After featuring a ballet star to launch its campaign to connect with more female consumers, Under Armour has made another splash by signing supermodel Gisele Bundchen to an endorsement deal.
Under Armour released this teaser video Tuesday with the promise of showing more Thursday:
Although landing a model of Gisele's stature is a huge get for any company, Under Armour did have an inside track. Gisele's husband, Tom Brady, signed a game-changing endorsement deal with Under Armour in 2010 that included an undisclosed percentage of ownership in the company.
The female-focused campaign is called I Will What I Want. In addition to Gisele and ballerina Misty Copeland, it will include Lindsay Vonn (skiing), Sloane Stephens (tennis), Kelley O'Hara (soccer), Brianna Cope (surfing) and Kathryn Budig (yoga).
In July, the New York Times reported that the campaign is part of the company's overall growth strategy: "Annual revenue for women's apparel for the company is about $500 million, half of men’s, at $1 billion, and Under Armour has long contended that its goal is for the women's segment to grow as big as, if not bigger than, the men's."
Under Armour wasn't able to lure Kevin Durant away from Nike, but it has been building its roster of notable athletes.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson, who signed a 5-year, $70 million extension with the Cardinals during the summer, did jump from Nike to Under Armour.
"At Nike I just felt like another guy and didn't have an opportunity to build a brand and get into the football community as far as the kids and high schools," Peterson told Forbes. "Under Armour is giving me the ability to build a brand and help this company grow. It has so much upside. Cam Newton, Tom Brady, Ed Reed. Seeing the progression it is making each and every year is unbelievable."