Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster says Mary Fowler swapping football boots for high heels is a striking example of how far the women’s game has come in Australia.
The Matildas and Manchester City star took to the runway at Paris Fashion Week as a star of the Le Defile L’Oreal show.
The 22-year-old from Cairns rubbed shoulders with the likes of Helen Mirren and Kendall Jenner in what she described as “a celebration of women’s empowerment, inclusion, and sisterhood.”
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Mary Fowler at Paris Fashion Week. Getty
Fowler, one of the world’s most exciting young players, admitted the experience was outside of her comfort zone but she looked right at home as she blew kisses to the cameras.
“You need a certain cool factor, and that’s the point about Mary,” Foster said on Stan Sport’s Added Time.
“She’s stunning, she’s a brilliant footballer, but also for Australian football, it’s really valuable to have her there. It demonstrates the status that she has and that’s what it’s about.
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Mary Fowler at Paris Fashion Week. Getty
“People need to know who they are and it’s great. We need our players – and particularly our Matildas – who are the most powerful athletes, promoters, if you like, that we have, to be in all of these environments.
“And by that I mean film, documentary, TV, music, you know, and to cross over out of sport. That’s why I’m so pleased to see Mary there.”
Added Time host Adam Peacock asked Foster and Mark Bosnich which of their former teammates would be at home on the runway.
Paul Okon at Yeni Sehir Stadium in Turkey. Getty
FC Torino assistant coach Attilio Lombardo watches the action. Getty
Bosnich’s former Manchester United pal David Beckham is a fashion icon in his own right but he also nominated former Socceroos star Paul Okon and Australian Olympic teammate Milan Bogojevic.
Foster opted for his former Crystal Palace teammate Attilio Lombardo.
“The bald eagle, he was very dapper,” Foster said.
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“It factor. A lot of the guys there, they were very different, very up to date, I would say, compared to most Aussies like me.
“In the Australian area, I don’t think anyone, sartorially was particularly good back in our day. So I don’t think many would have fit in.”
Fowler last week confirmed a one-year extension with City to play in the Women’s Super League as she continues her recovery from an ACL injury.
Mary Fowler stars in ‘Trailblazers.’ Stan
“Getting injured after having a good season, I was pretty upset about that as I feel I’ve found that balance and rhythm, but it ended in an injury,” Fowler said.
“Having that time away now, I feel really grateful to play the sport and have been given a gift that has put me in this situation.
“I feel really excited to get back there and having that excitement is something that you can lose throughout certain points of your career, so having to take a step back has made me happier on the field in a way because I can see that joy again inside me.”