International Women’s Day 2023: WOMXNWHOPLAY 9 Months Later

What has been a career highlight over the last 9 months since finishing #WOMXNWHOPLAY?

My career highlight would be raising over £30,000 for a variety of charities in the last 9 months. This is as a professional Golfer on a Beat The Pro Tee. I have also changed my career path slightly and entered the world of Pageantry. Entering this world as a PGA professional golfer opened me up to criticism because I work in a male dominated industry. I competed in Royal UK and won Ms Royal UK which meant I was able to merge my work as a professional golfer to the Pageant world to increase the participation of golf. I have been able to champion Inclusivity in sport focusing on disability,  social economic and cultural factors that create barriers. 

Have you seen your platform and audience grow since finishing the campaign? 

What grew the most was the support I received from my fellow trailblazers in sport. I connected with these ladies because of our similar experiences in our sports, and the obstacles within our sports that we have faced being females. I have been inspired by these ladies and I hope I inspire them too. My platform is all about championing inclusivity in sport and the other ladies from #WOMXNWHOPLAY are the embodiment of positive female role models who are also striving to do the same. 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

I am dedicated to celebrating female achievements and to raise awareness about women equity and accelerate gender parity on a daily basis, so International Women's Day is an important part of this. There is still a continued fight for women’s rights today and International Women's Day provides women with a greater voice to further push for equal rights. 

Have you got anything exciting planned for 2023 that you can share with us?

I am very excited to be continuing my charity work this year. I have events booked monthly that will have a bigger impact to encourage talking points to break down stereotypes and show that sport can be accessible and achievable for all. More information on these events are to come. I also am excited that as Ms Royal UK I will be competing at internationals in Florida in July for the International Ms title.  Being Ms Royal UK is an incredible platform that has helped me to inspire a wider community and connect more walks of life. 

What has been a career highlight over the last 9 months since finishing #WOMXNWHOPLAY? 

After finishing the #WOMXNWHOPLAY campaign, I went on to get a bronze medal over the 400 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and another bronze with the GB 4X400m at European Champs. 

Have you seen your platform and audience grow since finishing the campaign?

I have seen more engagement with the things I do off the track, it was amazing to have an opportunity to share these things with fellow women in sport! 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me, it signifies the need for us all to keep pushing for equity whilst also acknowledging all of the amazing work people are doing all over the globe in the gender equity space. 

Have you got anything exciting planned for 2023 that you can share with us?

Yes! I am launching an online journal and community space called “Listen Journal” where we aim to showcase stories from underrepresented populations with a focus on gender equity. It is a space to tell your story on your own terms, a space to be heard.

What has been a career highlight over the last 9 months since finishing #WOMXNWHOPLAY?

A career highlight for me has been seeing the advancement of the work of The Black Swimming Association. We have been rolling out more of our water safety programs across London and other cities in the U.K.

Personally, I have returned to training and have rekindled my love for swimming. Looking forward to the next few months leading up to Paris 2024 qualification.

Have you seen your platform and audience grow since finishing the campaign?

I have! The BOXPARK community is so warm and genuine and I feel that was passed on to me after WOMXNWHOPLAY.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

International women’s day is meaningful to me because it highlights how far we have come towards equality and equity across genders but still shows how far we have to go for some areas in society. It’s always great to be able to celebrate women who are doing cool things but also women as a collective.

Have you got anything exciting planned for 2023 that you can share with us?

For 2023 I’m looking to return to international competition after a year off. I'm very much looking forward to it!

What has been a career highlight over the last 9 months since finishing #WOMXNWHOPLAY?

The fact I get to travel with work - my first job of the year was a ski shoot in the alps and then I flew straight to New York to style a client for the Jimmy Fallon show which was very exciting! 

Have you seen your platform and audience grow since finishing the campaign?

I have, and more of a female audience too which I love - as a female working in menswear, it's really great to see.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Reflecting and empowerment. It's a day for everyone together and highlights the importance of equal rights. 

Have you got anything exciting planned for 2023 that you can share with us?

A lot of exciting things but unfortunately I can't unveil anything just yet - I'm also starting to work on my own brand so watch this space! 

What has been a career highlight over the last 9 months since finishing #WOMXNWHOPLAY?

