I tell stories at the intersection of sport, culture, and humanity because women athletes deserve more than highlights, they deserve history.

K. Nicole Mills is a Los Angeles–based award-winning filmmaker, entrepreneur, and founder of The Athleap, a creative studio and media platform dedicated to telling authentic stories about women in sports. She blends artistry, culture, and business innovation to amplify underrepresented voices through film and branded storytelling.

Her acclaimed short documentary, A RACE IN THE SUN, chronicles the journey of Ayesha McGowan, the world’s first African American professional female cyclist, as she rises from the underground cycling scene in New York City to the global stage. The film has been showcased at Oscar-qualifying festivals including DOC NYC, Urbanworld, Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, and BlackStar Film Festival, and has won Best Short Documentary at Santa Barbara Short Film Festival, DC Black Film Festival, Reel Sisters Film Festival, and Maryland Film Festival.

Building on that success, Mills is currently directing Forever Yours, Marielle, a poetic portrait of Olympic runner Marielle Hall that explores identity, resilience, and healing through the lens of distance running.

Mills’ creative foundation began with photography, which grew into a filmmaking career shaped by work on major productions including Space Jam: A New Legacy, Amazon’s Harlem, Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, and multiple NBC pilots. She began her career in the prestigious NBC Page Program, later transitioning into Development and Alternative Programming where she contributed to shows such as The Voice and The Biggest Loser. She also served as a Producer on ESPN’s acclaimed 30 for 30 series.

Through The Athleap, Mills is building a platform where short documentaries, branded content, and editorial features intersect to elevate women athletes worldwide.