Aussie boxing star Harry Garside is one of the most unique fighting personalities in the sport.
He is the current Australian lightweight champion and has earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
However, despite being a tattooed and successful fighter in the ring, he’s often tried to fight masculine stereotypes in his own personal life.
Not afraid to wear a skirt or a dress, or even let the world know how much he loves ballet dancing, Garside is doing what he loves and makes him feel uniquely himself.
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And while that does often open himself up to various comments from online trolls, he hopes that being himself has a greater impact on others.
In an interview with news.com.au, he said: “There is just some super negative trolls that hang around, but then there’s also the ones who genuinely ask me questions around ‘what impact are you having on young people’. I mean here I am wearing a skirt and am I confusing young people?
“I genuinely believe that as a society we should be supporting individuality and uniqueness and the herd supporting that rather than the herd supporting people who feel they need to conform and be like everyone else.
“I think you realise as an adult having different uniqueness is actually a superpower, but when you’re younger you feel this need to conform. I felt that throughout my childhood, this need to not want to be too different or else you’re going to get isolated.
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“But what I’ve realised the older I get is the more unique and special and different you are it’s a bit of a superpower in your adult years so I just want to try and show young people that it’s actually beautiful to walk in your own essence and try things.
“Even if it’s not your calling, try things because you never know what your calling is until you try it, I’m just trying to encourage young people to do that.”
The mullet-sporting former tradie appeared at The Iconic ‘Runway X’ Show in Sydney on Wednesday (November 2).
He fashioned various skirts and an animal print jacket to give off a totally unique look.
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He’s also not afraid to showcase his feminine fashion on social media where he questions what it means ‘to be a man’.
The boxing champion also recently opened up about his love of ballet and the strength it gives him in his fighting and in every-day life.
He told Body and Soul last month: “I had always wanted to try ballet but was a little scared to let my community know that I was interested in dance. I feared being judged and becoming an outcast.
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“I finally built up the courage in 2019 to start, and I am so grateful I did. I always walk out feeling a little taller now, and little more confident with each step.
“The best part is that it has helped my boxing massively, too.”
Featured Image Credit: Cal Sport Media / Alamy. @harry_garside/Instagram.