Australian soccer player Mary Fowler made waves at the Paris Fashion Week, becoming the first pro footballer to ever walk the runway at the L’Oreal Paris show.
The 22-year-old, who became a L’Oréal Paris ambassador last year, absolutely rocked a one-sleeved black suit dress and heels, even blowing a kiss to the crowd.
She shared the catwalk with huge names like Kendall Jenner and Eva Longoria, and even got in a super star-studded group photo with Helen Mirren, Jane Fonda, Gillian Anderson, and Cara Delevingne.
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Earlier this month, she admitted she was “a little nervous” when she first heard the news, but Fowler totally crushed it on the runway at the Hotel de Ville.
“Honestly, I never imagined I’d be walking any runway, let alone one for L’Oreal that’s in Paris of all places,” she said, according to the Daily Mail.
She added, “I’m going to be the first professional footballer to walk this runway and the first Australian ambassador which is mind-blowing to me, but it also feels so empowering. I am a little nervous, but I’m not pressuring myself to be perfect out there because to me walking in Le Défilé is a chance to show that showing up as yourself will always be beautiful.”
Fowler expressed immense pride in representing women in sport, stating that her experience in the “City of Love” would undoubtedly inspire young girls to “dream big.”
In March, the footballer participated in a professional photo shoot after being appointed an ambassador for L’Oreal Paris. She subsequently shared several striking, revealing images on Instagram.
One image showed the Manchester City star donning a formidable leather bra beneath a white vest and low-rise track pants, accentuating her athletic physique. In the picture, she held a football bearing L’Oreal’s “I’m Worth It” slogan, appearing flawless.
“Since I was young expressing myself authentically has been super important to me, so joining the @lorealparis family only feels right,” the soccer star began her caption. “I’m so grateful to stand with so many inspiring women to help others see their self-worth. I’m worth it and so are you.”
Fowler is currently the face of L’Oreal campaigns in Australia and New Zealand, all about “women’s empowerment.” She is famous for her ads where she’s looking super glamorous, putting on red lipstick in a black outfit with shoulder cut-outs.
Meanwhile, outside of fashion, Fowler is doing well after tearing her ACL back in April while playing for Manchester City. She’s hoping to be back on the field for the Asian Cup in Australia next March.
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro expects Fowler to be back on the field by November, even though she’s had a limited workload lately.
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Fowler also shared her unique mindset that’s helping her stay positive while she recovers from her injury.
“I have made a conscious effort to think that I don’t have like a bad knee that needs to be fixed, but I’m getting an upgrade and I’m getting an even better knee,” she said.
“I have heard that a lot of girls when they come back… it can be up to a year to feel like probably normal again. I feel like 90 per cent of that is going to be a mental block and so it’s something that I’ve thought about and been like, why don’t I just start changing how I think about it now already?”
Meanwhile, the Manchester City forward has extended her contract until the summer of 2027, the BBC reported on Wednesday, October 1. The Australian international, who joined City from Montpellier in 2022, has played 87 games for City.
“Enjoying my football is a big part of me playing well and City has created an environment where I can flourish in that sense,” Fowler, who has 64 caps for Australia, said.
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