Pernille was a professional football player too. She knew it had taken Magda years of blood, sweat and tears to get here. The two of them kissed and cried with joy. 

They had no idea that someone was capturing this moment on film — or that it would change their lives forever.

A fairy tale podcast about the real-life rebel women who inspire us. 

On this episode, Magdalena Erikkson, star defender, talk-show host, and outspoken activist for human rights. 

Magda loved playing defense — surveying the opposing team and trying to figure out their strategies. Even when players came charging at her, she was nimble yet grounded, giving her team a steady sense of strength. 

Soon, Magda joined a regional football club. She trained for hours even after practice was over, trying to increase her range of passing and find new ways around her opponents. She was proud to call herself a “real football nerd,” studying her coach’s notes, determined to get better.

All of Magda’s hard work and dedication paid off. By the time she was 21, she was competing in the premier championship tournament in Sweden. When she and her team won the Swedish League, she felt like her heart was bursting with pride. Magda also went on to compete internationally at the biggest tournaments in the world.

Which brings us back to that magical moment in 2019 at the Parc des Princes stadium in France. 

This was the most significant win that Magda had ever experienced. As the stadium erupted in wild celebration and players ran to greet their families, Magda did too. 

The fact that Magda was in a relationship with another female football player named Pernille Harder had never been a secret. But they’d also never announced it to the whole world. As the image of them kissing traveled around the globe, Magda and Pernille found themselves center stage in a whole new way. Tens of thousands of people started following them on different social media channels. They got all sorts of messages — mostly thanking them for being so open about their love. 

Magda had never intended to be a role model like this. But she felt a new sense of purpose and power as she read through these words from total strangers, inspiring her to be louder and prouder about her queer identity. 

I’m so lucky to have a relationship with the woman I love, Magda wrote. But I know this isn’t the case for everyone, especially in these times. In the LGBT community, these problems can feel even worse. So, for the next hours, @PernileHarder and I will open our DMs for anyone who wants to chat.

The response was immediate and intense. Magda and Pernille were honored by how many people reached out with questions and stories. They were also shocked by the number of people struggling with their sexuality and saying that they couldn’t come out because they were scared of their families’ and friends’ reactions.

She and Pernille felt determined to change the conversation so that everyone felt accepted. But where to begin?

Doing The Hangout was definitely a labor of love for Magda and Pernille — they weren’t used to speaking in public a lot, and they were still training and playing football full-time professionally. But The Hangout was something they felt like they had to do. They both felt passionately that queer identities needed to be normalized in society and they had a unique platform as celebrated athletes. TAnd they learned so much from their guests and their audience, listening and growing together.

“I think everyone is different and I think that is something very beautiful and something that you shouldn’t be ashamed of,” Magda says. “Our goal is really to make the world an easier place for everybody to be in.”

She knows this is easier said than done. But she also knows that with practice and patience, great things can happen — whether it’s on “The Hangout”, the football pitch, or in life.