Growing up as one of the only girls in her area, FA Cup-winning footballer Eni used sport as a way to fit in. Despite knowing from an early age that she had an extraordinary talent, she admits that she didn’t always see herself playing professionally. “I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be a professional footballer because they just didn’t exist – women’s football wasn’t professional,” she recalls.

The lack of professional role models certainly didn’t hold Eni back, and she went on to have an illustrious career competing as part of the 2012 Great Britain Olympic team and winning the Women’s Super League three times with Chelsea FC.

With such huge success inevitably comes scrutiny. Eni acknowledges that she was “a lot more conscious of it than I probably should have been,” and part of that was to do with lingering issues around racial stereotyping. She says that because she was a fast athlete, she had well-honed glutes and other lower body muscles which, although expected and applauded, “became a bit of a trope that I was very hyper-aware of.”

At times, finding the line between peak performance and unhealthy body image has been challenging for the former England forward. She recalls a particular team set up in which players were required to post their weight publicly daily. “After I came back, I’d internalized all of that, so I found myself wanting to weigh myself every day because that’s what had been presented as high performance.”

Since retiring, Eni has learnt to focus more on the lifestyle benefits of keeping active as opposed to constantly counting kilos, a move she says has had immeasurable benefits. “For me, exercise is great for determining how I feel about myself. Having body image as the main reason is not it for me.”

Key tip

“It all starts with you. When you sit down with yourself, say ‘what makes me feel good?’ Then you’re on the right track.”

Body positivity: 5 elite athletes share tips on learning self-love