Molly Mae: How She Became Creative Director Of PLT At 22 | 110

I'm the creative director of Pretty. Little Thing. Like, I'm not just an. influencer anymore. This is just the. start for me. I'm only 22. Like, I've. got so much more to learn. We literally. only are given one life. We have to just. go to the extremes. I've worked my. absolute ass off to get where I am now. A lot of people don't believe that, but. I work. I spend time with my boyfriend. and I go to bed. That is literally my. life. I can't have anybody knowing where. I live. I actually have clothes. protection security now. And really, there's no price on feeling safe. That. was like a really, really low moment for. me. When we got back, it just felt cold.

and eerie and it just didn't feel like. home anymore. He could literally go away. for weeks on end. And there's not a. doubt in my mind that if he was to be. around a load of girls, I could sleep. peacefully at night knowing that he's. just he's for me and I'm for him. And. that is literally the key. You got to. trust you've got everything. There's so. much more to it than people see. They. have no idea what really goes on. I. mean, I would never say like I've had. like a mental breakdown, but that was. close to it because I just went crazy. [Music].

Molly May. She is, in my opinion, and. according to a lot of the data, the UK's. number one Instagram influencer creator. right now. She started out many years. ago on a show called Love Island. But. many people have been on Love Island and. nobody ever has had the meteoric rise in. their brand, their career, their profile. like Molly has. So, as much as it's easy.

to say, well, okay, you know, she had a. boost from Love Island, that does not. explain what's happened in her life. subsequently. So, I wanted to sit down. with her today and find out exactly. what's driving her. What's caused this. meteoric success? Almost 10 million. followers in no time at all. 25,000 new. followers a day. Just imagine for a. second being thrust to the number one. spot in terms of influence and having. tens of millions of followers online,

becoming a multi-millionaire overnight. and being 22. years old. Imagine. Imagine the mistakes. you would make. It's absolutely. fascinating. And the way she deals with. it, I think you'll find incredibly. inspiring. And what comes with that. success? Recently, her house was burgled. and she reportedly lost £800,000. worth of her possessions and had to move. immediately to a new home. She now has.

to have 24/7. close protection security. And I'll be. honest with you, this is something Molly. and her manager and team shared with me. before we started recording. Molly. doesn't do interviews like this. So, this really is in many respects her. first real in-depth interview of this. kind, and I can't wait for you to hear. it. So without further ado, I'm Steven. Bartlett and this is the diary of a CEO. I hope nobody's listening, but if you. are, then please keep this to yourself.

[Music]. Hitchin, that's where you're you grew up, right? Take me back to Hitchin. What was life. like when you were growing up there? Hitchin, I I actually still am extremely. fond of Hitchin and it was a really it's. a really really special place for I. spent 18 years there growing up in a. very normal house with a very normal. family doing very normal things in a. very normal school, not a private school. or anything. It was just an extremely.

normal um yeah area to live in. I loved. it. And um I got my first job there. I I. had a lot of firsts there and um I think. it will always hold a special place in. my heart. I was a lifeguard there at a. swimming pool for four years. Um I had a. job in a hairdressers. I worked in a. gym. It was all going on in Hitchin. That's where it all all began. Obviously, it's the Yeah. family dynamics, brothers, sisters, mom, dad. Tell me about your your family, what they do, who they are, what their. character. So, I have one sister. She's actually in.

the army. She's three years older than. me. People are always shocked when I say. I have a sister that's in the army cuz. obviously it's so so different to what I. do. Um, but I'm actually really proud of. that. I think it's it's um I never. really say that, but I'm super proud. that she she is who she is and we've. grown up to be such such different. people. But both parents were in the. police, so that was interesting growing. up. Something else that I'm really proud. of actually having two parents that are. police officers because I don't know, I. quite liked it at school, like sort of. being known as a police officer's kid.

Like I I kind of liked it. No one really. messed with me. It was quite Yeah. Like even at parties, like I think even a couple of times my. dad actually I remember one time my dad. actually showed up to shut a party down. that I was at. Um Yeah. Oh wow. Yeah. It was um that kind of thing. having um parents as police officers but. I didn't mind it. And at that age when you're in Hitchin, what is it that you you want to be when. you grow up? Oh god. I mean I I always wanted to be. doing something different. I mean I went. to fashion school um for two years. because I really wanted to pursue a.

career in fashion. Um all my friends. sort of stayed on and and went to sit. form and college but I again I wanted to. do something different. I wanted to do. something outside the box. So, I had an. interview at the Fashion Retail Academy. in London and I got got a spot there and. I ended up going there for 2 years and. studying there. I was commuting to. London every day at like 17. Um, so. yeah, it was outside my comfort zone, but I'm I'm really glad I did that cuz. it was just different. I love doing. things that were different. And did you did you have a Cuz when I. was younger, I wanted to be a dentist.

and a doctor and then a surgeon at one. point and then, you know, I bounced. around and then I was like, I want to. manage a business. Yeah. What were you saying to yourself in. terms of what you would be when you were. older? What you did you have? Was it. fashion? I think when I was younger, it was. mainly performing arts. I've definitely. got that performing arts streak in me. I. think a lot of people that sort of fall. into being in the public eye do have a. bit of like that performing arts streak. in them because they have that. confidence. But I couldn't quite make it. in that. I tried auditions, I tried, you. know, castings, all this, but I didn't. quite have that. I wasn't quite there.

