"WAGs to Riches: The Curious Case of the Modern Dream Job"
"I couldn't help but wonder…" when did ambition get a designer handbag and season tickets to the Premier League? Growing up, we all had dreams—some wanted to be doctors, others wanted to be astronauts, and if you were like me, your heart was set on becoming the next Carrie Bradshaw, typing out columns in your rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan. But now, it seems like the new dream profession for our young women isn't to cure diseases, explore the cosmos, or write the next great American novel. It's to be the wife of a soccer player, or as the Brits call it, a WAG—Wife and Girlfriend of an elite athlete.
Now, let's get one thing straight: I'm not throwing shade at WAGs. In fact, for a brief moment in 2017, my platonic love was none other than Ruben Loftus-Cheek when he played for Chelsea. I mean, who could resist those abs and that baby-faced charm? I suppose it's normal—we all go through that stage where we imagine ourselves on the arm of a sports star, strolling through luxury shops, being photographed at glamorous events. But there's a fine line between a harmless crush and a full-blown career aspiration.
Let's face it: the WAG lifestyle is alluring. It's a world of glitz, glamour, and Instagram-worthy vacations. But behind those glossy magazine covers and meticulously curated social media feeds lies a dangerous ideology. The romanticism of being the wife of an elite athlete is a fairytale that, like all fairytales, comes with its own set of hidden traps.
For starters, basing your life goals on becoming a WAG is like buying a lottery ticket and calling it a financial plan. The odds are slim, and the risks are high. There are only so many David Beckhams and Cristiano Ronaldos to go around, and even fewer who are looking to settle down with their biggest fan. Plus, the life of a WAG isn't as picture-perfect as it seems. For every luxurious holiday, there's the pressure of maintaining a public image, the constant scrutiny from tabloids, and let's not forget, the unpredictability of being with someone whose career could take them to another country—or crash entirely—at a moment's notice.
But what's really concerning is that the WAG aspiration is more than just a desire for a lavish lifestyle; it's an abandonment of personal goals. When your life's ambition is tied to another person's success, you lose control over your own narrative. It's like being a passenger in a fast car—exciting at first, but terrifying when you realize you're not the one behind the wheel.
Our society's obsession with WAGs sends a troubling message: that a woman's ultimate achievement is not her own career, her own dreams, but who she manages to marry. And while it's perfectly fine to want love and partnership, it becomes problematic when your sole aspiration is to hitch your wagon to someone else's star.
But here's the truth, and it's one I've learned after years of heartbreak: The most fulfilling love affair you can have is with yourself. The real dream job isn't about becoming Mrs. Anyone; it's about becoming the CEO of your own life. Whether that means pursuing a career in law, medicine, fashion, or yes, even writing a column from a your small apartment, the goal should always be to carve out a space that's uniquely yours.
As the fabulous Diane von Furstenberg once said,"I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I always knew the woman I wanted to become." It's a reminder that our dreams shouldn't be contingent on someone else's goals, but on the vision we have for ourselves.
So, ladies, let's keep our standards high and our stilettos higher. Dream big, but make sure those dreams are yours and yours alone. After all, why be a WAG when you can be a VIP in your own life?
And I couldn't help but wonder: If you're busy chasing someone else's dream, who's chasing yours?