Centre Stage: Positive Energy with Actress Ayan Broomfield

A positive energy surrounds Ayan Broomfield that invites you to know her story. At just 26 years old, this Canadian tennis star has pieced together an inspiring and unique career. A former Division 1 college tennis champion, Broomfield played for UCLA and won the 2019 NCAA Division I Women's Doubles Championship. A long-time partner of tennis star Francis Tiafoe, she’s also an actor who played a body double for Saniyya Sidney, who portrayed Venus Williams in King Richard. Beyond these achievements, she believes in giving to the community and wants to leave a legacy with her Ayan Broomfield Foundation. Each role reflects a different part of her, yet together they create a combination of passion, purpose and resilience.

Ayan Broomfield photographed by Carl Niklas. Styled by Sica Thai, assisted by Rosalie Maltais. Hair by Maryse Kanarellis. Makeup by Sebastian Catalan. Production by Molly Rose Apple.

It was a career-defining moment for Ayan playing Venus Williams in King Richard. It wasn't just producing the signature strokes of Venus but entering the world of her childhood idols, finding new sides of herself along the way. The experience brought Ayan the discipline and confidence to act. She went to emulate Venus's tennis moves and court presence as authentically as possible. “I had to learn her strokes, her mannerisms, and even her mindset on the court,” she explained. It wasn’t just about technicalities but about embodying Venus’s spirit. One of the many, many highlights for Ayan was watching Will Smith bring the role of Mr. Richard Williams to life before her eyes. “Being on set with him was incredible,” she said. “He could turn on and turn off so seamlessly. The director would yell ‘Action,’ and he would just transform into a character. Watching him study Mr Williams’ mannerisms—the quirks, the way he moved, the way he spoke— and then embodying all of that was fascinating.”

This same level of dedication is reflected in Ayan’s work off the set through the Ayan Broomfield Foundation. For Ayan, the foundation is far more than a project; it’s a personal mission rooted in her own experiences. “If I didn’t have tennis as a sport, if I didn’t have help from other people or different programs shaping me, I wouldn’t be in this position to give back,” she said. It's this privilege, she added, that drives her to make sure meaningful change is created and passed on to the upcoming generation. She used the Ayan Broomfield Foundation to advocate for underprivileged youth and provide them with resources to access the sport that shaped her life.

Ayan Broomfield in Pressiat Top, Pressiat Jacket, Pressiat Skirt, Vintage Mules.

Photographed by Carl Niklas.

Her work often blends into her travel schedule during tournaments. “Last year, I was travelling so much, going to all these incredible places, but I wanted to do more than just see the sights,” she shared. One such collaboration in Miami had her partner with INNBeauty, a Miami-based, healthcare and beauty brand to donate sunscreens to Lotus House, a women's shelter. “The weather in Miami is so hot, and something as small as sunscreen can make such a difference,” she said. The experience opened her eyes to how much impact could be wrought even through the most modest actions. “It made me realise how I could incorporate everything; my travel, my platform as a content creator, and my foundation to give back in ways that feel natural and impactful,” she added. This reminds us that philanthropy doesn't have to be big and dramatic every time; sometimes, it's the most modest acts that leave a good mark.

When asked about her transition to content creation, Ayan shared that stepping into the public eye wasn't something she had planned. “I didn’t think the whole content creation-influencer thing was for me,” she admitted. Early on, she preferred to be behind the scenes and focused on the process and flow of her work. But when the foundation became her focus, her perspective changed.

Ayan Broomfield in Véronique Leroy Earrings, Pressiat Dress, Weinsanto Top.

Photographed by Carl Niklas. Styled by Sica Thai, assisted by Rosalie Maltais.

Hair by Maryse Kanarellis. Makeup by Sebastian Catalan.

Production by Molly Rose Apple

Building a platform was more about the purpose for her. Content creation became a way for her to merge her passions into something tangible and impactful: tennis, creativity and giving back to society. To Ayan, working to build a community without uplifting others or driving positive change is a missed opportunity. Now in retrospect, Ayan is refreshingly candid about what she has learned along the way. If she could give her younger self advice, it would be straightforward: “Just start.” Looking back, she admits to spending too much time pondering on whether she wanted this or did she want that-shoulds and coulds swirling in her head. “I’d tell myself to do it earlier, to do it sooner, and to do it for me,” she said. She has learned that waiting for the 'perfect' moment only delays progress, and it's in taking that leap that growth begins, be it in failure or success.

For much of her life, the tennis world defined Ayan’s identity. “That was everything I knew, everything I wanted to know,” she said. But over the last two years, she has found passions and opportunities she never imagined and found independence in her way, even if they don’t strictly align with the tennis world. Her advice to others echoes her personal journey: start with what you have, take small steps, and move forward.

To conclude our dialogue, we threw a couple of rapid-fire questions at her and, as expected, her answers didn’t disappoint.

Ayan Broomfield in Véronique Leroy Jacket, Christopher Esber Top, and Weinsanto Pants.

Styled by Sica Thai, assisted by Rosalie Maltais. Hair by Maryse Kanarellis. Makeup by

Sebastian Catalan. Photographed by Carl Niklas. Production by Molly Rose Apple.

What’s the one song that gets you hyped before a match?

0-100 by Drake.

Who would you choose to be your dream doubles partner, and who would you like to play against?

“Serena Williams. No one’s gonna return her serve,” she said. And their opponents? “Roger Federer and John McEnroe.”

What’s one tennis rule you wish didn’t exist？

“The whole ‘hush-hush, sit quietly and don’t move’ rule for fans. It takes away so much of the energy. If people could move around, cheer, and bring more life to the game, it would completely change the vibe of tennis. It’d make it livelier and open it up to a whole new demographic”

Ayan Broomfield is a woman of many talents, but her journey is far from over. Be it advocating for tennis opportunities for less privileged children, sharing her passions online, or trying creative projects, she is growing at each step. Her story testifies to growth, passion, and the power of making a difference.