I don’t claim to know much about football, but what I do know is that it’s a source—a rich tapestry in fact—of iconic fashion and beauty looks. Yes, we had David Beckham’s hair bands, and nowadays the perfect curtain bangs of Manchester City's Jack Grealish, but a golden era of female beauty came and went during the ’90s and early ’00s. It’s when the WAGS were really giving.
Say what you like about the wives and girlfriends of football players at that time, but their luminous tans and high-octane highlights were pretty much perfection. We laugh now—of course, we do—because a “natural” look is de rigueur, but back then over-plucking your eyebrows was cool! Ultra-glam everything was cool! We did the Macarena at parties, guys. Anything went.
In fact, I would argue that things haven’t actually changed that much. The WAGs of today are just as polished and preened as the likes of Victoria Beckham, Abbey Clancy, Cheryl Cole, and Coleen Rooney were back then—we’re just more likely to see them on Instagram or TikTok and not beside the pitch. Big bombshell blow-outs have made their return, and our love of bronzer is eternal—not to mention the fact that the French manicure is one of the hottest nail trends of the past few years. Don’t knock a WAG beauty signature until you’ve tried it.
And, as the Euros 2024 kicks off, it’s a great time to reminisce over some excellent age-old WAG beauty moments—enjoy.
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images1/13Victoria and Romeo Beckham, 2003
Victoria Beckham brings a baby Romeo to a match between Real Madrid and Valladolid in 2003. From her tan to the oversized sunnies, she’s not a regular mum.
PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/Getty Images2/13David and Victoria Beckham, 2003
VB took a Noughties favorite—the sweeping side fringe—and made it effortlessly WAG.
Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images3/13Abbey Clancy, 2008
The volume, the big-barrel curls, the smouldering eyes… Abbey knows how it’s done.
Angel Martinez/Getty Images4/13Shakira, 2012
Who could forget that Shakira was a WAG too? While in a long-term relationship with Spanish footballer, Gerard Piqué, for 12 years, she delivered a more undone style of WAG beauty.
Jane Mingay5/13Elen Rivas, 2007
Elen Rivas was once Frank Lampard’s partner. Here she delivers on many fronts: the pin-thin eyebrows, the fake tan and the slicked-back hairstyle.
Toby Canham/Getty Images6/13Victoria Beckham, 2007
Bring back this hairstyle, VB! From the lob shape to the peroxide blonde highlights—not forgetting the manicure—this truly was an era to remember.
David Lodge7/13Elen Rivas, 2006
Statement sunglasses were a WAG staple, as Rivas proves.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images8/13Cheryl and Ashley Cole, 2006
Completely obsessed with this energy. Cheryl’s volume at the crown of her head feels retro but oh-so-WAG.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images9/13Carly Zucker, 2006
The now wife of former footballer Joe Cole, Carly Zucker’s oversized Chanel sunglasses and hair are speaking to me.
Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images10/13Cheryl and Victoria Beckham, 2006
A photo that speaks a thousand words.
ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images11/13Coleen Rooney, 2006
Coleen was doing the French manicure before many of its Gen-Z fans were even born.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images12/13Cheryl and Ashley Cole, 2006
Super straight hair was very much a thing during the golden era of WAG beauty—Cheryl demonstrates the trend, paired with some obvious highlights.
Dave Benett/Getty Images13/13Coleen Rooney, 2005
With her hair secured into an elegant low chignon, Rooney looks pared-back and polished.
