'It's a bit hard' - Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann says she is more than a social media personality and is a 'proper footballer'

Aston Villa Women star Alisha Lehmann has insisted that she is a “proper footballer” and more than a social media influencer after building a mammoth following online.

The 24-year-old Swiss forward has amassed a whopping 11.8m followers on Instagram and 6.5m followers on her TikTok account.

Lehmann, who has been with Villa since 2021, has also advertised her calendar on her social media platforms for her legion of followers to snap up.

The Switzerland Women international has posted photos of her professional playing career on Instagram, as well as shared pulsating pics off the pitch for her fans.

Lehmann has admitted that some people are blissfully unaware she plays football and said it is a “bit hard” when people call her out for posting a non-sports photo.

Speaking to talkSPORT, she said: “Some people just see Instagram and social media and don’t even know I actually play football.

“When I don’t post a football picture for a week, people say, ‘Oh, she doesn’t even play.’

“I think sometimes it’s a bit hard because obviously I play like I train every day, like everyone else, like I play every weekend and sometimes it’s hard because they make a picture of you.

“I’m a proper footballer. I work hard every day. I want to be the best version of myself in football and that’s my first priority in life.”

Lehmann made 23 appearances for her current club and scored four times last season, with the Villa star inking a new deal last summer.

The Switzerland forward, who has been capped over 30 times for her country, previously played for West Ham Women and Everton Women before Villa.

Lehmann candidly said she wants to use her platform and presence to “show the world that women can actually do it in football.”

The Villa player explained: “To be honest, I don’t really think about it. It’s not something where I wake up every day and think, ‘Oh my God, I have so many followers.’

“It’s more that it’s really nice, the support and everything and it’s also a big opportunity.

“I would like to show the world that women can actually do it in football and you don’t need to just to be normal.

“You can also be a bit crazy, just be you, and use your personality to show the world who you are.”

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