Maria Sharapova Is The Sweetest Thing

• 21 June 2013
• Sarah Karmali

MARIA SHARAPOVA could well be launching her own fashion and beauty collections. The tennis ace foresees her Sugarpova sweets line expanding into a full empire in the future, including make-up and apparel.
The 26-year-old, currently ranked number three in the world for women's tennis, created a range of sugary treats after first coming up with the name Sugarpova ("when the name came up I just put it together with candy - I've always had a passion for gummies"). A portion of all proceeds go to her charity, The Maria Sharapova Foundation, benefitting vulnerable children around the world.
"I really do [want to expand]," she told us last night at the launch of her Sugarpova sweets in Selfridges. "I see it going into cosmetics, and then fashion. Creatively, I've always had a thing for fashion, so I would love it. But that's down the line. Right now I really want to establish myself in the candy business, there are so many countries I want to get into - like India, maybe Israel. Expanding distribution around the world is really the emphasis right now."
The Russian-born sportswoman - who is as elegant as she is athletic, standing at 6 foot 2 inches tall (and that's before the vertiginous Louboutin heels) - was wearing a pretty Chloe blouse and textured skirt when we met her, and says that she's a keen follower of fashion - perhaps because it's the antithesis to the disciplined sport from which she made her name.
"It's very individual, that's what I love about it. It's very experimental - people can express their own style and personality through their clothing and accessories," she said. "What I love about it is that there are no rules. That's what makes it fun. On a day-to-day basis my style is pretty casual. These Sugarpova launches have been fun because the clothes have been quite colourful. Overall I think my style is pretty elegant - I pay a lot of attention to the details in clothes. I think the material and the tailoring really make an outfit."

source: vouge.co.uk