Alisha Lehmann of Aston Villa has been defended for wearing cosmetics, with analogies to Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham’s extravagant haircuts.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Trolls targeted the 24-year-old for wearing cosmetics after Switzerland’s 7-1 loss to Spain in a Nations League match. Following the setback, several unpleasant comments appeared on her Instagram photo, including one that read: “All that makeup just to lose 1-7 on home soil.” Another user wrote: “Ever feel like a muppet being the only one with makeup on to play a sport.”
Vicki Blomme of Nordic site C More backed Lehmann, saying the TV presenter compared her love of makeup to male footballers’ love of stylish haircuts.
Blomme told the Soccer Sisters podcast (via Mundo Deportivo): “Yes, she plays with her sexuality, but they’ve done it many times.” Consider David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. Makeup and personal grooming are perceived differently than when a boy does his hair.
“Many people think it’s vanity, but it’s also emotion.” There’s something to the feeling of being confident and strong. I think it’s great that we’re all different and may dress as we choose. You divert some attention away from football, but Beckham did the same thing. There is nothing improper with wearing makeup while playing football; we must stop condemning them.”
Beckham and Ronaldo have become fashion idols for their followers all over the world, known for their unique hairstyles and fashion sense. When Beckham sported a small mohawk to protest against Sir Alex Ferguson in the early 2000s, it became popular among British schoolchildren, prompting officials to outlaw it. Furthermore, Ronaldo’s ‘noodle-hair’ style is still popular, and was even mimicked by Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. while on vacation during the 2021 season break.
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