And I sort of accepted that very quickly. and realized to do well in performing. arts, you have to be the best. It's like. the most cutthroat industry. People say. fashion's cutthroat. No, performing arts. is like it's not an industry you mess. around in. So, I accepted quite quickly. that that wasn't going to work for me. So, fashion was was where I focused on. And I really did think that I was going. to end up being like a fashion buyer, but like a large business or that's. that's kind of what I wanted to do. Your your mom and dad lived very um as. police officers very uh solid.

Yeah. lives and careers, right? Yeah. Um, did you at that young age did. you because I'm trying to understand. from like a very young young age and I. always ask this about myself like how. much of it was this kind of in innate. desire to have more and be different and. not live the standard life. Yeah. Um or how much of it is just you know. following following the heart and see. seeing where it goes. I think for me watching my parents have. a very ordinary life it sort of. petrified me a bit. It was like a bit.

terrifying this thought of I don't want. to grow up in this house and and when I. I'm old in my rocking chair I tell my. grandkids, you know, like I had this. really ordinary life and I had an. ordinary job. I had an ordinary income. like that. It petrified me from I think. around I reckon I started feeling that. way from about 15. I realized like the. world is literally our oyster and we can. do whatever we want with the 24 hours in. the day that we're given. So why the. hell am I not going to go out and like. make the most of them and do crazy. things and make the as I said make the. most of it. So yeah, I think my parents.

having this very ordinary job, like I. mean police office, it's not necessarily. that ordinary, but for me it was like it. just terrified me. I was like, I don't. want to have this life in Hitchin. forever. It's I know that there's so. much more to achieve. And I moved to. Manchester um when I was 18 and started. my life there. I just moved out. I. literally said to my mom one day, I. walked down into the living room. I'll. never forget it. And I said, "I found. this flat on right move and I'm moving. to Manchester." And she was like, "No, you're not." I was like, "No, no, I'm. going." She was like, "You don't have. enough money." And I was like, I'll find. it. Like, I'll make this work. And I.

literally went within a week and I was. gone. I packed all my stuff up and I. just left. And I moved to Manchester. And I remember the first night in my. apartment in Manchester in Anchos. I was. like, what have I done? I was like, this. was the worst move. I felt so homesick. It was horrendous. But then I settled in. and it was the best thing I ever did. Looking back on it now, it was. Were you moving for a job or you were. moving just because of history? I sort of um at that point I sort of. missed out a part. had sort of started. to grow a following on Instagram and it. was growing quite rapidly um and I'd.

found um a management in Manchester so I. just thought I'm just going to go up. there and just see what happens like. what's the worst that can happen and all. sort of the fast fashion companies and. everything was in Manchester at that. point. It became like the new place to. be. Um so I just thought let's go let's. do it and yeah went by myself. No one. believed I was going to do it and I just. did and yeah I definitely couldn't. afford my rent. My mom was right. I. think if um I'd stayed there any longer, I probably would have had to move back. home at some point because I really. couldn't afford my rent. I think it was. like 900 pound a month and I was barely. making a£1,000 a month. So after my.

rent, I had about £100 to live on and a. Starbucks at that point is what £5. So. it um but yeah, no, it was the best. thing I ever did cuz obviously still in. Manchester now and I don't plan on. leaving. I love it. Do you um do you. consider yourself to be just thinking. about that taking that step because you. can often see in people's journeys. there's that like one step into. uncertainty where people think well. don't know why she did that or I. wouldn't have done that myself but your. career seems to be riddled with these. kind of steps into uncertainty. Would. you consider yourself to be at that age. especially a confident person? Yeah, I've always been extremely.

confident. I've never ever struggled. with um my confidence. Like even meeting. new people, trying new things, like I've. never I've never I've never felt. unconfident in any situation, which I'm. really blessed to have that. Like even, you know, when I went on Love Island, like going to my auditions, super. confident, always super confident in. everything I do, everything I I stand. by. Like I just have that confidence. And yeah, I'm I'm lucky to have that. because I think it's something that just. comes. You don't you can't really. build on it. Like it's either there or.

it's not. Um so yeah very confident. person. Do you think you're as you kind of like. so if we zoom forward a little bit we'll. zoom back but as you zoom forward on. this point of confidence um one of the. things I learned in my life is as I. managed to do more things and achieve. more things. I actually realized that. the previous version of myself um knew. so little about the nature of the world. and I just want to like scream back at. myself. Oh my god Steve even though you. were ambitious then confident then you. were wrong like you can do even more. So, as you as you look back on that that.

you know that young girl in Hitchin um. and other people who will be in that. situation, I'm I'm the same. I'm from a. small town where there's not a lot of. you know. Yeah. global dreaming going on. Um what what. have you learned about the nature of. like confidence and and how it builds. and how your how capable and how you. know powerful your potential really is. as you've bum climbed up the ladder. I. think it is just believing in in that. Beyonce has the same 24 hours in a day. that that we do. And I just think like. it's lit you're given one life and it's.

down to you what you do with it. Like. you can literally go in any direction. And when I've spoken about that before. in the past, I have been slammed a. little bit with people saying, you know, like it's easy for you to say that, you. know, you've grown up and you've not. grown up in poverty. You've not grown. up, you know, with major money. struggles. So for you to sit there and. say that we all have the same 24 hours. in a day is not correct. And I'm like, but technically what I'm saying is. correct. We we do. So, I understand that. obviously we all have different. backgrounds and we're all raised in. different ways and we do have different. financial situations, but I think if you. want something enough, you can achieve.

