Alex Eala "Scoured the Whole Internet" for the Perfect Outfit to Meet Anna Wintour

Maria was a global fashion icon during her time as a professional tennis player, merging athletic wear with high fashion. Her career also brought her into the orbit of fashion's biggest names, including Anna Wintour, whom Alex has also met recently.

“I was very nervous,” the Filipina athlete says about meeting Anna. “She is one of those people who has such a presence, an aura. And you know how much she’s done for women, for fashion, and the impact that she has.” Having been in the same situation, Maria asked if the first thing Alex worried about was finding the perfect outfit for the occasion, to which Alex replied, “As soon as I found out, I scoured the whole internet.”

“I wore these pants that were embellished to the nines—purple—and this very simple white top with a tie [detail].” She recalled, “I got a lot of compliments, so it was really rewarding.”

It turns out that Alex doesn’t have much to worry about, especially with her style being Anna Wintour-approved. They also shared the front row at New York Fashion Week a month ago.

Maria echoed Alex’s sentiments, recognizing Anna’s impact on both fashion and sports, as she is a huge tennis fan herself. Maria said, “I always feel so fortunate that we have this incredible woman that paves the way for young girls and boys in our sport. She’s chosen our sport.”

Alex concluded, “I’ve had amazing opportunities to meet amazing people, and what I realized is that it’s a very different experience when you personally look up to them or you have been touched by their impact in some way.”