Inside Fowler's life off the pitch: 'I'm no different from the girl next to me'

Mary Fowler may be Australia's second-most Googled star of 2023 but she insists she is still very much grounded despite an incredible year.

Life has moved quickly for the attacking genius who is with international powerhouse Manchester City.

While she's still able to walk down the streets in the UK without being recognised by most people, it's a completely different story when she's back home, with Fowler swamped by adoring fans at the Rise & Shine Kindergarten in Carlton in Sydney's south.

And Fowler has admitted that this newfound atention has definitely not passed her by, revealing that the spotlight has been 'overwhelming'.

'It's definitely overwhelmed me,' Fowler said. 'I don't like having heaps of attention in general. So to be in the media a lot or having to do a lot of stuff that's in the spotlight, it can be quite overwhelming at times.

'I think it's all made me enjoy my private things even more. Having to do a lot of media and getting to see fans, it's so different to what it was like a year ago.

'From a personal point of view, I've tried to connect with myself a lot more. I tell myself, 'These are the people's opinions that I really care about'.

'And I tell myself, 'Decide who you want to be', rather than reading too much about what other people want me to be.

'That's been a personal little bump to get over. But I always try to see the other side of it, too.

'There's so many people supporting us, following us, that just wouldn't have happened a few years ago. It's quite amazing to see and that's a credit to the girls, being able to play so well when there wasn't always the opportunities that a player like me has now.'

Fowler resides in North West England and says she enjoys the anonymity when she travels around the city of Manchester.

'It makes me feel like a normal 20-year-old. I'm no different from the girl next to me on the tram,' she said, although the nightlife of the city is wasted on her.

'I'd much rather quality time than going out,' she admitted.

During her appearance at the kindergarten, questions about her budding romance with Nathan Cleary were off limits, after she was spotted reunited with her NRL boyfriend at Sydney airport.

In scenes reminiscent of the hit Christmas film Love Actually, Cleary greeted Fowler with a kiss as she returned to Australia for the festive season.

Cleary, 26, was wearing a huge smile as he picked his 21-year-old girlfriend up at the arrivals gate after she landed from Dubai.

Fowler donned light blue jeans, a button-up shirt and a black hat for her long haul flight, while Cleary wore black shorts and a brown T-shirt.

It was the first time the loved-up couple had seen each other since November 2 when Cleary farewelled his girlfriend at Perth Airport after watching her score in the Matildas' 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei.