Meet the "WAPs" who are changing the culture of Australian sport.

On May 1, Matilda striker Michelle Heyman will walk down the Dolan Warren red carpet with her partner of 18 months, May Yousif.

The couple, who have known each other for four years, will be attending soccer’s equivalent to AFL’s Brownlows and rugby league’s Dally Ms, and heralding in a new era of WAPs — i.e. Wives and Partners.

Heymen is one of Australia’s most impressive sportswomen and Yousif, 25, is a Wollongong-based writer and actor.

Amazing time shooting for the Dolan Warren Awards with my gorgeous @mmmmaay ❤️ Thank you @nikstarpr @donnygalella #matildas #wleague #aleague #awards #sundaytelegraph

A post shared by Michelle Heyman (@michelleheyman23) on Apr 8, 2017 at 5:13pm PDT

The Canberra co-captain was crowned sports personality of the year at the first Australian LGBTI awards in Sydney this year, and was was also the only openly gay athlete to represent Australia at the Rio Olympics.

Heyman told Confidential she and Yousif are looking forward to rocking the red carpet together.

“I think it’s a good thing to see same-sex couples do what everyone else does,” the 28-year-old said.

“I love being ourselves and being able to be in the public eye and be comfortable with who we are because I believe the more we do that the more normal it becomes.”

All Smiles on the Red carpet @lgbti_au Suit by @antonellaianni Styled by @donnygalella ❤️???????????????? #mardigras #lgbti #sydney #opreahouse

A post shared by Michelle Heyman (@michelleheyman23) on Mar 2, 2017 at 12:43am PST

Last month, Australian Football League player Erin Phillips kissed her wife Tracy Gahan at the AFLW awards — a moment Heyman believes was a great step forward for LGBTIQ women in sport.

“It was nice of the AFL to capture that ­moment,” Heyman said.

“But it was crazy how big it got simply because of two women kissing, because it was so normal in our eyes.

Erin Phillips is a Kick Arse Woman on Mamamia Out Loud. 

“It’s a great thing to see because maybe the older generation and the world of sport needed to see females stepping out of what is expected of them.”

The Dolan Warren awards will be held in Sydney on Monday 1 May.