Jordan Chiles graduated from UCLA as someone with a major in African American Studies and four NCAA national titles under her belt. But now, just a few weeks later, she has an additional nomination at the BET Awards, which makes her resume even harder to fit into one sentence.

Jordan Chiles is a nominee for the Sportswoman of the Year at the 2026 BET Awards, taking place on June 28th, and discussed her experience being recognized in a unique interview with PEOPLE, calling it "a dream come true."

"I always told myself, watching the BET Awards, any award show, I'm going to win one of those awards one day," Chiles said in her interview with PEOPLE. "This is something that I feel is a little bigger because there's more people who are involved, especially in entertainment. So it's just crazy that I'm in this category now and I get to really enjoy it."

This honor is more significant because of the company that she keeps on the nominations list. Chiles rounded off her senior year at college by winning the 2026 NCAA floor exercise championship, her fourth NCAA individual title, as well as picking up the esteemed AAI Award, and scoring 19 perfect tens during her UCLA career.

The same high level of competition is expected from the other women nominated alongside her.

In the same PEOPLE interview, Chiles also noted, "To know that I'm nominated with remarkable women such as A'ja Wilson, Sha'Carri Richardson, Naomi Osaka, and all of them, I'm just like, 'This is crazy.' They've done so much within their careers and make the younger generation understand that anything is possible."

Chiles has a résumé beyond gymnastics and schoolwork, as she is also a New York Times bestselling author, finished third on "Dancing with the Stars," and is now pursuing acting careers as a voice actor and even hopes to be a Marvel character someday.

BET Award nominee Chiles is keeping company with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment this awards season.

Jordan Chiles Eyes Acting and Business Ventures After UCLA Graduation

An Olympic medallist twice, a recent grad from UCLA, and one of TIME’s Women of the Year, Chiles now has a new milestone to add to that list.

Her BET Sportswoman of the Year nomination puts her on the same level as the big names in the music industry, like Cardi B, J. Cole, Doechii, and Doja Cat, while Sinners and Wicked: For Good battle for other categories.

Chiles tells PEOPLE what it means to her to stand in such a diverse group of professionals.

"This is something that I feel is a little bigger because there's more people who are involved, especially in entertainment, whether you're an artist, whether you're a producer, a director, whoever you may be. So it's just crazy that I'm in this category now and I get to really enjoy it," she shared.

Such comfort with cross-industry recognition is well-deserved when considering just how much the woman has been able to extend her horizons.

With her degree in African American Studies from UCLA and her bestseller behind her, she is now looking towards Hollywood.

"I do want to act, I want to go into the acting world. As a stunt double, as a voice actor, or just a character that I get to be a part of and create," she revealed to PEOPLE.

Now that the BET Awards are coming up on June 28, everyone’s going to watch her because she’s just beginning her career.

Who would you like to see win the Sportswoman of the Year Award at the 2026 BET Awards? Tell us in the comment section below!

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta