how lucrative styling can be. The two occasionally go on “shopping days” where they browse and compare pieces together. Through Johnson and her independent work, Smith has met sales associates, commonly referred to as SAs, at several high-end stores who send Smith weekly photos of items they think her clients will enjoy.

Smith has also received hands-on guidance from stylist Brittany Hampton, whose clients include Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, CeeDee Lamb, tennis Grand Slam champion Sloane Stephens and more. Smith interned with Hampton during 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend, styling Bueckers.

“Paige needed some last-minute accessories just hours before the Orange Carpet,” Smith said. “She sent me and another intern to TJ Maxx, where we found two belts and about three necklaces. It was super hectic in a short period of time, but it ended up being exactly what they needed for the look.”

To get started, Smith took a hard look at the people around her whom she could begin styling. Harris, a close friend of Smith’s family, became one of her first opportunities. In 2023, while Harris was playing for the Connecticut Sun, Smith reached out to style her for the WNBA tunnel.

“Now, looking back, I’m not really a fan of the outfit, but we all have to start somewhere,” Smith said. “I decided to put together a gray monochromatic look. I was still in high school at the time, so that in itself was definitely an accomplishment. There wasn’t a formal process.”

Smith also messaged more than 20 college and professional athletes on Instagram to offer her services. She knew some would not reply, but those who did became the foundation of her client base.

After their initial collaboration in 2023, Smith styled a few more outfits for Harris during the 2025 season before committing to styling her for the entire 2026 WNBA regular season. To get Harris game-day ready, Smith uses a combination of in-person fittings, FaceTime try-ons and online links.

Occasionally, she can even send Harris’s outfits directly to her hotel room for away games, allowing Harris to pack very little.

Smith has built trust with Harris by making their fittings a collaborative experience. The duo approaches fittings as a partnership rather than Smith simply telling Harris what to wear. 

The 2017 NCAA champion said Smith consistently goes above and beyond what she is asked to do. In a recent Instagram post, Harris encouraged others in the industry to book Smith before her schedule fills up.

“2026 is my breakout year, if you will,” Smith said. “I’ve gained a lot of experiences. I was faced with some growing challenges, but I hit a lot of my goals. Now, with social media, athletes care a lot about their tunnel presence more than ever.”

As Smith’s roster continues to grow, she offers styling services, sourcing and personal shopping, each with its own associated cost. When onboarding a new client, Smith prefers to start with an introductory phone call before they complete a client survey. The survey includes questions about their personality, favorite colors to wear and what makes them feel most confident. This process has helped her maintain six consistent clients and reach more than 15 clients in the past two years.

When it comes to styling, Smith believes her X factor is simply being personable.

With the NFL season underway, two of her main clients are Beal and Taylor. For Beal, Smith primarily handles shopping and sourcing, while for Taylor, she curates game-day outfits. Smith said one of the most gratifying aspects of that relationship has been helping Taylor add more texture to her everyday style.

“It’s all about knowing your client,” Smith said. “Taylor recently had a baby, so we’ll usually opt for a shorter heel to allow her to keep up with her child. For her, we create more mature and modest looks that are still young and fun.”

Smith believes anyone can know fashion, but standing out requires both style and work ethic. She credits her mother, whom she describes as someone who wears many hats and consistently performs at a high level, for instilling that mindset.

“I want young girls — and really anyone who looks up to me — to see that you can be great at multiple things,” Smith said. “I take pride in being multifaceted. I never want to be defined by one label or placed in one box, because I believe God has given me the ability to excel in more than one area of my life.

“If I can grow into even half the woman my mom is, I’ll be proud. I truly want to be just like her.”

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