Australian football superstar Mary Fowler has opened up on her relationship with Penrith Panthers NRL superstar Nathan Cleary.
In an exclusive interview with Stellar, Fowler – who plays for the Matildas – reveals that the 2023 Women’s World Cup tournament in Australia will always mark a significant, life-changing time in her life, and not just because of what she and her teammates achieved on the pitch.
Fowler explained that on the morning of their first game of the tournament, she and Cleary also went on their first date.
“I have so many positive feelings about the tournament itself. But then, outside of it, it was such an exciting time as well,” Fowler told Stellar.
“We met up quite a few times during [the 2023 World Cup] and I don’t think we really thought about it ever getting out.
“I think we’re both really grateful that it came out after.”
In the interview, which coincides with the release of her memoir Bloom, 22-year-old Fowler – who was born and raised in Cairns and now calls the UK city of Manchester home – also told Stellar that she considers Cleary her “role model”, and revealed that she has grown more comfortable navigating the intense public scrutiny on both of them since they began dating.
“I’ve become a lot more comfortable with expressing my love and just being a lot more present with him, and with others, when people are watching.
“Something I really appreciate in our relationship is that – although we’re both professional athletes – most of our talk about sport is actually [about] the mental side,” she added.
“Nathan has been so helpful with that. He is almost like a role model for me now.
“I draw inspiration from what he does, because we are both such different athletes.”
Bloom by Mary Fowler ($36.99, Penguin Random House) is out on Tuesday.
Read the full story here and see the shoot inside Stellar, via The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA).
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