sport news EXCL: After a childhood spent obsessing over Liverpool Ellie Kildunne found her ... trends now
Growing up in Yorkshire, a young Liverpool-mad Ellie Kildunne would slick back her now distinctive mop of curly hair in a tribute to both former Reds striker Fernando Torres and Sporty Spice.
She would run around the house clad head-to-toe in the kit of her footballing hero. Now, she is the one others look up to as a modern face of the Red Roses.
At 23, Kildunne has entered the world of international rugby at just the right time. She is of a generation that is used to female players being professional. It wasn’t always the case.
Ellie Kildunne is now one of the most recognisable young faces in the current England side
Kildunne – the epitome of today’s athlete – uses her Instagram and TikTok pages to connect with and inspire the next generation while she bids to help England to World Cup glory in New Zealand.
‘I always knew I had something in me to be able to try and do something great and influence people,’ Kildunne told Sportsmail in Auckland. ‘I had that spark.'
‘It’s one of those things where if you’ve got it, you’ve got it. Even at a very young age I wanted to shock everyone and show people who Ellie Kildunne is. It’s a fire in your belly you can’t describe but have to feel. I remember someone saying to me at primary school “Ellie I think you’re going to be famous when you’re older” and thinking then that other people think I’m destined for something.’
Kildunne (middle, left) in her youth donning her beloved Liverpool kit alongside some friends
The full-back has been in scintillating form in New Zealand with England two games from glory
Kildunne’s calling proved to be rugby. Torres and Liverpool inspired her sporting development and she was a good enough footballer to help Farsley FC beat Manchester City 4-1 at junior level.
Nowadays, she has swapped the red of Liverpool for the white of England.
Away from the rugby field, she likes to stand out from the crowd with a bold choice in clothes. On it, her bright orange boots certainly enable her to do just that.
Melanie C remains an inspiration, but now only in a fashion sense.
‘I was the biggest Liverpool fan. My room was Liverpool themed and I dressed in full Liverpool kit all the time,’ Kildunne added. ‘I remember one game they lost 4-1 to Arsenal and I cried so much. ‘When I look back on the Liverpool kits now I wonder what I was thinking! I gelled my hair back and wore Crocs before they were cool.
‘I say a big fat no to wearing them now! I like looking good. I’m confident in what I wear and look different to everyone else. Sometimes I turn up in big parachute pants.
She explained to Sportsmail how she would gel her curly locks back in her youth to mimic her hero Fernando Torres
‘But other times I might look like I’m about to go to the skatepark or I might be going as Sporty Spice! Your look is your first impression. If someone in the street says “You look cool” that’s the biggest ego boost they could give me. If you’re confident in what you’re wearing, you’re confident in what you do. I’m a big believer that doing that helps take you forward in life.’
Kildunne is true to her word on that front when she takes to the