A recent career highlight has got to be returning from my injury in time to be selected and compete at the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Sevens World Cup. It was a real mental and physical challenge to get back into the squad so I'm really proud to have achieved that.

Have you seen your platform and audience grow since finishing the campaign?

My audience has definitely grown over the last few months and it just shows to me how important campaigns like this are to create opportunities for women in all areas of sport.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

For me, International Women's Day is all about celebrating the success of women but also highlighting that there is still a long way to go in achieving equality in the world. Women are amazing, I think we deserve more than just a day! (haha)

Have you got anything exciting planned for 2023 that you can share with us?

2023 is another big year of rehab for me, to get myself back in the best place ready for the Paris Olympics. I also have some exciting events coming up, similar to the #WOMXNWHOPLAY campaign which align nicely with my passion for getting more women and girls into sport.

What has been a career highlight over the last 9 months since finishing #WOMXNWHOPLAY?

I would say interviewing Héctor Bellerín for Season Zine Issue 10 and also shooting with Shanice Van Der Sanden. They are both players that I’ve admired from afar and they are both so authentic and unapologetic about what they do so meeting and getting to interview them for Issue 10 were definitely highlights for me. 

Have you seen your platform and audience grow since finishing the campaign?

I would say it was really interesting to walk through BOXPARK when the exhibition was up and see my face on the walls which hasn’t really happened before in that kind of way. 

Season Zine is now at 17.1k followers which is amazing but yeah it’s an interesting question because the Lionesses won the Euros but how much has actually changed for women in sport since then? It’s an interesting time to talk about it, especially as it was the Sports Journalism Awards this week and some women did win which was great but not much of the content around the Euros and women in sport won anything which is a shame. 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

I try not to be too cynical about it, but it is a bit of a marketing ploy and everyday should be International Women’s Day. There are still so many injustices and ways that things are sexist or unequal to women. 

But I guess it can only be a positive if it reminds people to celebrate women but every day should be women's day so it doesn’t mean too much to me personally. It feels a bit performative, there are lots of fundamental issues that should be solved anyway.. So yeah sorry to be a debbie downer on that!

Have you got anything exciting planned for 2023 that you can share with us?

Oooh, I do have exciting things planned but sadly I can’t share them! All I can say is keep your eyes out and stay tuned, follow me @feliciapennant @seasonzine as there are always exciting things on there in the meantime.  

What has been a career highlight over the last 9 months since finishing #WOMXNWHOPLAY?

I love working in radio, but last summer was really special when I presented our sport programme on BBC Radio Manchester from the fan park at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester for the Euro women's final. The atmosphere was incredible, and having been a footballer myself, to see the England Lionesses make history and see the sheer excitement and euphoria of the fans and be able to capture it for radio was just fantastic… and very emotional!

Have you seen your platform and audience grow since finishing the campaign?

To be really honest, I wouldn't know as I don't measure my platform or audience, I'm more interested in connecting with people and making a positive difference. The campaign was great in this regard as the other women I met were fantastic, plus the people we met at each event, so that was a real privilege and has led to some great collaborations. 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It means the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the progress we have made for women across the world, but also highlight what still needs to change - the best outcome is when a real commitment is made by individuals, schools, businesses, organisations etc to take action to improve progress for women, IWD can provide the opportunity for this to happen. 

Have you got anything exciting planned for 2023 that you can share with us?

I will be presenting the EFL trophy from Wembley for BBC Radio Manchester in April and I am commentating on boxing for FightZone this year, plus we will be officially launching the Pave The Way charity. I’m also taking on a cycling challenge from the Dolomites in Italy to Lake Garda in July with my former team mate who I played footy with in the USA!

What has been a career highlight over the last 9 months since finishing #WOMXNWHOPLAY? 

Achieving distinctions in my Leadership & Management diploma

Have you seen your platform and audience grow since finishing the campaign? 

Yes v much, with lots of positive comments about the campaign. It was a great experience to be part of, thanks to BOXPARK! 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? 

It's a time to remind people there is still a lot to do to get nearer to equality for all women. #EmbraceEquity

Have you got anything exciting planned for 2023 that you can share with us? 

My plans are to carry on empowering women wherever I can!