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“How hard can it be?
Boys do it.”
And in the world of professional flag football, Diana Flores is the epitome of that sentiment.
And her story is inspiring to say the least.
Dive into our conversation below.
Marie Claire: Diana!
It’s so great getting to chat with you.
I know Super Bowl season must be busy.
What’s on your agenda for the two weeks leading up to the big game?
Diana Flores:I was with Under Armour this week in Miami!
I can’t tell you exactlywhatI was doing, but you’ll see soon.
I’m super excited for what’s yet to come with the brand.
Then I fly from Florida to Vegas for the Super Bowl.
I’m going to be presenting the game as an analyst with Univision.
MC: You’ve had an incredible journey in professional flag football.
DF:I started playing at 8 years old.
Back then, flag football was not a very popular sport.
I started in Mexico City, but it was not a big thing anywhere.
I started because of my dadhe used to play tackle football and introduced me to this amazing world.
At the age of 14, I started playing in the all-boys league as the only girl.
Also at that age, I started traveling to the U.S. to play with a team from Philadelphia.
Again, I started to realize, wow, there are a lot of barriers to break here.
Then at the age of 16, I got to be part of the national team.
Can you share a specific moment when your fearlessness played a crucial role in overcoming adversity on the field?
For me, being part of the national team has been a long journey.
I’ve been on the team for 10 years but have been QB 1 only since 2021.
In the beginning, I was the youngest playerI was the rookie.
So I ended up as wide receiver, linebacker, cornerback centerso many other positions, but never mine.
Even though Iknewthat’s what I wanted to do.
I kept hearing, “You’re small.
You’re not as tall as a QB should be.
You’re not as strong as a QB should be.
You’re not aswhatever.”
I just started to rememberwhyI was doing what I was doing.
It makes me feel happy.
I’m passionate about it.
I love representing my country.
I love wearing my colors.
By 2021, I got to be QB 1.
Six months later, we won the gold medal.
So, I mean, you never know what you’re going to have in front of you.
MC: In professional sports, ambition is key to reaching the next level.
What drives you to continually push yourself?
DF:I feel that what drives me has changed during my time.
I never saw someone who looked like me playing my sporta Latina on the big stage was not realistic.
But now the little girls can see that it’s possible.
They can put their minds to it.
MC: How do you deal with losing games?
How do you continue to push forward?
DF:It is always a process, and we’re always evolving.
I keep learning, getting better, and finding better solutions.
What I’ve learned through time is to have compassion for myself.
It’s just a bad day.
You make it look easy.
Can you tell us what exciting things are in the works for the coming years?
DF:Well, flag football is now in the Olympics in 2028.
That’s a dream come true.
That’s one of the biggest achievements of my life.
And another thing that makes me feel excited and grateful is having amazing partnerships.
And I shared this dream with my younger brother.
I feel you might be there.
you’ve got the option to get it."
It never seemed like a possibility to me for so many reasons.
I never saw a Latina in the spotlight.
I lost faith in that dream, but my brother didn’t.
He was 13, and he started putting together my highlight reel at that time.
I remember he was so excited that he found an Under Armour contact.
He sent in my highlight reel every six months from 2016 to 2020.
The first Under Armour campaign was the first time that it all felt real.
I was that woman up there feeling strong and powerful.
So my mom and dad used to find similar things.
I mean, that’s something I really wish I had when I was young.
I had the opportunity to bring my dad to that day, too.
And it was the best thing because we were both blown away by what was happening.
DF:What I tried to do with the girls was empower them.
So for me, it was all about empowerment.
It was all about not being afraid of being themselves with the world and showing their passion.
MC: Reflecting on your journey so far, what advice would you give to your younger self?
What advice would you give to aspiring female athletes?
DF:Remember who you are.
Remember that you’re powerful.
Stay true to yourself.
I promise you that you will find amazing people along your journey.
So be the one that also gives a hand to others to work on that journey.
And dream big because dreams come true.
DF:I want to make a change.
I feel honored to be part of that.
And I just want to keep contributing, to keep breaking barriers, to keep building opportunities.
And I want to keep building connections with amazing people willing to make this change, too.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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