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At #Giffoni56, sport, music, and female empowerment came together with the documentary Becoming Her: Prima di diventare grandi (Becoming Her: Before growing up), coming to Disney+ this September and produced by Juventus Creator Lab. Longtime Juventus supporter Francesca Michielin lends her voice as the documentary’s narrator, guiding viewers through the personal and professional journeys of three female athletes. Speaking at the festival premiere alongside one of the documentary’s protagonists, Anna Copelli, Michielin reflected on the project, while Copelli described it as “a wonderful new experience, one that I hope will inspire the young girls who dream of playing football”.
During the press conference, Michielin said: “I’ve been a Juventus fan for as long as I can remember because I identify with the club’s values. Choosing to become an athlete means making a choice. After all, the Greek word “krisis” literally means ‘choice’, and growing up is never a linear process, it’s a complex journey”.
The singer also recalled that she has always been “a sports enthusiast, having practiced artistic gymnastics”, and that her passion for football began when “I watched Alessandro Del Piero play for Juventus for the first time during a match at the Stadio di Vicenza”. She added: “I was just a young girl when Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and it remains one of the most beautiful summers of my life”. She admitted, however, that “I never dreamed of becoming a footballer”.
For Michielin, the documentary’s most emotional moment was Anna Copelli’s injury. “While recording the narration, I found myself crying several times because I know what it means to be injured. Anyone who works with their body understands that it isn’t a machine that simply obeys commands; it’s about being in harmony with yourself. Today, I’m not afraid of falling, because I know it will happen. What matters is learning to fall with grace”.
Copelli echoed those feelings: “The injury was a huge psychological blow. Overnight, I felt as though I had lost a part of myself—actually, half of who I was—and that’s incredibly difficult to accept. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by people who love me and helped me through that process of coming to terms with the situation”.
The theme of renewal also lies at the heart of Michielin’s new album, Magia bianca (White Magic), which she described as “a journey of deep reconnection. White magic has always been associated with healing and restoration, and in many ways this album gave me the confidence to trust my body again. I can’t wait to bring these songs to theatres next winter and I promise it will be much more than a concert”.