Elite combat athlete debuts fashion label Embrace with live runway performance
London, February 2026 - British world champion Muay Thai and professional boxing athlete Ruqsana Begum stepped from the ring onto the runway during London Fashion Week, presenting her fashion label Embrace in a runway show by Fashion Synergy Events.
Begum’s presentation combined a traditional catwalk with a live performance - a physical embodiment of the values that have defined her sporting career: discipline, resilience, faith, and inner strength. Participating in the runway moment herself, Begum blurred the line between athlete and designer, delivering a showcase that fused movement, narrative, and fashion.
Founded on the philosophy of 'Embrace Your True Self', the brand translates the mental and physical strength required in elite sport into contemporary, sport-infused fashion. The collection includes t-shirts, joggers, elevated hoodies and structured leisure silhouettes, with items retailing approximately in the £30 - £80 range, positioning the brand within the accessible contemporary segment while maintaining narrative-driven identity.
Begum, the first British Muslim woman to win world titles in both Muay Thai and professional boxing, has long been recognised as a role model beyond sport. Her autobiography Born Fighter won the Telegraph Sports Book Award for Autobiography of the Year and was shortlisted for the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year, as well as recognised among the most influential sports books of the 21st century.
Begum has been an Olympic torch bearer, voted number one on the British Power List as the most inspirational person, and honoured alongside internationally recognised athletes such as Mo Farah. Begum's influence has attracted mainstream media coverage including BBC, Sky Sports, Sky News, ITV’s This Morning, The Guardian, The Telegraph, and Elle, as well as collaborations with global brands such as Adidas, Apple, Gymshark, Pandora, Selfridges, Matches Fashion, Zalando, Karen Millen, and many others.
With Embrace, the athlete extends her legacy - building a brand rooted in authenticity, resilience, and empowerment. The London Fashion Week presentation marked a new chapter in her career - one where
performance, identity, and design converge on a global stage.
