Grace Vella took Soccer by storm. Grace grew up in a household surrounded by soccer. Her family was Liverpool FC fans and she quickly began playing soccer at a ripe 5 years old. However, growing up she faced adversity through this love for soccer. She grew up believing that soccer was for anyone; but was constantly told by boys that soccer was not for girls and that girls soccer would always be second best. Even through this adversity she stayed strong and continued to play the sport she loved. Grace was extremely successful in soccer and played for high level club teams, such as the feeder club for Liverpool. Yet she still felt held back. Her gender defined her in athletics and created an impassable barrier for her, and so many other women’s athletes just like her trying to be successful in a sport heavily dominated by men.
All of this brought her to develop “MissKicks”. A brand and business to change the way the world sees women’s sports. Focused on creating a brand for women’s soccer apparel to bring awareness that not only is women’s soccer equal to men’s, but really so so much more than anyone could’ve known. Other than Grace.
Her business idea hits on an emotional and personal note with other female athletes. By bringing an awareness to the equality in sports it also brings up other important ideas. The sports pay gap between men and women, the viewer gap and other issues. Grace’s perseverance through people telling her she couldn’t do it, that she was never enough or couldn’t be what a man could be lead her to creating a brand not only to represent female soccer players, but also female athletes in general. Her fight and willingness to silence the mob created the entrepreneurial opportunity of a lifetime and she took it.
Her work should not only be inspiring to Female soccer players. It should be a message to any marginalized athlete that you are not alone, and not out of the fight. There is a time for any athlete in the spotlight.
I’ve experienced this! Girl’s/women’s soccer is definitely overlooked. This company is tackling an issue that I never realized was bigger than it is. For as long as I remember, people have just told me, “that’s just the way it is.” This is definitely a company/brand I’m going to look into more.