From Tomboy Baller to Late Bloomer: Erika Kirk's NCAA Division 2 Basketball Journey
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From Tomboy Baller to Late Bloomer: Erika Kirk's NCAA Division 2 Basketball Journey
Erika Kirk, a former NCAA Division 2 basketball player at Regis University shares her journey from being mistaken for a boy at the grocery store to embracing her feminine side. Starting basketball at age five, she wore Jordans, refused to comb her long hair, and rocked a Bam Bam bowl cut that had strangers calling her "Sonny." Her mother struggled with her knotty hair, and nobody suspected the girly girl hidden beneath the athletic clothes. After years as a complete tomboy, she discovered mascara, hair curling, and a different side of herself. With great genetics from her parents and a late blooming period she wouldn't trade for anything, she now balances her love for working out with family time and playing with her dogs and occasionally her cats.
Growing up, this former athlete was the definition of a tomboy. Starting basketball at just five years old, she fully committed to the sport and the lifestyle that came with it. Dresses were completely off the table, and her wardrobe consisted primarily of Jordans and various athletic clothes that led everyone to assume she was a little boy.
Her appearance reinforced these assumptions. With super long hair that was notoriously difficult to manage, she resisted her mother's attempts to comb through the knots. The struggle eventually led to a drastic solution: cutting her hair straight across in what she describes as a "Bam Bam bowl haircut." The result was a look that completely concealed any hints of femininity.
Mistaken Identity at the Grocery Store
The bowl haircut and athletic attire created regular moments of mistaken identity. Grocery store trips became predictable scenarios where strangers would address her as "Sonny," asking if she was going to help her mom carry out the groceries. She would simply respond with a polite "yes," accepting the misidentification as part of her everyday experience.
NCAA Division 2 Basketball Career
Her dedication to basketball carried her all the way to college, where she played for the Regis University women's basketball team in NCAA Division 2. Being a complete baller defined her identity throughout these formative years, and the sport shaped who she was as a person.
Discovering the Girly Girl Within
After experiencing life as a tomboy for so long, something shifted. She discovered that there had always been a girly girl hidden within her, waiting to emerge. The realization that she could curl her hair and put on mascara opened up a new dimension of self-expression that had been dormant throughout her athletic youth.
She attributes part of her transformation to genetics, crediting her parents for passing down amazing genes that helped during what she calls her "late blooming period." This transition allowed her to explore femininity without abandoning the athletic foundation that had defined her earlier years.
Life Today
Today, she maintains a balanced lifestyle that honors both sides of her personality. She loves to work out, maintaining the physical activity that has always been central to her identity. Family time ranks high on her priority list, along with playing with her dogs and occasionally with her cats when they're in the mood.
Looking back on her journey from tomboy to someone who embraces both her athletic and feminine sides, she maintains a positive perspective. Despite the bowl haircuts, the mistaken identities, and the years of resisting traditional femininity, she wouldn't change any of it for the world.
