Queens-born Key Lee is a sneaker enthusiast, content creator, and mental health advocate. Combining her passion for sneakers with her commitment to mental health awareness, she and her “sole sister,” A. Simone, hosted a panel earlier this year titled “Through Our Lens.” The panel, focused on the intersection of mental health and creativity, took place at The Thrift Project in Philadelphia, a vibrant community hub that highlights “the best of Philly vendors, live music, creative workshops, and an opportunity to register to vote.”
When it comes to sneakers, Key Lee wears her love for Jordans on her sleeve. Reflecting on the Air Jordan 3: Black Cement in an Instagram post, she shared, “My first pair was in 2011, and it was love at first sight. [I don’t care] if it’s a Jumpman or Nike Air, it’s getting copped. The Jordan 3 is so freaking iconic, and there would be no JB like we know it today if it wasn’t for this shoe—the one that kept [Michael Jordan] with Nike.”
Unsurprisingly, Key Lee crowned the Air Jordan 3: Black Cement (affectionately known as the “BC3”) as her No. 1 sneaker of 2024. Explaining her pick, she said, “I chose the Jordan 3 Black Cement as my sneaker of the year because out of all the shoes on my list, ’til this day, the BC3 gives me butterflies. It’s a top-three shoe of ALL time, and I’d buy it over and over. I doubled up on this release, bringing my BC3 collection to five pairs of this iconic shoe.”
Check out Key Lee’s full sneaker list below, and keep up with her on Instagram and X @key2ursole.