Annie Tagoe: The British sprinter and model who has got people captivated by her beautiful skin colour

Whenever Annie Tagoe is on the track, one thing that stands her out before she showcases her speed talent is her beautiful melanin skin colour.

She is not only genetically blessed to be a world-class athlete, but she's also a model and has graced campaigns for global brands.

Tagoe is a Ghanaian-born British sprinter who competes in the 100m and 200m events. She started as a footballer in her early years before being introduced to the charity Track Academy.

The speedster's first international appearance for Great Britain was at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore, where she won a bronze medal in the medley relay event.

Three years later at the European U23 Championships in Finland, Tagoe won a silver medal in the 4x100m relay alongside teammates Corinne Humphreys, Jodie Williams, and Rachel Johncock.

Over the last decade, Tagoe faced injuries that have resulted in surgery on both knees and received regular injections for arthritis in her right ankle, which causes discomfort in cold conditions.

She made her comeback in 2023 by running personal bests in the 100m and 200m to make her country's team to the World Championships in Budapest, where she ran in the 4x100m relay squad and eventually won a bronze medal in the final.

Tagoe is finding success off the track and in front of the camera. The 30-year-old athlete and future Olympian is fast becoming one of Great Britain's leading Black voices in sport, having candidly shared her experiences with racism growing up that led her to use skin-lightening products as a teenager. 

Despite growing up wanting to be an actress, the multi-talent has now turned her hand to modeling. She signed up for IMG Models in May 2021 and made her first print cover in the first issue of CircleZeroEight magazine just a year later.

She has also worked with renowned photographer Anastasia Orlando for bricksmagazine.co.uk, and done campaigns for @ultrasunuk, @guccibeauty, and @maccosmetics, among others.

Tagoe loved acting from a young age loved acting went to drama school at 18 for three years.

She has acted in some movies. First, in the 2012 sports movie Fast Girls as a member of the USA's relay team, and then in the 2013 movie Powder Room cast as a clubgoer.

Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, jewelers Mappin & Webb gifted Tagoe an exclusive Team GB Olympic ring bangle.

“It’s 18-carat gold and it is the most expensive jewelry I’ve ever been gifted,” she said.

“I’m nervous to even hold it! I want to go to the Olympics, and I am going to go to the Olympics.

“This is the motivation I needed because there’s so many people supporting and believing in me.

“This was the first year in ten years that I’ve made the team because of all the injuries that I’ve had. Mappin & Webb heard my story and still said ‘We believe in you,’” said Tagoe in an interview with www.teamgb.com