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DANI Dyer has defended Lauren Fryer, a fellow WAG, after she found herself subject to ‘cruel’ abuse from trolls.
Declan Rice's girlfriend, Lauren Fryer, 25, recently became the target of nasty keyboard warriors calling for the player to leave her as he “could do better”.
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The abuse led her to remove all her Instagram photos and subsequently, Declan, 25, publicly defended her and declared his love for the mother of his son, Jude, two.
But now, mum-of-three Dani Dyer, 28, who is engaged to boyfriend of three years, England and West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen, 27, has defended Declan’s long-term partner.
In today's cover star magazine interview, Dani tells Fabulous: “I love Lauren. She’s just so nice and I feel like I’ve known her for years.
“We got to know each other as Declan played for West Ham, but definitely built more of a bond in Germany, because you spend so much time together.
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“It was so hard for her, the trolling, as she doesn’t put herself out there.
"I think it’s harder when you are not in [the celebrity world] and you are being personally attacked. I found that hard.
“She is a really good mum, who keeps to herself. No one deserves to be criticised like that.”
'So cruel'
Opening up on the ‘cruel’ abuse, she continued: “It was so cruel. We didn’t speak about it a lot.
"What we did talk about is how she is so nice and so great and looks absolutely gorgeous.
“Plus, she’s Dec’s childhood sweetheart and you can see how much he adores her.
From Love Island to Glamorous WAG
“So, attacking a girl because of what she looks like, in this day and age, I don’t agree with it.
“She got a lot of support from all of us, which she definitely needed, 100%.”
'Times have changed'
Of course, because they were back in Germany, the England WAGs were comparisons to the 2008 Baden-Baden World Cup that famously featured Victoria Beckham, Cheryl and Coleen Rooney.
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But Dani claims: “Times have changed, though. Back then, it was a big deal to get a photo, but with social media, most of us are on Instagram.
“I knew there would be pictures, so I thought: ‘I’ll get a blow-dry,’ but then the heavens opened, so I have my hair scraped back in a plait in lots of the photos!”
'So embarrassed'
Dani, who is mum to 18-month-old twin daughters Star and Summer, and Santiago, three, shared all on supporting her fiancé Jarrod at the Euros.
Whilst the footballing pro may not have featured in Gareth Southgate’s starting line-up, he certainly made an impact when he was brought on as a substitute.
How Dani Dyer transformed her reputation
The daughter of everyone's favourite EastEnders geezer Danny, is currently living the high life.
But Dani has had a rollercoaster few years, from her Love Island win back in 2018, to watching her son's father Sammy Kimmence go to prison for fraud, and now navigating her glamourous new life as a WAG and mother of twin babies.
In recent years, Dani has completely shaken off the 'chav' persona, and has become one of the most well-known of the current England WAGs.
Fabulous spoke to celebrity PR expert Ed Hopkins to find out the key steps Dani has taken to reinvent herself, including the tips she has borrowed from iconic WAG Cheryl Cole.
Ed revealed that Dani's ability to navigate personal challenges, such as the scandal involving Sammy, has greatly played a crucial role in her reinvention.
Ed said: "By openly discussing her struggles and triumphs, she has built a strong, relatable persona.
"Her transparency about her personal life, including solo parenting and dealing with public scrutiny, has garnered significant public support and empathy."
He also shared that Dani's openness in discussing the challenges of motherhood, has helped to transform her reputation.
Ed said: "This openness has made her more relatable to a broader audience, particularly young mothers. She balances her public image by sharing both the joys and hardships of parenting, creating a more nuanced and authentic brand."
Dani is often seen supporting West Ham winger Jarrod, including during England's devastating loss to Spain in the 2024 Euros.
Her unwavering support for her partner, has cemented her as one of the most well-known WAGS of this generation, according to Ed.
He said: "Her active support for Jarrod, including attending football matches and engaging with fans, mirrors the strategies used by high-profile WAGs like Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham, who also stood by their partners publicly and built their own identities alongside them."
Not only this, but Ed revealed that Dani has been able to stay relevant over the years due to her candid use of social media.
He said: "Dani has consistently used media platforms to share her narrative, from interviews to social media updates.
"She has managed to stay relevant by engaging with her followers through candid posts and professional collaborations.
"This approach is reminiscent of how Victoria Beckham transitioned from pop stardom to a respected fashion designer, using media to reframe her public image."
Dani explains: “It was a great experience. The girls are all so lovely – it can be really scary meeting new partners, but they were all gorgeous.”
Despite this, the Love Island star shared her awkward handbag blunder, as she admits: “Although they had to teach me what a Birkin was, as I didn’t know.
Meet the WAGS of the England footballers
England Wags range from childhood sweethearts to recently blossoming love stories.
Katie Goodland (Harry Kane's wife)
The fitness instructor has been married to the England captain since 2019 and joined him in Germany with their four children after he joined Bayern Munich.
Laura Celia Valk (Jude Bellingham's girlfriend)
The stunning Dutch model, 25, has more than half a million Instagram followers and is said to be absolutely smitten with the Real Madrid star.
Rebecca Cooke (Phil Foden's girlfriend)
Foden's childhood sweetheart and the mother of his two kids tends to keep out of the spotlight, but is a regular at England games.
Dani Dyer (Jarrod Bowen's girlfriend)
England's most famous Wag, former Love Island winner and daughter of Eastenders' Danny Dyer.
Iris Law (Trent Alexander-Arnold's girlfriend)
Dani Dyer isn't the only actor's daughter dating an England star. Iris' dad is Hollywood legend Jude Law.
Megan Davison (Jordan Pickford's wife)
Megan has been with Pickford since he was 14 years old. The couple married in 2022 and have one son.
Olivia Naylor (John Stones' girlfriend)
The 33-year-old former beautician has stepped back from her role after giving birth to a baby son.
Read more about the Wags supporting England at Euro 2024 here
“They were all talking about them and I said: ‘Yeah, I’ve got Birkenstocks.’ And they all laughed, going: ‘It’s a handbag.’ I was so embarrassed!
“I came home and said to my friends: ‘Why didn’t anyone tell me about the Birkin? I really need to change my style.’
“But they were so welcoming. It was nice to have friends you can relate to [on being in a relationship with a footballer], whereas I’ve got my friends at home who have babies and I love that I can chat to them about being a mum.
“We were all in it together, and then some of their partners had moved clubs over the summer, so we all offered support. It was such a great experience.”
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