Flau’jae Johnson understands the value of having the best of both worlds, which is why she dressed appropriately for the occasion in Puma sweatpants, a zip-up Sp5der sweatshirt, and a classic Hannah Montana graphic tee. “I literally bought this while thrifting outside Cam Kirk Studios. “I love Miley Cyrus,” Johnson tells Teen Vogue at Bravo Ocean Studios in Atlanta. “I named my album Best of Both Worlds, and I believe she reflects me. I put that together since she was just a regular person before becoming a superstar. “That’s me.”
It’s the night before Johnson’s Teen Vogue cover shoot in September, and she says she’s looking forward to being “in somebody else’s playing field” during her fitting. But Johnson is no stranger to fittings and photo shoots: she has appeared on the cover of SLAM twice, alongside her Louisiana State University basketball teammates.
Johnson is accustomed to deftly crossing up her opponents on the court, but these eight-inch Marc Jacobs boots are true ankle-breakers. Her misgivings are obvious as she examines each piece as it is placed on her athletic frame; nonetheless, she is eager, no matter the task, which is a direct reflection of her years of basketball training. She’s used to trusting her squad when it comes to games, and the same is true in fashion.
“I understand high fashion, but it has to be in a way that makes me comfortable. “That’s why I ask so many questions,” she explains. “Is this a collaborative effort or do stylists take full control?”
When the cameras roll the next morning, Johnson transforms as Megan Thee Stallion’s “Her” plays over the speakers of a Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta penthouse suite. Kia Brooks, Johnson’s mother and manager, is relishing the moment as she spreads her reverie throughout the room.
“Oh, this is hard,” Johnson exclaims in astonishment, changing into an animal print Theophilio jacket that she claims exudes LSU Tigers spirit. As Johnson enters her final year of college basketball, she is more prepared than ever to face the present era of professional women’s basketball. Designer outfits, flashing cameras, and adoring audiences are only the beginning.
Flau’jae Monae Johnson, 21, a senior guard on the LSU women’s basketball team, is also known as the “Big 4.” Aside from being last season’s highest scorer, she is a rapper, a businesswoman and philanthropist, a previous reality competition series star, and the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball champion. With a thriving music career and a promising WNBA draft chance, Johnson, like many Gen Zers, refuses to choose just one path.
Johnson conducted her third annual Back2School Giveaway in Savannah, Georgia on Friday, July 25, distributing free school supplies, mammograms, and autographs to over 2,500 participants. On Sunday night, she flew from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Baton Rouge to take care of her college athletic responsibilities. The following morning, Johnson returned to Georgia for meetings, costume fittings, and her Teen Vogue cover interview, which also served as a studio session.
The hooper-turned-hitmaker, however, is off to a slow start this week. “Well, today was lighter, because I feel like it’s been longer sessions,” Johnson adds, sinking into a rolling chair. “Normally, my day goes like this: boom, boom, boom, but today was calm. Tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m., I’ll return to Baton Rouge to train and practice. Then I’ll fly to Miami the next day for Unrivaled.”
It’s nearly 10 p.m. in southeast Atlanta. In the studio, R&B music plays softly in the background, with SZA, Snoh Alegra, and other artists singing. Johnson is accompanied by her mother, two younger brothers, and members of her management team. The space is backlit with a bright, dark purple tint, and to the left is a little nook with glass sliding doors and an accent wall of artificial grass. Inside the nook is a single barstool, music stand, and microphone, where Johnson filters out the cacophony, locks in, and breathes life into her words.
For the ordinary 21-year-old, this schedule would produce whiplash. But Johnson’s life has been far from ordinary, as seen by the camera team that follows her around for “Follow Me Along to the Draft.” Johnson has been in the spotlight since she was seven or eight years old, rapping at an annual birthday celebration for her late father. In 2018, at the age of 14, Johnson appeared on America’s Got Talent, getting a golden buzzer and launching her musical career. On the court, Johnson grew in prominence with the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship.
Her list of pre-college basketball accomplishments is lengthy and spectacular. Johnson concluded her high school sports career as the all-time leading scorer at Sprayberry High School, scoring 1,615 points over four years and retiring her jersey number. She competed in the McDonald’s All American Game, the most coveted stage for future basketball royalty, alongside Skylar Diggins, Maya Moore, Candace Parker, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal.
“The things I experienced — winning the National Championship and all the things that happened — that was a once-in-a-lifetime type thing,” Johnson says, reminiscing on her youthful accomplishment. “In high school, I had some clout, but I never had a true college experience. I was on my way: first to the gym, then home, gym, home. “As an athlete, you lead a different life.”
Adding music to her resume was partly a coping strategy, but it is also a family legacy. Music allows Johnson to pause and reconnect with the world. “When I’m in the gym, the only thing that’s on my mind is just getting better and working out,” she tells me. “However, music is therapeutic for me. That is the one thing that slows me down.