it and it just depends to what lengths. you want to go to get where you want to. be in the future and I'll go to any. length. Like I I've worked my absolute. ass off to get where I am now. A lot of. people don't think that and believe. that, but it's true. I've worked so so. hard. on that point of time and Beyonce and. that kind of that that kind of mindset. of being very very um efficient with how. you spend your time. You must get a. million requests to do everything like I. get a lot of requests. You must be.

getting pulled, pushed, do this, do. that. How do you make the decision as to. what is truly in line with who you are. and where you want to go when you know. like I don't think people understand. thousands you probably getting thousands. of requests DMs opportunities some of. them which you I'm sure you love to do. as you say 24 hours in a day. Yeah. So how are you filtering that? I think what you've just said is. actually the key to why I've become. successful in what I do is because it is. so strict with what I do take on and.

what I don't take on. my days are. planned out to like the nth degree. Like. it is so particular what work I'm doing. and everything is done with such thought. and like such um understanding behind. it. Like I'm never taking on work that I. don't understand or posting things on my. socials that I'm not 100% behind or. using. Like I think that is the key to. being successful in in this industry and. influencing if you want to call it. Like. it's it's knowing what you're doing and. knowing what you're talking about is is. gospel. like you you use those products,

you you stand behind what you're saying. Like I think that is why I've I have. done well in what I in what I do because. I am so believing in what I say and my. my followers know that like they they. know that I'm not talking about. something on my YouTube unless I use it. unless I I believe in it and that is the. key to being successful in this. You. have to have the trust of your audience. So what work we take on is is honestly. 1% of what comes in. Less probably. Frank gets I'm not even joking 800. emails a day for work coming in. It's it. never stops. She's on her emails from.

500 from 5:00 a.m. um going through work. that comes in and it's you have to turn. down so much to to to earn that respect. from your audience and earn that trust. And between you and your manager Fran, do you then have to kind of initially. agree where where you want to go with. your career, what your values are, what. aligns with you, and that kind of becomes the filter of. these 800 messages a day. Is that the. And. we we set goals. We we have like Fran. and I have like this sort of regular. meeting every like six months or so and.

we we sit down and we we make a list of. what I want to achieve and it used to be. well at the start we were like going to. do it every year but I'm I am achieving. them rapidly now. So we're doing it like. every few months and creating new goals. and setting new new targets of like okay. I want to work with this brand. So if. they've not reached to me Fran will. reach out and lo and behold it normally. happens. We're we we're a really really. great team and I think having a manager. that understands what your direction and. what you want to do is utterly key cuz. you know it's it's just so important. like you can't do it alone. It's.

impossible like okay it's not impossible. but it's I couldn't do it alone. No way. So um having a manager that really. really understands where you want to go. is just so so so important I think. And. there's a there's a pretty remarkable. long- termism to your mindset that I I. garnered from watching some of the. videos that you'd made. One in. particular was. the video where you know a brand has. come along and offered you 2 million. quid. to like be the face of their brand or do. a partnership with them. and Fran has presented you with that. opportunity.

and you said no I don't want to do that. Yeah. 2 million quid Molly. Yeah. No, I said. I would wear dresses for 2 million if. that brand is still looking for a a. face. Oh my god, that's crazy. Why did you say what? That's the thing. Like, as I just said. before, like no amount of money can make. me take a job that I don't believe in. If I'm not wearing the clothes, I'm not. taking the job. No matter if they offer. me 5 million, 10 million. And I just so. solely believe that because the money. will come from your audience like. appreciating that you didn't take that. job. And do you know what I'm saying? Like it's I'd rather build that trust.

than than take that money because the. trust is what will earn you money in the. future anyway. So, I know that 2 million. pound is going to come back to me at. some point because I'll work with. another brand that I do believe in. instead and and my audience will see. that and they'll buy into it. They'll. like the picture. They'll engage with. the content. Whereas, they're not going. to if I took that that brand deal. before. So, cuz the audience see. through. They're not stupid. Like people. I follow on Instagram that I love when. they do something that's not authentic. I see straight through it because you're. the consumer. Like, you know, and it's. just um yeah, I think I did I knew you'd.

bring out that 2 million one because. everyone was really fascinated by it. I. think everyone was really shocked. But. that's the side to me that people don't. see. And I was really glad that me and. Fran had that chat on my YouTube because. it showed people that, you know, it's there's so much more to. it than people see with this whole. influencing thing. It's they have no. idea what really goes on. And my last point on this this point of. you and Fran, one of the things I found. actually quite quite remarkable is um. when when you were coming down today and. you know we were sorting out the the. logistics and those things, you and Fran. stayed in the same hotel room.

