Athlete Mercy Cherono shares her beauty secrets
Commonwealth 5,000 metres women gold medallist Mercy Cherono.
When Mercy Cherono took to the podium in Glasgow for her 5,000 meters gold medal after clocking 15:07.21, tweeps went a buzz and crowned her the ‘hottest female athlete in Kenya’.
Cherono spoke to Nation.co.ke on Monday while in Morocco for the Africa Championships and she attributes her beauty to regular exercise and a healthy diet that includes the Kalenjin mursik.
“I train every day, running 20 kilometers and I also eat healthy as part of my routine for maintaining beauty,” she said.
The ‘Golden girl’ loves fish and takes lots of fruits and vegetables. She avoids fatty foods to ensure her skin is enriched.
The Commonwealth gold medallist, who hails from Kipajit village in Sotik, Bomet county, admits that she surrounds herself with a cable of friends who ensure she looks sharp during competitions and media interviews.
Mercy Cherono poses after winning the final of the women's 5000m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on August 2, 2014. AFP PHOTO
“My must have products are foundation, powder, eye pencil and lip balm. I do not however wear them when training on the track,” she added.
When not clad in sports gear, Cherono adorns African attire from designers who custom-make outfits that accentuate her looks.
“I like our African attire clothes. My favorite designer ‘Shiro’ and Clare Chepkirui design my outfits in Nairobi,” she revealed.
She once in a while wears three - inch high heels, depending on the occasion, though she prefers to try them on before buying to ensure they are stable and comfortable.
Cherono, who had braids with colours of the Kenyan flag during the Commonwealth women's 5000 metres final at Hampden Park, believes in being natural and smart.
“About our hair us as athletes, we prefer braids because of sweat. They are easy to clean and maintain,” she said.
During the last Saturday of the Commonwealth games, discussions on Twitter centred on how Cherono was the only Kenyan athlete who took time to look good.
Mercy Cherono at a media function with the athletics national team. PHOTO | COURTESY
The former junior championships gold medallist attributes the lack of fashion consciousness among female athletes to cultural background, lack of exposure and lack of interest.
“Most athletes have a cultural hindrance that sort of bars them from embracing make up and some do not know much about beauty products. They basically run to earn a living and not to enjoy the activity,” she added.
Cherono aims to live boldly despite her conservative background and hopes to inspire young girls to live their dreams.
She comes from a Christian background and is the first born in a family of seven.
“My father John Koech and mother Emily Koech struggled to raise us with God always being the provider in the family,” she said.
She started running back in her high school days while studying at Ngariet Secondary School where she participated in interschool competitions.
