Heather Fisher: World Cup winner on hair loss, identity & resilience

Fisher believes the sporting world has made modest strides in embracing women of all shapes and sizes and those with differences, with rugby seen as one of the most inclusive sports.

Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have played a significant role in shifting perceptions, allowing athletes to tell their own stories and highlighting the ways they break the mould.

Reflecting on her own career, Fisher notes how different the landscape was even a few years ago.

Social media presence was in its infancy when she was playing. If you worked on your profile, “you were almost seen as not taking the sport seriously,” she adds.

But that has changed now.

“If I was playing now for sure, I would definitely share my story on social media. It would turn heads and it would be a real positive way to showcase the game and showcase someone who looks and feels different,” she says.

Among the athletes redefining what it means to be a woman in sport is United States superstar Ilona Maher.

She is the most followed rugby player – male or female – in the world, with millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram thanks to content that celebrates her strength and femininity.

“I think with Ilona Maher, it’s really interesting because she’s done such a great job,” Fisher says.

“She’s a great advocate for what she puts out there and she’s brilliant. But she still looks very feminine.”