Yeah. which is not typical of, you know, manager and client. Yeah. How close are you? You and Fran and. we're literally like best friends. She's. I say like she's like a second mom to. me. Like it it's grown that way because. we spend like we spend every day. together. We're on the phone 24/7. Like. I speak to her more than I speak to. Tommy. Absolutely. Like it's the. constant constant conversation. It never. stops. If we're not on the phone, we're. texting. If we're not texting, we're in. person with each other. Um Yeah. So,

like even after the last few weeks, what's been going on with Tommy and I, like Fran took us in, she's looked after. us. It's she's like my mom in. Manchester. Like without her, I honestly. don't know how I'd have got through the. last few years of my life. Like she's. she's um yeah, it's much more than a. manager. And I'm so blessed. I know it's. not a normal situation for people to. have a manager like that. And I know. when you come out of a show like Love. Island, having that manager that is on. it is so key. It is honestly so so key. because without that it can really. really fluff things up for you which. I've seen firsthand with so many people. and it's so sad but yeah.

so let's talk about that then. So, Love. Island. Um, I don't want to talk too. much about it because I think everybody. understands the show and the concept of. it, but when you first were presented. with the opportunity and you're debating. because a lot, you know, I think. everyone's got a mate who says, "Oh, yeah, Love Island asked me to be on it. and I said no." That nonsense, right? When you first were presented with the. opportunity, what was your incentive for. saying yes? Well, it's it's tricky. I've always. struggled with how to talk about it. because I answered a question once on my. YouTube about was Love Island a business.

move for you? like and I and it is. tricky for me to say the right thing. without upsetting people. But put it. this way, I didn't go on that show to. find love. No one does. People go on it. for the experience. People go on there. for a laugh. And I think because I went. on there with a completely probably. incorrect mindset, that's why I did come. out with a boyfriend. And I think cuz. you know when you're not expecting. something, it happens. Um but yeah, I. remember that it they came forward and I. just thought at the time my influencing. was going really well. And there was. actually a side of me that thought I can. actually do this without going on this.

show. like I know I'll be fine either. way. My following my following was. growing rapidly. Like I think I was. about 170,000 followers at that point. and that was all organic growth. There. was no TV shows or anything and I hadn't. had any friends of large followings that. sort of posted me. It was all very. natural growth. So I knew I'd I'd say. now if I hadn't gone on the show I'd. probably be I'd like to say I'd be. hitting a million followers um cuz I had. that really good work ethic with my. Instagram. But the show just sort of it. just elevated me. And then I think one. thing I always say is that when you come.

off that show, you're all on a level. playing field and it's totally up to you. where you go with it. And I just knew. that I wanted to go just to levels that. no one had ever gone to. And that's why. I never really speak about it cuz I just. feel like I don't owe it. That's not the. reason why I am where I am now. Yeah, it. gave me a platform. Yeah, it elevated. me. But the things I've done now are not. because of Love Island. They're because. of me and what I've decided to do and my. work ethic. So I want to drill down on that point. then. So you're completely right. Um, Love Island is a platform, but the it's.

super super clear that if you look at. the outcome of everybody that's been on. that platform, the results are wildly varying. And um, you're you've you know, you're. part of that platform. Yeah. But what's happened to you subsequently. after you've been on that show, Yeah. is um, unprecedented. there's not been another. example of someone who has risen so high. following being involved in that. platform. So, what is it about you. and you know your character, your, you.

know, whatever it might be? I don't want. to put the answer in your mouth. What is. it about you that's that's caused that? So many different things, but I think I. knew the minute I came off that show. that I just wanted to do crazy things. And one thing for me is that when I. reach one goal, it's what can I achieve. next? It's never enough for me. And I. think it's a bit of a downside to my. personality because when I achieve. something incredible, I I just want. more. I always want more. Like I. remember I was speaking to Fran about. this. I was like I remember when my goal.

was I really want to get a million. pounds my bank account. That's all I. wanted to do. I was like that is my. goal. And then the minute I reached it I. was like well I want two now. I want two. million. And it's like I never am happy. with where I'm at. I'm constantly. working towards the next thing. But I. think you need that you need that work. ethic. You need that desire to always. want more. It's never enough for me. Even when I got my biggest dream collabs. and it's just what can I get next? Fran's thick of it as well. She's like, "It's enough now. Come on.". Yeah. You know, and when someone hears.

that, they might think, well, how do how. do you how would you be happy and. satisfied and content. whilst always striving to have more and. more and more? And once you get to that. mountain top or what you thought was the. mountain top, they call it like a f. false peak and climbing where you get to. that bit and then you look up and. there's more to go. and you and so how do you find the. happiness amongst and amidst the climb? Yeah, I'm working on that I think cuz. even recently like we moved in into a. new place. We moved into this new house. and I've realized I've actually got a.

bit of a problem with it cuz I was like. this house is literally a dream. It's a. dream but it's not enough for me because. I still want more. Like I still want a. bigger house. I still want bigger things. and it's like I need to work on that. because you do need to find that. happiness because you know 16 17year-old. me is screaming at the things I'm doing. right now and I'm still like it's not. enough you know but I think that's why I. I'm doing the things I'm doing and I am. achieving great things because it's I'm. never sort of like okay yeah that I'm. happy this week I'll just sit down and. and this is fine. No it's like what are.

we doing next week? It's it's always. more. Why do you think you want more? I. what does it what emotionally. psychologically in the mind what what. what is it that's saying that more why. is more important. I think again going back to that point. where like when I when I'm older and. I've got my kids around me and I I want. to literally look back and say like my. life was unbelievable like I did every. single thing I could possibly ever want. to do. There's not one thing on my list. that's not ticked and I think I'm not. there yet and I know I can achieve more.

because it's possible so why not? Like. we literally only are given one life. have to just go to the extremes and. that's what I'm trying to do. I um I'm I'm very much the same in many. ways and over the years I think I got to. a point where my book is called happy. sexy millionaire because at 18 I wrote. in my diary range bear in mind I was. living in Mosite and didn't have a. driving license. A Range Rover Sport. will be my first car. Make a million. before I'm 25. I'll have a girlfriend. and I'll have a six-pack basically. Right. That's my life goals. 25. Brilliant. 24 I'm driving a Range Rover Sport. I'm. a millionaire. Whatever. Whatever.

