GREENSBORO, N.C. — Jada Griffin is a star on the track and now in the digital space.

Growing up, Griffin said she moved around a lot coming from a military family, and that meant a lot of change. Running has always been in her life. 

“And I started again in high school, and it kind of just stuck. My school wasn’t a really good school for track, but we kind of went out there. We just had fun and then I kind of got better at it,” Griffin said.

Through hard work and success in high school, she had the opportunity to walk on at N.C. State, where she set multiple school records. 

She decided to transfer in 2022, finishing up her collegiate eligibility at N.C. A&T. Now she is a conference champion with facility records and meet records, and she even made it to nationals. 

With her outstanding performance in her final year as a college runner, Griffin went to the NCAA championships and was even asked to represent Team USA on the mixed 4×400 meter relay team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile. Her team picked up the bronze medal.

“I felt so good because I had never planned to be a professional athlete. And so once I started taking it more seriously this past year, I realized the fruits of my labor were coming to fruition,” Griffin said. 

Like many athletes, Griffin has learned how to profit off her name, image and likeness. 

“A lot of it’s marketing yourself and being marketable so that brands can kind of pick you up, and that’s how you make your money,” Griffin said. 

Previously, college athletes would lose their eligibility if they did this, but after a decision in June 2021, the NCAA made a change allowing athletes, like Griffin, to profit off their NIL. 

“You’re just allowed to make money in ways that you weren’t before,” Griffin said. 

Creating content and getting brand deals started off as a way for Griffin to get free clothes. 

“I didn’t have any money. They said, ‘we can now promote your stuff if that’s something you want to do.’ And I reached out to one brand, and I’m like, ‘yeah, that’s totally cool.’ And they sent me clothes, and I took photos and sent them back and they posted them online,” Griffin said. 

Now, as a professional athlete, she doesn’t have to worry about the middle man making her deals. 

Her setup is simple, she has her phone and her tripod. 

“Usually, I do like just editing videos on my phone or getting posts already from pictures I’ve taken throughout the week,” Griffin said. 

Griffin has now worked with 10 brands and counting.