‍

1.    What has been your proudest career moment?‍

Taking the leap to pursue social media full time. I worked in the retail industry for 10 years and I sort of got to the point where I either kept climbing the corporate ladder, enjoying what I was doing but not loving it, or I ventured out on my own, which I’m so glad I’ve done. I’m just back from New York on a brand trip and I got to walk the Gay Pride Parade down 5th Avenue celebrating queer love and acceptance and I’ll be thinking about that day for the rest of my life. 

‍
‍

‍2.    Who has been/is your biggest mentor?

All I’ve ever wanted is to make my mum proud, cheesy I know, but she gave up so much to raise me and my brother and anything I’ve wanted to do, she’s always had my back, giving me the courage I need to reach the end goal. 

‍

‍
‍3.    What’s the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received?

In my first job when I was 15 I had a manager who told me that you should stay at a job until you’ve learned and perfected everything in your role, then it’s time to move on and that always stuck with me. I’ve implemented that in most jobs I’ve had and I feel like it’s really served me well in gaining experience from different corners of the beauty industry, equipping me with the knowledge to do what I do now. 
‍

‍

4.    Which training body would you recommend for someone wanting to enter your area of the industry?

Honestly I owe my success to the retail industry. I know it isn’t for everyone; the hours are antisocial and customer service comes with its challenges BUT the opportunities I’ve had and the experience I gained were worth it. I was lucky enough to visit La Colle Noire, the home of Christian Dior, in Grasse, France and as a fragrance lover that’s like visiting your own personal Mecca. 

‍

‍
‍5.    How do you make sure you stand out from the crowd e.g. up-skilling, research, social media?‍

By being you and only you. Social media is a breeding ground for competition and comparison but you build your community because people are invested in you, not you being a carbon copy of someone else. Be real, be vulnerable and be grateful. Don’t expect opportunities, put yourself out there, do your time and let the universe do its work. 

‍

‍
‍6.    If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting their own business, what would it be?‍

Stay focused on what it is you want to achieve. Not everyone in your life will support your vision - and that might seem disheartening but those who do understand will be cheering you on every step of the way. Having a business is what I imagine having a child is like, the excitement yet the unknown, the long nights and the rewards, the constant nurturing and balancing and the copious amounts of joy along the way.

‍

‍‍

7.    What’s the best and hardest thing about your job?‍

Everything I do on social media is the best thing about my job. I come from a very working class background and although I wouldn’t have it any other way, that in itself brings a little imposter syndrome from time to time but that only makes me appreciate things even more. Nothing about what I do is ‘hard’ but I guess working online becomes a 24/7 sort of thing. 
‍

‍

8.    How do you switch off after a difficult day?

Honestly as someone who has just been diagnosed with ADHD, this is still something I’m trying to master but a hot bath, with a podcast, followed with a cuddle on the couch from Andrew always seems to do the trick. 

‍
‍

9.    Desert island 3 course meal?‍

I told you I was working class. Posh food is a treat but my palette is as scheme (basics) as they come.

Starter - a Greggs sausage cheese and bean melt

Main course - very specific but there’s a Chinese restaurant in my home town who does the best curry

Dessert - sticky toffee pudding (the Aldi one is preferable)
‍

‍‍‍

10.  Which 5 people (dead or alive) would you have at your dinner party?

Adele because I think we’d get on like a house on fire and I’d be in the company of someone with a louder laugh than mine. Alan Rickman dressed as Professor Snape obviously. Andrew because he’d try and out sing Adele. Cher because her and Adele singing Believe would be iconic. My mum because she’d insist on cooking her lasagne for everyone, and they’d love it. 

‍