Movies

Our Lionesses are underpaid unknowns no more! How little-known footballers have turned into national heroines – in journeys that have also transformed their lives off the pitch

BBG News

The victory at the 2022 Euros transformed the England’s Lionesses, previously not well-known football players, into cherished national figures.

And if the tournament made them famous, it also transformed their lives off the pitch.

English women’s football players now have a taste of not just sporting success, but also an element of style and sophistication, ranging from prestigious endorsements with luxury fashion houses like Gucci to walking the red carpet in gowns that rival those worn by the Kardashians.

Previously underpaid and often overlooked, it’s hard to forget Mary Earps expressing her frustrations before the last Euros due to Nike not including her name on the replica shirts, but now the commercial value of our women’s football team is significantly increasing.

Tonight at 8 pm, as they gear up to take on France in their inaugural match of this year’s Euros, Molly Clayton discloses the Lioness who leads a life of utmost luxury among them, inspiring a new wave of young female athletes.

The Gucci model 

Leah Williamson, the esteemed English soccer team captain, not only excels on the field but also boasts a thriving career in high-fashion modeling. She graces the pages of Vogue, GQ, and Elle Magazine, and struts the runway for brands such as Calvin Klein. Gucci even recognized her potential and made her their brand ambassador. In other words, Leah Williamson, 28, is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the soccer pitch.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but acknowledge the incredible success that followed my leadership of the Lionesses in the Euro 2022 final. Off the field, my star continues to shine brightly, thanks to lucrative partnerships with renowned brands such as Nike and Aston Martin, alongside collaborations with global giants like Pepsi, Walkers, and Mastercard.

Having amassed approximately 1.1 million Instagram followers, she has secured endorsement deals with brands like Weetabix and Cadbury, in addition to authoring six children’s books under the title “The Wonder Team”. As part of these arrangements, she enjoyed an extravagant vacation in Mallorca at the Ikos resort, which typically costs around £1,000 per night.

There are whispers that she is in a relationship with Elle Smith, a past beauty pageant winner and model, as they have shared posts about one another on their social media platforms.

Ella the business brainbox

Using regular language and a conversational tone: Ella Toone, a 25-year-old Manchester United midfielder, frequently shares her beauty habits on her YouTube channel, where she’s always sporting false eyelashes and loves makeup. Moreover, she demonstrates impressive business skills off the field, already carving out a successful career beyond soccer.

The first female English soccer player to register her name as a trademark has established her own brand called ET7, which encompasses a youth football academy specifically designed for young girls.

Her name is reminiscent of the influence of her childhood idol, the renowned Portuguese soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who brands himself as CR7.

Estimating her value exceeding one million pounds, she launched her personal creative agency, Amicizia, just last month. The purpose of this agency is to facilitate relationships between leading brands and talented female athletes.

She is supported financially by companies such as Charlotte Tilbury (cosmetics), Invisalign (orthodontics), and McDonald’s. Her annual income is believed to exceed £200,000, primarily due to her high social media presence.

At one point, she was one of the top five most viewed athletes on TikTok.

Ella boasts a following of 737,000 on Instagram and co-hosts a BBC podcast alongside her best friend and teammate Alessia Russo, who she graced the cover of Elle magazine with, in both fashion and beauty sections.

She adores no activity more than attending grand events on the red carpet. In a romantic partnership with footballer Joe Bunney from Stalybridge Celtic FC, she frequently shares peeks of their opulent vacations overseas and rejuvenating sessions at luxurious five-star resorts with her followers.

Lauren’s ooh la la lego 

Demonstrating that any interest can yield financial benefits, Manchester City striker Lauren Hemp, at age 24, has augmented her approximate £400,000 income through a sponsorship agreement with the renowned toy brand, Lego.

In her spare time, she immerses herself in crafting remarkable Lego artworks, finding it a perfect means to unwind. She even recreated the Mona Lisa using these colorful bricks. Besides Lego, her other supporters are Nike and Sports Direct.

In addition, Lauren is backed by her partner, ex-Liverpool midfielder Ashley Hodson. They’ve been together for two years and not long ago, they had a lovely vacation in Paris, where Lauren got to see the Mona Lisa in its original, conventional location.

Shy superstar with an ex on the team

As a child, Lucy Bronze resided on Lindisfarne, commonly referred to as Holy Island, situated along the rugged seashore of Northumberland. Her grandmother served as caretaker for Lindisfarne Castle, and a replica of that castle’s silhouette is etched onto Lucy’s wrist as a tattoo.

As a timid individual throughout her youth, it wasn’t until 2021 that she was diagnosed with ADHD and autism. However, neither her secluded upbringing nor her neurodiversity impeded her progress. Instead, she has expressed that the heightened focus linked to these conditions works to her benefit – now, at the age of 33, she is among the highest-earning figures in her field.

It’s said that she earned approximately £200,000 annually during her time at Barcelona, prior to joining Chelsea in 2024.

