Mary Earps is a trailblazer in every way. The first goalkeeper in Women’s Super League history to reach 50 clean sheets. Finishing fifth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or Féminin, the highest a goalkeeper has ever placed. The first back-to-back winner of The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award in history.

But off the pitch, Earps isn't only carrying the torch of women’s football, she’s changing how it's perceived. From challenging brands to produce women’s goalkeeper shirts and being a pioneer for the next generation of women’s keepers, to embracing the worlds of business and fashion by being - as she puts it - "unapologetically herself". Earps is a shot-stopping showstopper, there's no two ways about it.

Compared to their outfield peers, goalkeepers don’t often receive the same levels of adulation - especially those in the women's game. But Earps is the exception to this norm. As her reputation and impact skyrockets, so does her pursuit to make goalkeeping fashionable.

The Manchester United and England No.1 sat down with VERSUS to talk about signing with PUMA, the joys of expressing yourself through fashion and the importance of helping people through dark times.

VERSUS: How excited are you to start a new journey with PUMA?

Mary Earps: Very! I feel good! We've been working on the partnership for a little while and I've been testing out a lot of boots and gloves during that process. I'm really excited to have found the perfect fit.

I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth stuck into all the other PUMA family stuff that's coming up.

What was it about this brand that made you think they're the perfect fit for you?

The thing that really stood out to me was the service they give to their athletes. The way that the girls talk about PUMA, the experience they've had with the brand has always been super positive and super personal. I can't say I've always had that experience elsewhere. 

So for me, that was something that really stood out. A brand that values women's football is sometimes hard to find. I think it was clear PUMA wanted to really make their athletes feel included and amplify their voiceS, and I feel like that perfectly aligns with what I stand for.

Who were the players you spoke to about PUMA before signing?

I spoke to Maya Le Tissier a little bit. I spoke to Ellie Roebuck. Quite a few of the girls I've known like Jess Carter and Jess Park. Alex Greenwood’s just moved over to the brand recently, too. There's a good group of us with PUMA now - there's obviously a reason why we're all switching. We’ve got quite a team!

PUMA are one of the few sportswear brands to produce women's specific technical wear and apparel. How vital is it that all brands work towards doing this?

Yeah, I think it's really important. In society, you want everyone to have access to whatever they need and we're all different. I think the more we celebrate that diversity and have the accessibility that people need, regardless of age and gender, is really important. I'm looking forward to finding out more and being a part of that process too.

You've appeared on quite a few magazine covers and are now a seasoned pro when it comes to red carpets. Fashion seems to be a passion point for you - what is it about experimenting with fashion that you enjoy?

For me, it's quite simple. I wouldn't say I'm necessarily a super fashionable person, it’s not something I'm super passionate about. But what I am passionate about is people being unapologetically themselves, and clothing is another way of expressing yourself and your personality. I think we should all be encouraged to wear whatever we feel comfortable in. 

That's something I really stand behind. Whatever front covers or red carpets I'm on, I feel like I'm always trying to do just that. But that can be hard sometimes when you're pushed to try and wear certain things or fit in in a certain way. I just think we should all just celebrate our differences and what we like.

You recently launched your own clothing brand - MAE27. I know you’ve got a business degree but what inspired you to go down that route - especially when you’re still playing football?

Business is a massive passion of mine - it’s always been my off pitch thing. I've got a real appetite for learning in that area - trying to grow and put myself in the best possible position I can. Starting my own clothing brand was something I wanted to do for a while. I had my own coaching company a few years ago and I always wanted to do clothing. But I didn't know where to start or how to do it. 

Then the way things materialised last year with the goalkeeper shirt situation, I said, “no, I'm going for it.” If anybody wants my shirt, I want them to have something that they can cherish. That's where it all started, really. Then before I knew it, I was into samples and quality and size and everything else! I just fell in love with it really quickly and it's nice to see how other people have kind of gotten behind the message. It means a lot to them as it does to me.

The focus of the brand seems to be about motivating people, especially through dark times. Why was that such an important message for you to convey?

We live in a world where everybody just talks about how great life is all the time and how nice everything is. I just think that's not always realistic - definitely not in terms of my journey. It's been hard and there's been a lot of twists and turns. I think it's easy to show photos of us lifting trophies and all our other wins. But the reality of it is there’s a lot of sacrifice that comes with that. It's a lot of hard work. 

It's playing for teams who are scrapping for survival. And it's working out who you are as a person and as a player. It takes a lot of grafting and times aren’t always good. For me, it was just about trying to be human and show that just because we're athletes, we’re no different to anybody else. Hopefully my message, my struggles and the things I've gone through inspires other people to see there's better things to come. You just need to keep going and keep working on it.

What do you think needs to be done in football to ensure players - of all ages - feel supported when it comes to mental health?

That’s a big question. Football and sports in general have come a long way with regards to mental health. But we are only at the start and there’s so much more to do — players are beginning to open up more about their struggles, but there are so many more struggles that go unseen and unheard. All of us can go through tough times - it can happen to anyone at any time. Having people to talk to is a good start, as well as being in a safe environment, so that’s up to clubs & federations to create that environment. But what’s greater is actually to start in grassroots, teaching kids not only to respect one another, but also to open up when something isn’t going right. The better you take care of the bottom of the pyramid, the better it’ll be at the top in the coming years.

⁠Goalkeeping has come under a lot of scrutiny from fans and pundits a few years back. Since then, we've seen clubs invest more in their goalkeeping set-up and the position received more recognition and respect. You've played a huge role in that development. What does it feel like to be considered a goalkeeping pioneer?

I’m glad the position of goalkeeper is seen as it is now, an essential one on the pitch and one that I love very much. Hopefully I can continue to help change the perception of goalkeeping as for so long it’s been overlooked and undervalued. Investment, on all levels, is instrumental for us to improve as players. Being considered a goalkeeping pioneer is something that I take extreme pride in. Football is my passion, goalkeeping is my passion, so if I can inspire young girls and boys, or anyone of any age, to take on that role and give goalkeeping a go, then that makes me really happy and proud. Goalkeeping is cool!

The future of women's goalkeeping is looking bright - how does it feel knowing that?

It’s brilliant. I take immense pride in that and I love to see the goalkeeper union doing well. The narrative is changing and it’s brilliant — it’s the result of the work the goalkeepers and goalkeeper coaches around the world put in day in and day out. Long may it continue!