Blazing the way towards meaningful representation and inclusion in the world of media, Miriam Walker-Khan is a multi-award-winning sports reporter, writer and presenter who works as a Diversity and Inclusion reporter at Sky Sports News. Regarding her overarching passion as an advocate for social equality, she commented: “I absolutely love what I get to report on and the conversations I get to have because I don’t think they have been done before in this setting.” Miriam is also the founder of the compelling online platform, Brown Girl Sport, which tells the multitudinous perspectives of different brown women across the very popular terrain of competitive athleticism. Going beyond the cursory idea of race, she presents a typically marginalised community as they completely authentically are. “I wasn’t seeing those stories in the media – the fact that they exist: I hope it can represent people, women and girls in sport of South-Asian heritage who don’t see themselves reflected. It is also important to break down the intersections of what it is to be brown: there are so many different identities within that umbrella of brownness that should be celebrated. From faith to class and sexuality, we are all so different and come from varied backgrounds which is key. When people look at the issue of a lack of representation of brown women in sport, it is not just about showing people at a surface level but also who they really are and why those stories matter.”
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From fun light-hearted posts to pertinent news and personal insights, the buzzing platform of Brown Girl Sport truly salutes South-Asian women, reinforcing them as individually unique, real and ultimately inspiring people where the concept of diversity is latently beneficial to society. “Some of the messages or stories I get from the kids that I meet are so moving and incredible,” Miriam shared: “the fact that they have those role models is special. I wish I had that growing up. It’s also important to focus on celebration because, in the past, people in sports media have only spoken about brown communities or people, especially in football, and the lack of, and there are people who have existed who’ve made it to the WSL or Premier League, and their stories haven’t been told. We do need to talk about issues and what we can do better, but also all the incredible women and men. A lot of the time, their accounts are very interesting and feel more defiant.” In terms of why we don’t see more South-Asian women in high-profile positions, Miriam stated: “there are so many reasons why there are few brown women at a professional level. It is important to note that there are loads of young South-Asian girls playing grassroots football – proportionally 6% more than there are boys of the same background. But there is an issue with this pathway whereby they are not making it to the next level. Last year, I made a massive documentary on this called, Football’s Hidden Talent, which I point people towards as it is a layered, complex issue. It is very slowly getting better; we are just not seeing it at the top level yet.”
Positivity then is inherent to multicultural progress, enhancing constructive presence and dispelling the negative stereotypes that contribute to historical racism. Indeed, one post on Brown Girl Sport suggests a contemporary remake of Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Like Beckham so that protagonist Jesminder’s parents are not depicted as discouraging her from sport. This at once helps recentre the scrutiny on the underlying systemic inequality that requires tackling. Miriam proactively reshapes the mental playing field to spur the fundamental change. She suggests the biggest barrier to EDI is “a lack of diversity of thought.” She elaborated: “instead of just equality, it is about equity as well, and there is just a lack of education. It is hard for some people to think about their privilege. I work with a lot of people who are real allies, and they are white cis gender straight men. It is about how people educate themselves.” Indeed, many programs dedicated to diversity reportedly often fail due to inner unchecked bias, which prevents implementation, and not the actual initiative itself. Miriam discovered the impact of storytelling when she stopped being able to participate physically in sport: “I competed in athletics growing up –it was my entire life. But then I had an illness - Nephrotic syndrome - and later underwent chemotherapy. I was still training 4 to 5 times a week but was tired of relying on my body. Later, I started working for a small athletics website where I was the editor and had much responsibility.” Miriam not only shines the beacon for the underrepresented South-Asian community, but further the empowerment that endures with affirmative action.
When did your passion for diversity and inclusion begin?
I remember learning about Mary Seacole in year two, and that was the first time I learned about race in a classroom. I remember being really angry – it was connected to events in my life: I saw my dad experience racism at a football game and then a year later I was called the ‘P’ word at school myself in quite a violent incident. I’ve always been interested in learning about it and the history because I just couldn’t understand how people could be racist.
I did my dissertation on police brutality and the civil rights movement while continuing to commentate on sport alongside. The fact that I get to combine the two at work has been a niche for me.
What has been a highlight moment?
Reporting at the Paris Olympics in 2024 – it was just such a special trip.
What would you say would be an ultimate marker of EDI in the future?
To find a way where we can exist with less division and in terms of specific spaces, I would like to see people think about it long-term. It still feels as if you are ticking boxes when you hear about EDI.
T: @mimwalkerkhan
@browngirlsport
