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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Dianne Bourne

Coleen Rooney re-United with footballers' wife pals at International Women's Day event

Famous faces and footballers' wives were well and truly united - to celebrate this year's International Women's Day at a star-studded fundraiser in Manchester.

Coleen Rooney cut a stylish figure as she joined a host of her pals, including reuniting with Manchester United footballer's wives and girlfriends past and present, at the event on Tuesday at Menagerie at New Bailey.

Coleen, wife of former Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, was supporting her pal and inspiring businesswoman Julie Perry at the event which raised money for Emmeline's Pantry.

Read more : Gemma Atkinson shares sweet video to celebrate International Women's Day

The guest list included showbiz stars, fashion designers and female entrepreneurs who were united in their aim to champion female equality and support the message of this year's IWD to "break the bias".

Coleen was joined by her friends and fellow Manchester United star wives past and present including Lisa Carrick, Hayley Fletcher, Kaya Jones and Reds' captain Harry Maguire's fiancee Fern Hawkins.

Coleen Rooney was joined at the IWD event by fellow former United friends including Lisa Carrick (Manchester Evening News)

Meanwhile Danielle Gibson, wife of ex United player Darron Gibosn, gave a moving speech at the event about her new career as a psychotherapist, working at a women's prison, and the motivation behind the move.

Guests also heard the inspiring life stories of fashion designer Nadine Merabi, who taught herself how to sew off youtube videos and now dresses some of the world's most famous women, and from former X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson.

Also among the guests at the event was TV presenter Jenny Powell with her glam mum, and former Real Housewives of Cheshire star Tanya Bardsley with her daughter Gabrielle, fresh from the announcement that they will no longer be filming on the hit ITVBe show.

Instead, Tanya will be focusing on new business projects, including a new documentary about her experiences living with ADHD.

Click or swipe below for a full gallery of photos from the event:-

Julie Perry organised the event to celebrate IWD and to encourage women to support other women.

The event helped to raise funds for Emmeline's Pantry, an organisation started in the name of Emmeline Pankhurst run by women and supporting women in need across Manchester.

Julie said: "I think it's really important to show empowerment to other women and to support other women. It's nice for everyone to get together and show support to each other."

"I think it's changed now, struggles you have to go through are recognised a bit more. I think for women, a lot of it feels like survival, you dust yourself off and carry on.

Fashion designer Nadine Merabi was among speakers at the event (Manchester Evening News)

"But if you have a dream, no matter how big it is, you can make it a realisation. Women should believe in themselves and everything is possible if you believe in it."

Shauna Muamba, wife of former Bolton footballer Fabrice Muamba, was also among guests, in the month that marks the tenth anniversary of the day he collapsed on the field when his heart stopped.

Shauna and Fabrice have this week revealed that their three children have all tested positive for the faulty gene that can cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where part of the heart muscle grows thicker.

Danielle Gibson (centre) wife of former United footballer Darron Gibson spoke at the IWD event (Manchester Evening News)

But Shauna said they now hope that through ground-breaking medical research, their family can actually help others in future diagnosed with the condition.

Shauna, who runs her own interiors business, joined the IWD celebrations to show her support for the messages of female equality on the day.

She said: "Women are all too often unseen and unheard, so when we have a platform we should use this to talk about equality in the workplace and the home, in every aspect of life."

Read more : ITV Corrie stars make powerful video to end gender-based violence

Read more :

Coleen Rooney joined friends to support the International Women's Day event at Menagerie (Manchester Evening News)

This year the focus of International Women's Day has been to "break the bias" with the message that collectively we can all work to help forge women's equality sooner and faster.

The event aims to raise awareness of issues impacting women's equality while celebrating women's achievements and accomplishments.

READ MORE: ITV Dancing On Ice final pushed back as skating competition forced off air next weekend

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