England defender Leah Williamson and jockey Khadijah Mellah participate in Share the Mic UK

England and Arsenal defender Leah Williamson is one of 140 women participating in Share the Mic UK, an initiative that sees prominent black women take over the Instagram accounts of white women for a day, in order to amplify black female voices and work across their platforms.

The campaign, which launched on Oct 1 to mark the beginning of Black History Month, will see women from a range of industries involved. The likes of Telegraph columnist Bryony Gordon, fashion designer Victoria Beckham and reality television star Kourtney Kardashian handed the reins to Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo, BBC executive June Sarpong and Share the Mic UK organiser Vanessa Kingori.

British Vogue publishing director Kingori partnered with the chair of the British Fashion Council Stephanie Phair to launch the project, inspired by a similar initiative which happened in the US in June.

“In our shared responsibility to dismantle systemic racism, relationships of mutual respect and support can bring people together, breakdown barriers and can ultimately change the world," Kingori said. "Within the important narratives of racial inequality are Black people with key contributions to society. Their human stories often involve overcoming, triumph, success, incredible leadership, entrepreneurialism, joy and love despite the challenges. Many of us in the Black community know some of these women and their stories, it’s time the world does too."

Williamson handed her Instagram account, which boasts 229,000 followers, to Black Lives Matter activist Naomi Smith for the day.

"I am so so excited to hand over my Instagram account to @nayz100 today!!" Williamson said. "With a combined Instagram audience of over 175 million, more than 70 accomplished women join forces to magnify Black Women’s work, lives and achievements today."

The Lionesses footballer is among a number of sportswomen taking part, with British sprinter Shannon Hylton and Magnolia Cup winner Khadijah Mellah taking over accounts on Thursday. Mellah, Britain's first female Muslim jockey, said she would be using the platform to inform "on the importance of providing and presenting opportunities to those who may not have the courage to come forward and ask".

"I was offered training and if it was not for the individual that asked me, my racing talent would have never been discovered," she wrote in a post on fashion editor Lucy Yeomans' Instagram.