Tara Mae Kirk opens up on sexist social media attention after viral rise

March 07, 2026 • 0 • min read

Table of Contents

Tara Mae Kirk opens up on sexist social media attention after viral rise

Peterborough United Women striker Tara Mae Kirk has spoken candidly about the darker side of viral fame, revealing that some online attention following her meteoric rise in football has "crossed a line."

The 22-year-old forward became an overnight sensation after joining Peterborough from Leicester City in July 2022.

Her prolific goal-scoring form quickly made her one of the most talked-about players in the Women's National League.

But whilst the surge in popularity brought millions of views and new opportunities, Kirk says the intense online spotlight has also included sexist and sexualised comments that overshadow her achievements on the pitch.

Key takeaways

Tara Mae Kirk became viral after scoring regularly for Peterborough Women.
Social media posts featuring her goals reached five million views weekly.
She says some comments sexualised her rather than praising football ability.
Peterborough reportedly removed posts to protect player welfare.
Kirk balances football, content creation and a growing public profile.

A breakthrough season at Peterborough

Kirk wasted little time making an impact after arriving at Peterborough.

In her debut season, the striker scored 12 goals, finishing as the club's top scorer and helping the team secure a fourth-place finish in the Women's National League.

Her performances quickly drew widespread attention on social media.

Goal graphics posted by the club regularly amassed more than five million views, turning Kirk into a viral football figure.

However, the scale of the attention initially caught her by surprise.

Speaking on talkSPORT's The Kick Back, Kirk admitted she struggled to understand the sudden hype surrounding her performances.

I never imagined the reactions that I've got from scoring goals. That's my position. That's what you're meant to do.

Bournemouth Women's video announcement gets 20 MILLION views in 24 hours

A simple video announcement by Bournemouth Women's has gone viral on Twitter, simply because the signing is easy on the eyes to put it lightly.

Viral success that kept growing

According to Kirk, the momentum on social media built week after week.

She recalled a stretch where posts featuring her goals consistently drew around five million views for multiple consecutive weeks.

At first, she assumed the viral attention would quickly fade.

As it went on, I thought it was all just kind of a fluke, or have they got the right person?

Like, what's all these comments about? And I thought, "Oh, it's just one week. It's not gonna happen again."

Instead, the engagement continued to grow, cementing her status as one of the most recognisable players in the league.

When attention 'crossed the line'

Whilst much of the reaction was supportive, Kirk said she soon noticed a troubling trend whilst reading comments online.

Some users were focusing on her appearance rather than her footballing performances.

I understood quickly that it was positive, but also crossing the line of borderline being sexist and sexualising me.

The volume of inappropriate comments became so significant that Peterborough reportedly deleted some social media graphics to protect player welfare.

For Kirk, managing the positives and negatives of online fame has become an important learning experience.

It's kind of balancing the good with the bad. That's what I've had to learn.

Diletta Leotta ad banned in Italy over 'sexualised' content

Diletta Leotta's U-Power advert banned in Italy for sexualised content involving child, violating advertising code protecting minors.

A rising profile beyond the pitch

Despite the challenges, Kirk's growing profile has opened doors beyond football.

She has become a popular content creator and collaborator with well-known football personalities and brands.

Among her media appearances are videos created with Angry Ginge for Pro:Direct Soccer, featuring well-known Premier League players including Jack Grealish and Cody Gakpo.

Off the field, Kirk has also achieved academic success, graduating from Loughborough University, one of the UK's leading sports universities.

International recognition

Kirk's footballing ability was recognised long before her viral breakthrough.

She earned an international call-up for the Republic of Ireland at just 16 years old, highlighting her potential from an early age.

Now 22, she continues to build a reputation as one of the most exciting attacking players in the Women's National League.

The challenge of viral fame in women's football

Kirk's experience reflects a broader issue faced by many female athletes in the age of social media.

As women's football continues to grow rapidly in popularity, players increasingly find themselves dealing with unfiltered online commentary alongside greater visibility and opportunities.

For Kirk, the focus remains on what she does best: scoring goals.

But her story also highlights the ongoing conversation around respect, representation and player welfare in the digital era of sport.