LSU women's basketball star Angel Reese embraces 'Bayou Barbie' nickname. Merch may be next

Cory Diaz, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
·2 min read
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BATON ROUGE – New year, new season, new you.

At least, that's how her short time so far in Baton Rouge has gone for Angel Reese.

The star player, who's helped guide No. 3 LSU women's basketball to a program-best 22-0 start and the program's longest winning streak at 22 games, is in the process of garnering a trademark for "Bayou Barbie."

Reese's mother, Angel, and her Name, Image, Likeness representative Jeanine Ogbonnaya confirmed to The Daily Advertiser on Thursday night that Angel Reese has opened up the "Bayou Barbie" trademark process.

Ogbonnaya, a sports marketing specialist out of New Jersey that Reese has partnered with since her days at Maryland, said that trademarking process "should be completed in a few weeks."

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LSU's sophomore forward was asked following the team's 82-77 overtime victory over Georgia inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center about the name she's been referred to during recent television broadcasts and interviews.

"Everybody in Baton Rouge calls me the Bayou Barbie," Reese said. "My nails say 'Bayou Barbie' on them. So yeah, that's me. I got a trademark, so ...

"I'm Bayou Barbie."

Over the past couple of weeks, supporters have shown up with "Bayou Barbie" signs in the stands. There have been billboards put up around the city with Reese's face on them.

Reese's ability to trademark is yet another sign of the shift that has transpired in the NCAA over the last couple of years. With athletes being able to monetize on their name, image and likeness, it's created different avenues for athletes to capitalize while still competing in college.

Once Reese's trademark is finalized, Ogbonnaya said, she will be able to put "Bayou Barbie" on merchandise.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Angel Reese: LSU women's basketball star loves 'Bayou Barbie' nickname