MICHELLE HEYMAN
Striker for the Matildas and Canberra United, there’s much more to Michelle Heyman’s passion for the game than meets the eye. She’s been playing football (soccer, for us Americans) since she was twelve, and she says her love for the game extends well beyond the playing time and far beyond the field: “It’s life. I play for my friends, I play for my family. I play for myself.” The award-winning professional athlete has been named top goal scorer of the Westfield W-League. She also played a stint in the United States for the Western New York Flash. Dubbed the “Smiling Assassin,” Heyman made her Matildas debut in 2010. Last year, she was honored to be a part of the Women’s World Cup and to be named as one of the first openly gay athletes. “To have that recognized by a mass audi-ence showed the world that no matter our sexuality, we are great role models,” she says. Also last year, her signature clothing brand MH23 Apparel was launched. “I’ve always had a love for fashion—and growing up, I never felt comfortable in typical girls’ clothes and ended up wearing their male counterparts,” she tells GO. “I have always wanted to feel comfortable in my clothes because I am comfortable in my skin.” –SLO
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