Whatever. And then. that antilimax of getting there. Yes. This like feeling of where's the. marching band in the confetti. Like I. thought. it's a huge anti-limax, isn't it? It's. it's it's mental. Like don't get me. wrong, it's incredible to reach your. goals, but it is a little bit oh you. know when you hear people the richest. people in the world and they say you're. not happy though cuz you have all this. money. Think yeah. you are happy. Like, of course you are. You've got all this. money. But they're probably not because. it really actually doesn't mean. anything. All of that stuff. Your. happiness comes from within and the. people around you and your life. It. doesn't come from how how much money you.

have in your bank and what car you drive. and what house you live in. It really. doesn't. It sounds cliche, but it it. I've learned that and I'm only 22 and it. and I've realized that straight away. I'm like, "Oh gosh, okay." It actually. doesn't come from all this stuff. It. comes from your mental state and and. your family and that the more important. stuff really, the non-supficial stuff. That anticlimax is very real though and. my my concern as you've said there is. like I just was scared that I'd never be. happy if I'm not happy now because yeah. like this is like I think for both of us. from what you said anyway this is the.

dream. that Hitchin Molly May. dreamed of and you and Hitchin Molly May. at 17 said when we get there at 22 we're. going to be happy. I promise you. I'll sit on my sofa and I won't work. another day and I'll be happy and I'll. just It's not that way. It isn't. You. think it will be. And don't get me wrong. it's incredible and I'm so happy. I'm. the happiest I've ever been. I tech I. don't want for more, but I do. If that. makes sense. I don't know. Have you got a lot of friends? No, I don't. That's That's a blunt. question. Yeah. No, there's lots of blunt questions here.

Straight up. No. No, I don't. My circle. is minuscule. I have literally about. five people in my circle and that. includes friends. I have acquaintances. and I have people in my life that I I. say are my friends, but I no, my circle. is absolutely tiny and I like it that. way. I wouldn't have it any other way. Um, I work, I spend time with my. boyfriend, and I go to bed. That is. literally my life. And I'm not bothered. about a social life. It's never been. something that I've been interested in. I don't know if you've like I don't know.

if you know, but I I don't really drink. I don't party. I don't go out, but that. is just because I actually don't enjoy. it. It's not for me. I'd rather just. focus on making money, being successful, and and being happy. That's friends. They they come and go, and I just I find. it a waste bit of a waste of time. So, you don't you don't actively want. more friends? No. Yeah. No, it's it's time consuming like trying. to make people happy. Like, I've lost a. lot of friends, but since coming off. Love Island because I don't have the. time and I and in the end, I just say,

do you know what? Look, like I'd rather. focus on the things that are actually. going to elevate me. And and it sounds. savage, but sometimes friends, they just. not cling on, but they they don't add. much value. Yeah, I know it sounds a bit. savage, but. No, it's true. And especially when you. evolve as a person, you kind of. sometimes I think you lose the thing. that made you resonate with certain. people. You%. Well, I'm not that girl from Hitching. anymore. And you know, like I'm not that. young girl that was a lifeguard at. Hitchin swimming pool. Like that's not.

me. I I I've I'm living a completely. different in a different world now. And. a lot of my friends can't relate to. that. And even though I'm still the same. person, my life and my circumstances, they're just so different that you do. just naturally. just people just fall off, don't they? But friends have never I've never needed. lots of friends. It's just something. that I've never really needed. And. people pick up on pick up that about me. really quickly. They just say like, "God, your circle's so small.". Bit of a loner, but I like it. I you know, I asked that question in. part because every successful person. I've sat here with doesn't have a lot of.

friends. No. And you know, I was actually having. a conversation with one of the previous. guests on this podcast and she's got two. and a half million followers on. Instagram and she was telling me last. night that she has one friend, it's her. boyfriend. Yeah, sounds about right. I She. literally said, "I have one friend and. it's my boyfriend.". Yeah, that sounds that sounds about. right for me. And it's sometimes it's weird cuz when I. ask people this question, it feels. really uncomfortable. Yeah. When you first said it, I was. like, "Oh god, no, I don't." But it's. Yeah, it's it's a weird one because you. don't want to sound like you you don't. have any friends because then people.

think, "Well, you're probably the. problem then." Do you know what I mean? Like you're pushing people away, but it. isn't that. It's just like I haven't got. the time. Like I' I really would rather. just spend time with Fran because we're. friends and we talk about work and we. get we you know we we make money and. then I spend time with my with my. boyfriend because he's amazing and I. doesn't you don't need to force the. conversation. You don't have to go for. dinners and spill. It's just like it. sounds terrible but I just don't have. the time for it. I just I'm lazy with. it. Has it become hard to trust people? Um.

especially following you know your. meteoric rise in the public eye. Does it. get more difficult to trust. Yeah. people because they're always you. know people always well sometimes people. are in it for themselves. They're trying. to sell stuff stories about you or. they're trying to take advantage. Yeah. I've been quite blessed with my. rise in that I because my circle has. always been small. I've not really had. to cut people off because they're, you. know, selling stories to the press. I've. never had that. I mean that I know of. anyway. Um, I mean, yeah, but um, yeah, I mean, you you do have to be worried.

