Australian basketballer Caitlin Cunningham has gone viral online not just for their basketball skills, but their unusual goth appearance.
Dubbed ‘Caitlin Dark’ after WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark, the 39-year-old has grabbed global attention for their combination of athleticism and goth aesthetic.
‘I was a MySpace kid,’ Cunningham, who uses they/them/she pronouns, told the ABC.
‘Emo music’s a big part of my life and so the makeup has always been an expression, and I’ve always done it.’
The former WNBL player, who now plays semi-professionally for the Rockhampton Cyclones, says people have always noticed how at odds she looks compared to typical athletes.
‘I found an old article from when I was 21, when I was signed to the Canberra Capitals, playing in the WNBL,’ she said.
Aussie basketballer Caitlin Cunningham (pictured) is attracting global attention for her looks
The former WNBL player has been dubbed ‘Caitlin Dark’ after WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark
‘The journalist touched on my black shoes, my black socks, my goth looks.
‘So it’s always been a thing for me.’
Cunningham explains that their look – dark makeup, tattoos, athleisure outfits in the same colour and those fangs – is all tied into the music she loves.
‘When I was young, I would look up to these artists and be mesmerised by their self-expression and their art form,’ Cunningham said.
‘And if people are looking at me like I looked at those people … you have a role to play in these young people’s journey of self-discovery and I do take it seriously.
‘If I had someone like me when I was growing up, I would have felt so seen.’
Sports fans online have celebrated Cunningham’s bold individuality, proving opposite subcultures can flourish together.
‘Welcome back Dennis Rodman,’ joked one Instagram user.
Cunningham says she’s always attracted attention for their unusual style
Cunningham (pictured with Aussie basketball star Liz Cambage) says their look is tied to the music she loves
A TikTok compilation of Cunningham has gone viral with more than three million views
‘Do you need a controversially far away girlfriend,’ posted another
‘She looks photoshopped in, I love her.’ said a third.
Cunningham is overwhelmed by all the attention she is getting, with their TikTok quickly growing from 200 followers to over 50,000. A TikTok compilation of Cunningham has had more than three million views.
Some have even compared Cunningham to American actor and comedian Pete Davidson.
‘A lot of very attractive women always seem to want to date me, and I think that may have a bit to do with the comparison,’ Cunningham told pride.com
‘But I think I’m tall, I’m skinny, I’ve got a lot of tattoos, I don’t know, I’m a bit dorky, maybe similar to him.
‘Maybe I’ve just got big d**k energy.’
Cunningham hopes that the increased visibility she has received can benefit LGBTQ+ people.
‘It’s harder to sleep because I’ve been getting some quite heavy DMs, and I really care about the people reaching out to me because they’re feeling so seen and connected, and I’m helping them realize something about themselves or feel comfortable in their own skin,’ Cunningham said.
‘And that is so powerful, and if I’m that connection for them to be the best version of themselves, I just want to know how to keep helping people feel good with themselves.
‘If I’m that role model for someone, I’ll take it, I’ll do it, I’ll do the best I can to harness that.’
