Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has secured the fourth spot on a global list of the most popular and followed athlete partners, also known as WAGs. The ranking was released by media publication Vanticks.
Only Indian and cricketer on the list
Anushka is the only Indian and the only partner from the world of cricket to feature in the global top five. Her presence places her among some of the biggest names associated with sports personalities.
Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift also feature
The list includes reality TV star Kim Kardashian, pop star Taylor Swift and Georgina Rodriguez, who is the partner of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Anushka’s own identity also recognised
According to the report, Anushka’s position on the list is not based only on her relationship with Virat Kohli. Her popularity and identity as an actress and public figure have also contributed to her strong global following.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma got married on 11 December 2017.
Kim Kardashian at the top, Taylor Swift in second place
In Vanticks’ global ranking, Kim Kardashian, who is recognised as Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton’s partner, ranks first with 343 million (34.3 crore) followers.
Lewis Hamilton’s partner, Kim Kardashian.
Taylor Swift, wife of American football (NFL) star Travis Kelce and a famous singer, ranks second with 272 million (27.2 crore) followers. Georgina Rodriguez, wife of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, ranks third on the list with 78.3 million followers.
Famous singer Taylor Swift and her husband Travis Kelce.
Anushka is the only figure from the cricketing world
Anushka Sharma, the wife of Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, ranks fourth on this list. Virginia Fonseca, the partner of Brazilian footballer Vinícius Júnior, ranks fifth with 56.5 million followers. Although the list is dominated by the wives and partners of footballers, Anushka Sharma is the only figure from the entire cricketing world to have made it into the top-five list.
Virginia Fonseca, the partner of Brazilian footballer Vinicius Junior.
22 celebrities with a combined 1.21 billion followers
According to a report by Vantix, the 22 global celebrities on the list have more than 1.21 billion followers between them. The report said football had the highest representation, with 11 women making the list and having a combined 341.3 million followers.
Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s wife, Georgina Rodriguez.
However, American football led in terms of reach, with five women collectively recording 376.5 million followers. Formula One racing was represented solely by Kim Kardashian, who has 343 million followers.
A partner’s name alone is not enough for recognition
In its report, Vanticks clarified that although the term WAGs (wives and girlfriends) initially emerged from the celebrity culture surrounding footballers’ wives, its scope has now changed considerably.
Anushka Sharma was a famous actor even before her marriage to Virat Kohli.
The report says that the women included on this list are no longer known only because of their athlete partners. They are themselves famous pop stars, businesswomen, actresses or creators who had established an independent identity and a large fan following even before entering into relationships with their partners.