about who's in your life because I I. think Fran always says this to me. She's. like, you just think you're still that. 17-year-old girl from Hitchens. Sometimes you're not. And people will. come into your life for the wrong. reasons. But I think I'm a bit naive to. that sometimes. And that is another. reason why I keep my circle so small. because it's different now. I think the. PE it's just it's hard to, as I say, it's hard to trust people. I um I was. watching something you you said about. how you've been very open about sharing. the lows and the highs that have come. with um your meteoric rise and the. publicity and being in the public eye. that it's it's very easy to see a lot of.

the clear upsides, right? The nice things, the like general sense. of I'd say like freedom to choose, freedom of choice in your career and. stuff like that. But what are some of. the like tradeoffs of that success which. you just think that sucks? Oh, there's a lot. There's lots. Obviously, I've dealt with a lot in the. last 2 years in terms of I I was trolled. extremely badly. I mean, it's like a. cliche topic and I and I don't really. talk about the trolling a lot because. it's feel like it's all anyone talks. about on social media these days is.

trolls and trolling and but it it it did. happen to me extremely badly. And there. was this one time we went to Barbados to. shoot a campaign for my fake tan. business and um we were followed the. whole trip by Paparazzi. we didn't even. realize. And they were posing as like. architecture um photographers in front. of this building. And and I did think at. one point I was like, is that guy taking. pictures of me? But I just thought, you. know, he's taking pictures of the. building behind me. There's no way in. Barbados that they're going to be taking. pictures of me. Anyway, that afternoon. um me stood in this white bikini like.

completely like they were just the most. horrendous pictures in my eyes. And I I. actually rang the Daily Mail myself. I. went through to someone on customer. service and I just was like, "This is. Molly May. you must take those pictures. down now. Like I was hysterically crying. and I was and this poor person on. customer service was probably just like. what is going on? And I was just. screaming down the phone like please. like you've ruined my life. Like look at. the comments under that picture like. please take them down. And it was just. like when I look back at that now I I. mean I would never say like I've had. like a mental breakdown but that was. close to it because I'd lost I just went.

crazy. I was like screaming down the. phone this personal customer service. that couldn't do anything about it. But. for me I was like this is going to make. it better. Like if they take them down. it will all go away. But that was like a. really really low moment for me. Um, probably like the lowest of coming out. of the show. It was horrendous. It was. just horrendous. Like people calling me. fat, um, overweight. And I'm a size. eight. So like it just it made me so. upset to think that if people are. calling me overweight, you know, a girl, a very normal size 10 girl, like what. are they going to be thinking if if I'm.

being called fat? Like it's it's. heartbreaking. And I think the whole. trolling thing, like I have kind of. dealt with it now. Like I'm really good. at dealing with it. I sort of had this. approach of like if it doesn't matter. like people can say what they want to. say these people are just genuinely so. unhappy in their lives that they try and. bring you down and it's so sad but um. you do learn to deal with it. It's just. part of it and we're really we've. learned in terms of like we're we're on. always on pack watch now and if we go. away on campaigns like we literally have. someone that job is specifically to look. out for people taking pictures so it. doesn't happen again cuz it was it was. quite bad that for me.

those Daily Mail comments really are a. cesspool of just vileness. I remember. when I was announced as a dragon on. Dragon's Den and like I don't look at. comment sections cuz I'm just really not. bothered. It's like not going to add to. my life. But then my family calling me. and being like, oh my god, those. comments. My mom does that to me. I'm like, don't. look at the. My mom does that to me. She goes, have. you seen the comments on Daily Mail? I'm. like, mom, why would you tell me that? Like, don't look. I'm not looking, so. neither do you. Like, just leave it. But. yeah, I think obviously they're just. looking out for you and they don't. understand that you're probably just. trying to avoid it. That's a pretty.

remarkable way to live is you're talking. about, you know, being on holiday and. having someone on Pat watch and. you must always be on edge to some. degree. You are always on edge and it's it's a. weird way to live, but it's become. normal now. It's been 2 and a half years. and that was really early on in. Barbados. That was I think maybe 3. months, four months after I'd come out. of the show and that was okay, this is. how we need to live now. This is how we. need to do things. And it's just been. the same. and having an incredible team. as well to to be protective of you is is. I'm really lucky for that because I I.

couldn't do it by myself. It is, you. know, really vulnerable like it's such a. vulnerable job to have. Um and yeah, perhaps posing as. architect, photographers, like it's just. there's snakes everywhere. Yeah, man. Before we started recording, Fran, your manager, told me that you are. a little bit of a perfectionist and that. you care a lot about getting all the. details right for your customers, but. across your life generally. So, I guess. my question to you is how do you do. that? How do you, dare I say, worry.

about details and also still maintain. your peace of mind? I mean, it's it's compartmentalizing it. It's sort of like I I don't really. switch off. It's almost like I just it's. sort of built into my mind. And it's a. 24/7. It's I'm always always thinking in. the back of my mind how everything I'm. doing is affecting my work because. that's I am my job at the end of the. day. Like I'm Molly May and Molly May is. what's make what makes me my income. It's not like I go to work and I come. back and I switch off. I'm 24/7 on my.

phone. So everything I'm doing, everything I'm saying, one story post. that takes two seconds to post. Everything I do affects how I make. money, how my audience perceives me. So. it's I just think I've just sort of like. I don't know it becomes one. My life is. just is. it sounds chaotic, right? And it also. sounds like I find it pretty remarkable. based on people I've spoken to that live. in a similar way that are very neurotic. and that are always on and always. thinking and then are in the middle of.

