The Story Behind Jessica Pegula's Skincare Brand Ready 24
WTA world No. 3 tennis star Jessica Pegula is often hailed as one of the most consistent active players. Off the court, Pegula boasts numerous commercial sponsorships, many of which are first-time partnerships with a tennis player, such as Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Swiss independent luxury watchmaker De Bethune, KPMG, and innovative jewelry brand gorjana. However, she is not just a brand ambassador but also a brand founder.
Pegula founded the skincare brand Ready 24 in 2017 in her hometown of Buffalo. Having struggled with various skin conditions since childhood, Pegula developed a keen interest in beauty and personal care brands, often buying products to test herself, but never finding the ideal one.
She once said: "I've tried countless methods, but often didn't stick with them long enough to see results. Because I used too many products, my skin would 'rebel'. So, I've always wanted to know what helps and what truly works. Like many people, I'm always looking for quick fixes."
In 2016, at age 22, Pegula underwent surgery for a torn labrum in her right hip, forcing her to miss eight months of competition. This injury layoff sparked the idea for her personal care brand: "During that time, I couldn't do anything but rehab, and it was really boring. So that's basically how the brand started. It took over a year from conception to launch, piecing everything together. Gradually, I realized that the simpler the skincare routine, the better the results seemed to be. That's the design philosophy behind Ready 24."
The "24" in the brand name represents "24/7" (around the clock), and combined with Pegula's birthday on February 24, 1994, the name makes perfect sense.
Pegula notes that tennis takes a toll on the skin, with matches and long training sessions in various climates, sweat soaking the skin, plus travel and professional stress, not to mention sun damage. Ready 24's product line is divided into four categories:Square One (cleanser), Balance (essence water), Defense (moisturizer), and Recovery (masks, eye cream). The products are affordably priced, with individual items ranging from $22 to $40 and sets around $90.
The brief introduction on Ready 24's website encapsulates the brand philosophy: "We know you're active. We know you're always on the go. We know it's hard to find products that are both clean and reliable. That's why we created Ready 24. Our ingredients are clean and simple, and your skincare should be too."
In the early days of the brand, Pegula was hands-on in Buffalo, writing product copy, communicating with logistics companies, and handing samples to a "focus group" of friends and family for rigorous testing.
Pegula's father is American billionaire Terry Pegula. Pegula admits that her parents encouraged her in the early stages and provided a small loan. In 2021, she stated that the brand had already recouped its initial investment.
Pegula's sister, licensed esthetician Kelly Pegula, has participated in the brand's pop-up events at the Charleston and Cincinnati tennis tournaments. Pegula's agent, Chris McCormack, is involved in Ready 24's operations.
In terms of promotion, Pegula consistently uses her own products and gives them to tour peers like Madison Keys and Kim Clijsters, allowing the brand's reputation to spread naturally among athletes. The brand is primarily sold through its official website and is also available at supermarkets like Wegmans.
Above: Ready 24 advertisement at a New York subway entrance during the 2025 US Open
However, Pegula has not tied Ready 24 too closely to her personal brand. She herself jokes that she should promote it more. Even on her co-founded popular video podcast "The Player's Box", she rarely mentions Ready 24 or her founder status, to keep the podcast's content light and pure.
| Source: WTA official website; Ready 24 official website
| Image source: WTA official website; Ready 24 official Instagram