Junelle Bromfield, the Jamaican 400m runner and fiancée to sprint superstar Noah Lyles, has opened up about a deeply personal struggle while revisiting one of her most iconic moments on the track.
In a heartfelt Instagram story shared on June 30th, 2025, the Olympian reflected on her experience during the 2024 Paris Olympics, a moment that, while powerful, came with painful memories and a crisis she’s still grappling with.
Revisiting Her Iconic Paris Moment
Bromfield shared a throwback image from Paris: a silhouette of herself in the starting position, captioned with pride.
“🎶Melanin too dark to throw her shades 🤎🎶.”
In that race, she embraced her natural beauty, stepping onto the track makeup-free, wig-free, and filter-free, proudly wearing her natural high Afro puff.
“On to the next round 🥳 Embracing my natural beauty, NO MAKEUP, NO WIG, NO FILTERS. 100% melanin,” she declared back then.
But in her recent post, the sprinter revealed a painful update.
“Now I don’t even have half of this blown out. 😭😭😭. I will be in wigs and braids until my hair grow back😐,” she confessed to her followers.
Known for frequently experimenting with hairstyles, from curls to braids, sleek straight looks, and even blonde shades, Bromfield’s hair has long been a celebrated part of her identity.
Behind the Race, And The Backlash
While Junelle’s embrace of her natural beauty at the Paris Olympics was widely praised, her performance didn’t meet expectations. She finished last in her 400m semifinal heat, clocking 51.93 seconds, missing out on a spot in the final.
However, it wasn’t just the race result that weighed heavily on Bromfield. In the aftermath, she faced an onslaught of online abuse and extreme backlash from sections of the Jamaican fanbase. Accusations of betrayal were hurled at her, branding her a “sell-out” for her relationship with American sprint star Noah Lyles. The hate escalated to the point of receiving death threats.
The tension intensified after Lyles, during a podcast appearance, commented on the inner drama within Jamaica’s athletics scene.
“Junelle being Jamaican and having trained in MVP, I have been getting the drama from the Jamaican camp at least five years now.”
While his intention wasn’t to stir controversy, the statement was seized upon by critics, worsening the hostility toward Bromfield.
A Message of Self-Love and Resilience
Despite the adversity, Bromfield has continued to advocate for self-acceptance and body positivity. In the wake of her Paris performance, she shared a message aimed at uplifting women of all shades and sizes.
“I’m just here to tell all the girls/women on my profile that you’re beautiful no matter your shade, shape, or size. And for the little Black girls, don’t wait on anybody to tell you that you’re beautiful to believe it. 👸🏿❤️”
Lyles, for his part, has publicly defended his fiancée against the online attacks, with fans rallying behind her in support.
As Junelle Bromfield remains a resilient figure for many, championing authenticity in a sport often driven by appearances and perceptions.
And while the road ahead may be challenging, her message of embracing natural beauty and self-worth continues to resonate powerfully beyond the track.