Michaela DePrince Is the Newest Face of Jockey

Michaela DePrince
is having one spectacular year. On New Year’s Day, the Dutch National Ballet dancer was promoted to soloist. And yesterday, she scored a major endorsement as a face of Jockey’s “Show ‘Em What’s Underneath” campaign. We’ve said it before: There’s a right way and a wrong way to feature dancers in mainstream media. This campaign hits the mark by celebrating DePrince’s grace, athleticism and story of hope.

If you need a refresher on her remarkable journey—from war orphan in Sierra Leone to being adopted and launching her ballet career—check out Jockey’s video below.

DePrince’s path has an uncanny connection to Dance Magazine. As a young child, she found the May 1979 cover of DM outside her orphanage. Mesmerized by the image of Pennsylvania Ballet’s Magali Messac, she kept the treasured cover hidden in her panties, dreaming of becoming a dancer herself. After she was adopted, DePrince began training at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. The rest is history.

Congratulations to DePrince on this milestone in her career!