the like social media instant feedback. bubble. How do you avoid being anxious in that. in that within that. cauldron? you you really just have to. sort of accept that Instagram is. Instagram and there's always going to be. that one person on Instagram that that. doesn't like what you're doing. I've got. 6.2 million followers. It is impossible. to please everybody. So, I've really had. to understand that, you know, everything. I say and everything I do, not. everyone's going to like it, no matter. how much I wish they did because it. would put my mind at rest a lot knowing.

that everybody loves what I'm doing, there's always going to be that one. person that that hates what you're doing. and hates you. So, you just sort of have. to. sort of understand that Instagram is is. just it's very superficial and it's just. a highlight reel. That's why I love my. YouTube as well because I feel like my. YouTube is so behind the scenes. It's. you really get that that bigger picture. You see the bad stuff that's happening. in my day. And I think, do you know what. I think, not to sound bigheaded, but I. think that is why I have a really high. engagement on my Instagram is because my.

followers, they they see me on YouTube. and they see that picture on Instagram. and they think we know that she's not. actually had a good day. We know that. she's actually I spoke about a few. months ago how I wanted this really. really incredible job opportunity and I. didn't get it. And I'm really. transparent. Like I'm like today's been. crap. I've cried today. Like I've come. on my period today. I'm feeling really. rubbish today. like I'm I'm really. really transparent. So I think when they. see that picture on Instagram, they know. actually if we want to see a bit more of. like a realist side here, we'll just go.

to our YouTube and have a look. And I. love that. That is why I to all my. influencer friends, I say start YouTube. Start YouTube. If you want your. engagement to grow, if you want your. audience to fall in love with you, if. you want people to understand you more, you have to start a YouTube. Because. Instagram is it's it's nothing. It's a. picture. I post one picture a day. What's anyone going to learn from that. picture? Nothing. YouTube is where it's. at. That's where they learn. And that's. where they engage with you and. understand you and believe in you. And that's the depth, right? You don't. It's so important. Like I do YouTube. because I love it. I've I still edit all.

my own content. I still Yeah. I I'm. really I love it. I actually find it um. therapeutic, editing my videos. And I. love um when I finish editing a video. and I upload it, I love that sense of I. just created that. And it's bigger than. just editing an Instagram picture and. putting it through color tone and. putting a filter on it. you've spent. time developing that video and you've. created and millions of people are going. to go and watch that and spend their 20. minutes of their day watching that video. that you've created and I love that. feeling. That's really special and I've.

had so many video editors editors say. like, "Oh, I'll do I would never give. that job to someone else." One of the. things I find really fascinating, it's. linked to what you said there about. being very honest and open with your. audience, but at the same time, again, if we're talking about things that feel. like they don't marry together or they. feel like contradictions, is as you rise. and rise and rise and as you experience. more like material success and you can. buy nicer things, do you become less. relatable to your audience? And is this. is this something you think about. because the girl at you know that is 16. right now living in Hitchens looking up.

at you and you're getting you're getting. apparently further and further away from. being you know. that's such an interesting question when. you say that then I was like that's a. really valid point and I actually don't. get wrong I'll be honest I do see. comments on my Instagram saying like you. know can you do like a more high street. haul this week can you talk about more. high street clothes because don't forget. in that six million followers there's. such a wide wide variety of people. There's that 45year-old mom that's, you.

know, living on food stamps that's, you. know, and she's got no money and she. wants to see me post really normal. things, but then I've got probably. another girl that's following me and. 18-year-old girl that dad funds their. life and they want to see the glamour. It's there's it's such a it's impossible. to to sort of cater for everyone. I try. and as I sort of as you say as I sort of. my life is changing so much I still try. and stay as relatable as possible and I. do I I would say that I am still. extremely relatable and again that's my. YouTube I post yeah all these incredible.

things that I buy on my Instagram and. I've sort of stopped doing that now but. I I well. oh because yeah but um I I sort of. that's again on my YouTube is I'm I'm. there's in a vlog I might be saying oh. I've just bought this brand new watch. It's amazing. It's cost X amount and I'm. having a really great day. But then I. also might say, you know, me and Tommy. have just had a huge argument and I've. walked out the house. I there's it's in. a vlog I try and keep that balance as. much as possible so I can sort of. not because I cater for everyone, just.

because I am that way. Life is that that. way. You know, when you're being honest, one minute something's really great, the. next minute something's really [ __ ] And. that's just the way it is. And I guess there's there's two forces. there really because I think if I was um. well, not even, but if I was following. you, it'd be for two reasons, right? For. me, on one hand, it's aspiration. It's, "Oh my god, look at this amazing thing. All these amazing things she's achieved, and I really aspire to be there one. day." But then obviously, the. relatability comes from the fact that. you're talking about how bad your period. pains are and this problem with your. boyfriend. And those are things we can.

all relate to. And then on the other. hand, there's all these wonderful things. that we can all aspire to. Yes. And I think I think at the end of. the day, it's it's interesting with. social media because a lot of people in. your position wouldn't share the. aspirational things because they'll care. too much about what people might say. Yeah. I would actually say the opposite. I would say I think a lot of people. share the aspirational things, but they. don't share the low moments. That's true. When I when I'm watching people's. YouTubes, I'm seeing so many girls being. like, "My life is just so amazing and I. do these amazing things and I'm a vegan.

