Jordan Chiles stepped into sky-high dark glamour on Sunday at the 2025 Black Excellence Brunch in New Orleans, where she joined fellow honorees including Chris Tucker, Angela Rye and Jordin Sparks for the annual celebration spotlighting leaders in culture, activism and the arts.
The Olympic gymnast and Sports Illustrated cover model wore a pair of glittering black platform stilettos with a barely-there ankle strap and peep-toe finish. The heels — towering, high-shine and set on a narrow tapered base — added visual punch to her otherwise soft silhouette. The shoes reflect the platform stiletto trend dominating summer 2025, offering height without sacrificing presence.
Jordan Chiles arrives at 2025 Black Excellence Brunch on July 6, 2025 in New Orleans in a dark glamour look.
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She balanced the bold shoe with Zimmermann’s Balance Long Sleeve Mini Dress in Black Hydrangea, part of the brand’s spring 2025 Illumination collection. Made from a silk-linen blend, the dress featured a plunging V-neckline, voluminous frilled sleeves and a flared skirt tied at the waist. The black backdrop of the fabric offset the soft, scattered florals in sage, ivory and pale green.
A detailed look at Jordan Chile’s shimmering black stilettos.
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As for glam, Chiles wore her hair slicked back into a low ponytail and kept glam minimal — a glossy lip, flushed cheeks and a full white manicure and pedicure rounding out the dark glamour look.
Chiles’ footwear joins a growing wave of standout platform moments this season. Keke Palmer stepped out last month in Midtown Manhattan in mirrored gold stilettos with a vintage Versace mini, while Sabrina Carpenter made headlines in six-inch Christian Louboutins at a pre–Met Gala cocktail. Like those looks, Chiles’ heels embraced unapologetic height and shine — a nod to early-2000s glam that’s resurged in both runway and red carpet dressing.
Jordan Chiles in sky-high platform heels at the 2025 Black Excellence Brunch on July 6, 2025 in New Orleans.
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The brunch appearance follows a series of high-profile ventures for Chiles. In June, she was named global ambassador for Hero Cosmetics, a role that places her at the center of the skincare brand’s next consumer-facing phase. The gymnast, who’s been candid about her acne journey, now represents Hero’s Mighty Patch and Dark Spot line in campaign, social and event appearances.
A month earlier, she joined Salma Hayek and Olivia Dunne as a 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover star, posing for photographer Ben Horton in Bermuda. She was also honored this spring with a custom Barbie doll released in partnership with fellow Olympian Jade Carey.