As a pre-game ritual,Christian athlete Antoinette Harris who wants to be the first female NFL Player, sits on the bus or goes to the locker room with her headphones and listens to Gospel music, including her favorite tracks such as Jekalyn Carr’s “You Will Win” and Post Malone’s “Congratulations.”
Antoinette “Toni” Harris a 22-year-old football phenomenon plays free safety at the East Los Angeles College.
The former high school homecoming queen, was featured in Toyota’s 2019 RAV4 HV Super Bowl commercial above:
Harris shared with ESSENCE “I’ve been told I won’t go far, I have no talent, and I’ll never make it to the NFL. Some [players] are surprised, some are angry, and some are supportive. But I have a will never to quit. People are always telling me what I can’t do, and I love to prove them wrong.” Antoinette “Toni” Harris is a 22-year-old football phenomenon. She plays free safety at the East Los Angeles College.
Harris doesn’t allow negativity in her spirit on or off the playing field. She was raised in the church, Harris said she was taught to keep God first, adding: “As long as I keep my faith in everything I do, and I make sure I give God all the praises for what he’s done for me.”
With the support of her family, including her nine siblings; her boyfriend, who is also a football player; and her coaches, Harris hopes to be a role model who inspires others who are defying the odds. And while the Toyota commercial is expected to deliver new and broader opportunities for her career, the college honor student is still in pursuit of academic excellence and plans to continue her studies in criminal justice.
Gwendolyn Quinn contributed to this story.