Welcome to ‘Together We Rise’, a new editorial partnership from VERSUS and Nike exploring the women who are blazing a trail to shape the future of sport and culture. Nike’s Third Kits for the 24/25 season have turned the Swoosh vertical to mark the non-stop rise of women’s football – and this is where we celebrate the players and fans who have made this change possible.

Beatrice Barichella knows how challenging it can be chasing your dreams. Something she understands women in football must also face when playing, working and living in a sport that's historically has been dominated by men. But the Inter Milan fan has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Having first appeared on our screens back in 2020 for the cult classic, “We Are Who We Are”, the 23-year-old has since been making a name for herself in the worlds of TV and cinema. A world very few manage to infiltrate, let alone navigate. There isn't a day that goes by where Barichella doesn't channel her inner I Nerazzurri, something she showcases in this year's 'Together We Rise' campaign.

Beatrice sat down with VERSUS after wearing Inter Milan’s new third shirt to discuss the power of community, the importance of having football kits that empower players and fans alike, and her words of advice for the next wave of changemakers.

What role does fashion play in helping women's football grow and gain more recognition?

I feel like fashion could play a really big role in making new athletes known and women's football being known better. It's a huge industry that is seen by people that may not be fans of football, so women’s players can be seen by new people. We have seen – not just in football but sports in general – during Milan Fashion Week, brands inviting a lot of athletes to their shows, so I feel like it's good that this is happening and they are receiving the attention that they deserve; not only on the field. They are amazing on the pitch, but also outside of football.

‍What do you think about women's football being more involved in culture spaces like fashion, gaming and music?

I feel like it should be like that. I've said it so many times but ‘deserve’ is the right word. They deserve to be connected in gaming, music, cinema and a lot more industries and platforms. I feel that women's football players can connect with their fans and their fandom on multiple levels, so if you give them the gaming side, if you give them the music side, you can open them up to multiple people. If you give them more resources, you can expose them to a different audience and that's the goal. That's the aim that they should have. 

‍You can't rise to the top without overcoming barriers. What are some of the barriers that you have overcome to get to where you are?

I'm an actress, so something quite difficult to face is being rejected at auditions. If you go there thinking “I'm good, I'm perfect, this is my role” and then they say “no” that is the most difficult part to accept. But I feel like you have to change your mindset and think about it as a way to get better. So every time that you go to an audition you get to improve yourself, you can say “maybe next time I can do it like this, maybe next time I can do it like that”. This has helped me to have more confidence about myself and be resilient, so that I don't give up and the world doesn't end when someone says no, because another door is about to be open and new opportunities are about to come. That’s how I face it.

‍How does your wider network help you achieve your goals and rise to the top?

I feel like having a solid support system, my family and friends, has helped me stay focused. Their love and how they talk to me, how they feel – it's how I keep myself grounded. I still haven't heard my parents say “I'm proud of you”. They say “we are happy for you” but I want them to feel even more proud and more happy, so this is the machine that I have inside pushing me to make them feel prouder and prouder and prouder. I'm hungry for that feeling. I'm not doing it for fame or anything like that. Just because I want them to feel happy about what I'm doing.

‍If you had any advice to give the next generation of actors or women working in a space that is historically dominated by and associated with men, what would it be?

It would be to believe in their power and to not be afraid to take up the space that they deserve. So always: chin up, and don't be afraid to be who you want to be.

‍If you could work with any musician to create a song for Together We Rise, who would it be and why?

I would say Billie Eilish. She's a genuine soul, and the way she talks about weaknesses and feelings motivates me. I really hope that she can be a role model for young girls because she's not afraid to say anything and that is what I hope for the younger generation to be.

Inter's 24/25 third kit is available to purchase now via Nike.com

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Beatrice wears Nike, Hey Harper, HOOPS + CHAINS LDN, Daily Paper, Sandro and Dinosaur Designs.

VERSUS: As a narrative, how important do you think ‘Together We Rise’ is for women’s football?

‍Beatrice: I feel like rising together, it's something that we all should embody. This movement can inspire the next generation not just of new athletes but all women (and men). It's also something that can help bring new fans into the fold, and treat them on the same level as those in the men's game.

I feel like we should look to give women in football more broadcasting and more funding to bring women's football to the same level as men's, too. The girls are amazing! And the more people see that, the better. One of my best friends is actually a football player – I really hope that someday she will get the recognition that she deserves.

What does ‘Together We Rise’ mean to you?‍

For me it embodies the power of unity and bringing everyone together. It means that we are all arriving at one goal that should be the same for everyone - regardless of gender. To summarise, it means equality and challenging stereotypes in my opinion. 

‍What role do you think a jersey like this plays in helping to push women's football forward?

I feel like these jerseys are so much more than just pieces of clothing. They’re providing a platform for women’s football and its players - those who make the game what it is and contribute to its success. Not only do those people deserve recognition, they need to be celebrated. These jerseys do just that.

‍We’ve seen exponential growth in the women’s game in recent years. What would you like to see next in women’s football? 

I'm super happy that they are starting to finally get what they deserve – the fame and recognition. I really hope that women's football is widely seen as a mainstream sport, something that can be seen in the same way so many see men's football. I hope that when I'm turning on the TV I can see a women's match, not only a men's one. And in the newspaper, not seeing the news of women's football at the end or something very small written about them. I hope that men's football gets smaller and the women's game gets bigger!

‍What is your favourite thing about this shirt and how would you style it?

My favourite thing about this shirt are the colours and the team that it represents, since it is my favourite team! I Nerazzurri! The stylist did a really great job matching the shirt with more elegant pieces, too. I do love mixing sporty styles with more elegant styles – mixing them together, I feel like it's a perfect match.

‍Football and fashion are coming closer together. Why do you think that is and what do you think about that relationship?

I feel like fashion is a form for self-expression for athletes and for players, so it gives them a new platform and a new way to connect with their audience. Athletes and football players are influencers, but in a good way, not in the way that we expect it. They are influencing people – little boys and little girls – on how they wear their outfits. In Italy it's a big thing how players wear their hair. You see all the kids wearing the hairstyle of some players.