No surprise here: Sydney Thomas is once again the talk of the internet. The University of Alabama graduate, who became a household name in November 2024 as a ring girl for the Jake Paul–Mike Tyson bout, has been turning up the heat in a new arena—poker. And she didn't just bring her A-game; she brought a look that broke the internet.
Thomas, who now boasts over 960,000 Instagram followers, stepped onto the Celebrity Poker Tour Thursday night in a white top that had fans practically folding before the first hand was dealt. Comments flooded her feed: “You look amazing,” one admirer wrote. “POKER GODDESS,” another declared. “OMG the hottest poker player ever,” a third chimed in. It's the kind of reaction that's become routine for the model, who says she's leaning on a tight circle of trusted advisors to navigate the whirlwind.
“I have a lot of people in my circle that are very trustworthy in that I can lean on with these things,” Thomas told Fox News Digital. “It’s a lot. A lot of people have come at me, saying a lot of things, giving their two cents, but I am blessed to have fallen in with the right people to be able to trust them and the advice they’re giving me, lead me in the right direction, and ease my mind and just know that I’m on the right path.”
Despite not being scheduled for any boxing ring appearances this summer, Thomas is clearly finding ways to stay in the spotlight. Her poker appearance is just the latest in a string of viral moments, following her arrival at the Madden Bowl in New Orleans back in February. But fans are already wondering what's next for the influencer, and Thomas isn't shy about sharing her ambitions.
One of her biggest goals? Posing for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. “There have been a lot of conversations around that. I have a few people that have been in contact,” Thomas revealed. “I would love to do it. I think since it’s been a goal of mine, a small milestone, I would love to do it. Hopefully, that can be a thing. We’ll see.”
The poker table isn't the only place where fashion has sparked buzz recently. Matching pregame outfits from WNBA stars Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull also set off a gender-reveal joke online, showing that sports and style are a winning combo.
Thomas's rapid rise—from a relatively unknown influencer to a viral sensation with nearly a million followers—has been fueled by her ability to capture attention in unexpected settings. Whether it's the boxing ring or the poker table, she's proving that her star power extends far beyond any single event. Fans can only wait to see where she shows up next.
