5 Minutes with Tessa Wullaert| La Michaux #9
5 Minutes with Tessa Wullaert| La Michaux #9
Tessa Wullaert is a Belgian professional football player, captain of the Belgian national team, Adidas athlete and Special Olympics ambassador.
She used to play for Manchester City and recently moved back to Belgium to play as a forward for Anderlecht.
She won 3 times the “ Gouden Schoen “ in Belgium, an award for the best Belgian football player. Just one example of many other awards she has received in the past.
Despite being super talented in what she does, Tessa has a super kind and humble personality and last, but not least … we’re very proud that she loves to wear La Michaux.
Of course, we had to invite Tessa to our “ 5 Minutes with La Michaux” blog.
Hi Tessa,
Thank you for joining us! How are you doing? Happy to be back in Belgium?
Hey, I’m fine, thanks. Yes, super happy. I was abroad for 5 years, living on my own so being able to see my family so much more and living together with my boyfriend now (who I had to miss a lot) is super nice. Also, I missed the Belgian fries. 😊
Where did your passion for football come from? What do you love the most about your job?
I started when I was 5 and back then women’s soccer in Belgium was much more unknown then it is now. So for my dad, my decision was a bit weird, but luckily my parents always let me do what I enjoy(ed) the most and so I never stopped playing.
I love that you are part of a team, so when you win you can only do it together and when you lose you can’t blame only yourself because you lose as a team and that’s also how you grow as a team and individually. The best titles I’ve won so far were also group titles such as winning a league for example.
I love that you are part of a team, so when you win you can only do it together and when you lose you can’t blame only yourself because you lose as a team and that’s also how you grow as a team and individually. - Tessa
If you wouldn’t have had such a big talent for this particular sport, which other professions would you love to be practicing?
Good question, I don’t really know. I only know I’ve played tennis too when I was younger and I was quite good at it. But an individual sport was maybe not the right thing for me, since I’m super critical on myself, even after a game. I will barely say I did a good or perfect game cus there are always things to improve in my vision, but I am a happy person when we won the game (cus I HATE losing 😊).
And that kind of mentality is with no doubt the reason that you’re at the level that you are. Seeking perfection is dangerous, because it doesn’t really exist but... it does keep you on top of your game.
What kind of challenging situations do you experience (as being a woman) within the sport?
Well, of course, there’s the equal pay discussion, but next to that we don’t often get treated the same way as men do, but it’s slowly getting better. Fe in the national team we have the same cook as the men’s team has now, which is great. But often women’s teams don’t share the same pitch or stadium as the men do, or can only use their facilities when the men are not there. Women’s football is rising, but there are still a lot of things to do. I’m a strong believer of GRLPWR (girl power) and that’s why I (sometimes) use my voice to bring such things into the media to create awareness amongst people so they know what’s happening.
I’m a strong believer of GRLPWR (girl power) and that’s why I (sometimes) use my voice to bring such things into the media to create awareness amongst people so they know what’s happening. - Tessa
A strong woman stands up for herself, a stronger woman stands up for others. I’m sure you’re an example for many other women out there.
How do you cope with those situations? What do you like to do for feeling better when you’ve had an ‘off day’?
I just like to be with my dogs or my family when I had a rough (read: losing game) day. They show me that there’s more to life than just football. That’s also why I decided to come back and play in Belgium. Happiness is key for me and why being unhappy abroad than rather be happy in your own country with your people?
Exactly, but not a lot of people dare to follow their dreams and move abroad, just like you did.
What advice would you give to people hesitating to take the first step?
First of all, I would say: make sure you’re 100% behind your choice and you’ve thought carefully about it. To play soccer abroad was often lonely. The only people I saw during ‘work’ and free time were my teammates and the staff. Don’t get me wrong, I would make the same choice over again because it made me being independent, strong and grown-up. And of course, there were also the ‘bad’ times where you have to deal with it yourself, cus you’re the only one out there competing.
Don’t get me wrong, I would make the same choice over again because it made me being independent, strong and grown-up. - Tessa
Yeah, you had to mature on a whole different level and can use these early ‘life lessons’ now for the better.
Ok, let’s stay a little bit in the holiday mood :-) .
How do you like to spend your free time? Which holiday destination did you like the most and why?
My free time during the season is often reading a book, chilling, watching series, or play PlayStation. I’m a really good Call of Duty player 😉
Holidays for me are often to relax, so most of the time we take all-in holidays where we don’t have to look after anything. I think I will really go and discover other countries when I’m done playing soccer.
One of the holidays I really liked was Rhodes or Crete.
Haha, yesterday I’ve played for the first time soccer on PlayStation as well with my brother. Loved it!
Last, but not least, ready for our Question Roulette?
Ready.set.GO!
Beach or Pool? pool
Which design of La Michaux is your favorite? MIMOSA pink with white lace!
Favorite movie? nope
Favorite quote? be yourself
Favorite book? goodnight stories for rebel girls from Elena Favilla (got it from my bf)
If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Traveling in time
Last message from you to our La Michaux community? Be happy and love Michaux 😊
Thank you so much, Tessa, for doing this and keep on being the best at what you do.
Looking forward to coming and watch one of your games and seeing more holiday pics of you while wearing La Michaux.
Much love,
Sarah Michaux
Click the images below to shop Tessa’s favorite La Michaux bikini:
MIMOSA PINK:
When I grow up, I wanna be just like tessa ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you to both of you for being such fantastic role models for all the young, beautiful, courageous women we have on the rise today. Such a genuine write up on the current situations females unfortunately undergo in not only sports, however, all kinds of other professions. Thanks again for bringing this all to light and also presenting solutions.
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