After her victory at the previous Euros, she attracted big-ticket sponsorships from companies like Pepsi, EE, Klarna, and Visa. Interestingly, her ex-girlfriend is another Lioness, Keira Walsh.

Fashion week regular 

In 2023, Forbes reported that Alessia Russo amassed nearly 2 million pounds all by herself, an impressive figure. That very year, her move from Manchester United to Arsenal catapulted her into the ranks of the world’s priciest female footballers. Rumor has it that her contract is valued over half a million pounds annually, and her commercial value is equally substantial.

She handles partnerships with brands like Gucci, Adidas, PlayStation, Beats by Dr. Dre, and recently received a MGS5 EV car as a gift, which she excitedly shared on Instagram.

As a devoted follower, I proudly attend London Fashion Week regularly and have graced the covers of esteemed publications like Women’s Health. Most recently, I walked the red carpet at the BAFTA TV Awards in May, donning a stunning £1,295 Roland Mouret gown.

Revealing outfits… on pitch too! 

In a ponytail and wearing braces, Chloe Kelly netted the decisive late goal versus Germany at Wembley in 2022, an accomplishment that became iconic as she excitedly removed her shirt in triumph. Since then, she has embraced her victory with a stylish hairdo and glamorous makeover.

Now, she no longer has braces; instead, she flaunts a radiant grin fit for social media. Her eyebrows underwent an Ombre transformation – a semi-permanent process costing £350, involving minute needles to insert pigment into her skin.

Additionally, she has garnered attention by donning bold, exposing ensembles (which align with Chloe’s signature cut-outs) at various high-profile events such as the MTV Awards and the BAFTAs.

After that, she posted images from her luxurious evening at a central London hotel, along with the hair and makeup session, to her 962,000 followers on Instagram. Notably, she has also taken part in fashion shoots wearing Prada and Versace, perfectly embodying the role of an accomplished model.

In the previous year, she exchanged vows with her longtime companion, Scott Moore, during an opulent wedding held at Merrydale Manor in Cheshire. The bride donned a luxurious Galia Lahav wedding gown valued at £15,000, which featured delicate lace panels on both sides that were semi-transparent.

It’s no surprise at all that Chloe’s income has skyrocketed recently. She’s landed a contract with Land Rover, Nike has chosen her as their brand representative, and she collaborates with The Gym Kitchen and Doritos.

And this week, she signed a deal with Arsenal believed to be worth £150,000 a year.

2023 saw Chloe as the sole lioness on the Women’s World Cup’s most highly compensated roster, boasting an estimated annual income of £933,500.

Burberry clad goalie 

Hannah Hampton, who sports a long mane and has a friendly, neighborly appearance, now finds herself in a challenging position as Mary Earps unexpectedly stepped down from the team a month ago, leaving some sizeable footsteps to follow.

This 24-year-old soccer player, who plays for Chelsea, has been featured in Elle magazine by Burberry and has corporate sponsors such as Nike and Extra chewing gum. Additionally, she collaborates with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, having undergone multiple eye surgeries as a child to correct a squint.

Despite being told she wouldn’t become a professional athlete, Hannah has shown everyone otherwise, which has earned her admiration from her 228,000 Instagram fans recently as she expressed her determination.

Her relationship status isn’t known.

Dubai devotee 

She always takes along her Louis Vuitton suitcases whenever she travels, frequently flaunts herself in a Maybach vehicle, and relishes extravagant vacations in Dubai, usually residing at the opulent Five hotel during her stays.

Lauren James, a 23-year-old standout player for Chelsea, has indulged in some luxury experiences following her significant contribution to the Lionesses’ 2023 World Cup run. The details about her romantic life are not public, but she shares a bond with her elder brother Reece, who plays professionally for Chelsea’s men’s squad. She has secured sponsorship deals with notable brands such as Nike, Google Pixel, Optimum Nutrition, Sure deodorant, and Walkers.

As a die-hard admirer, I can’t help but notice the dazzling duo of superstars always gracing red carpet events hand in hand. While it’s said she brings home an impressive annual salary of £350,000 at Chelsea, my heart skips a beat whenever I learn that her brother, Reece, earns an astonishing £250,000 each week!

Kooky style 

Georgia Stanway, the midfielder at 26 years old, is so passionate about tattoos that she not only sports approximately 100 tattoos on herself, but she’s also educated herself in the art of tattooing others.

The distinctive fashion sense of the Bayern Munich star has attracted sponsorship deals from brands like Nike and Celsius Drinks, who showcased their partnership on her Instagram account, which boasts a following of 433,000 users.

Off the pitch, she’s been with Toulouse rugby league player Olly Ashall-Bott since 2022.

Read More

2025-07-05 02:20

Previous post One Way Disney’s Elio Is Actually Really Accurate, According To The U.S. Space Force
Next post Denzel Washington Joins Black Panther 3, But Who Is He Playing?