and I eat clean and I go to the gym.". and they don't talk about the low. moments and they wonder why their. audience isn't engaged. You have to be. honest and you have to include those. things that maybe you don't really want. to include it, but your audience will. appreciate that because that girl is. probably also having a crappy day that's. watching it. So, she wants to see you. also having a crappy day. So, she knows. it's okay. And that's where I think some. influencers and some YouTubers, they. they fall down because they don't. they're not 100% honest. Whereas I. really really am and I stand by that. Um, so yeah, if you buy something really expensive.

though, let's say you buy something. really really expensive, when you go to. post it, is there an is there a feeling. of like concern about. it might make some people feel, you. know, that struggling might make them. feel bad or inadequate in a way. Yeah. I mean, it's tricky, isn't it? It's it's hard to know what you're going. to what you post, how it's going to. affect people. Like, you might think. that posting one thing will have no. effect on somebody, but actually it. could be all that person thinks about. that day. And it's kind of scary. It's a. massive responsibility because I have.

super young followers as well and I've. got to be careful. You know, I've been. on a bit of like a health journey. recently. I've got to be so careful. talking about weight loss and what I'm. eating because you don't know what. you're saying. It's so impressionable. And these young girls, they're so again. vulnerable. And I know when I was. watching girls Instagram stories, I. mean, I'm sure I'll talk to you about. filler in a bit, but I Instagram was the. reason I ended up getting all that. filler because I was watching these. girls stories thinking they have filler, so I need to go and get filler. So, if. I'm posting about, you know, a health.

journey and I've lost a few pounds, I. feel great. Well, then young girls are. going to go and think, well, I need to. go lose a few pounds if Molly May's done. it. So everything you're saying, it has. to be so clearly thought about because. it's you have no idea how that one tiny. story is going to affect that person's. day with everything. Isn't there a lot of things though where. you just can't you can't there's no way. to get it right. You can't control it. No, you can't get. it right all the time. I feel like there must be so many things. where if you post it, you're going to. get back cuz I I experience it a little. bit. People It's funny with with um with. me. I I t and I've learned this again.

from my guests that I've sat here with. I can get away for some reason with a. with a lot more than they can. So, I can. post something and I'll typically get. like pretty much 100% posit like a good. example actually was when um I'd been in. the gym a lot and I'm saying to Grace, who's in my content team, I'm like, I'm. going to post a topless photo and say. like show my gym transformation before. and after. And Grace raises it to me. that like a lot of influencers who do. that get like slammed for, you know, what what you saying? You're saying six.

pack is healthier. I'm like, no one's going to say that in. my audience. I post it, everyone's. clapping. Everyone's like, "Amazing. Give us your tips.". Isn't it? But it seems to be like almost a double. standard for for creators and women like. you who. if I look at it and think, "Oh, man. You. got it's like a minefield of. correctness.". I know honestly, but that is another. reason why I I stay quiet on a lot of. things. I don't I'm often fearful to. speak. And even on Twitter, I kind of. stopped using my Twitter because. everything you say like you I remember a.

few few months ago I went to Italy for. um a trip and I mentioned that I I. didn't like the food in Italy and the. way I worded it probably wasn't it I. probably could have worded it better but. I was trending on Twitter for 4 days. about how I said I didn't like the food. in Italy and and I was like literally. going through a really hard time. I was. like I can't deal with this. It's like. I've I've made one comment that people. didn't like about the ice cream in Italy. and and I'm literally trending and I'm. getting like death threats because of it. and it's a lot. It's a lot. Like it's. how and I mean I always say like when I. don't have like a scandal for a while.

I'm thinking god a scandal's coming. soon. I'm going to say something wrong. soon. Like it's it is you're kind of. always on the edge of like what's going. to be next? Like what's what's happening. next? So with all this, you know, when. you say this to me, my like I've got to. be honest, I don't envy that situation. because I think one of the forms of um. one of the real causes in our society. and in the world of mental health issues. is feeling like you can't be your true. self. Yeah. And there are physical forms of. imprisonment, putting someone in a jail.

And then there are mental forms of. imprisonment which is like stopping them. speaking freely about who they are, who. they love, what they think and what they. feel. And yet when in every interview. that I've encountered with you, the. answer I see is I'm very very happy. How could how how is how is that all. possible for you to live in a world. where there is so much concern and so. many minds that you could possibly step. on and to still be. happier? I know. I am always saying that. I'm happy because how I think it would.

be selfish for me to say that I'm not. like how could I not be happy? Like. 17-year-old me creeps back up then cuz. I'm thinking like God I am happy because. this is all I ever wanted. And yes, every day in my mind I think, God, I've. got these worries and I have got these. struggles. But let's just take a step. back. I am happy. Like I I sort of have. to just look at the bigger picture. I'm. healthy. I have my health. My family's. well. I have an incredible manager. I. have an incredible boyfriend. I live in. a beautiful house. I'm safe. I'm happy.

Like, I am Yeah, I've got all these. these worries about when am I next going. to have a scandal? When when am I next. going to say the wrong thing? And but in. the bigger picture, like 17-year-old me. again could only dream of this [ __ ] and. I'm living it. So, that's how I look at. it. And that gratitude, you know, it's. clearly so important to be. Yeah. Yeah. Centered and grounded. amongst all of this chaos, right? Yes. Yeah. 100%. I I am very grounded. And I think that's one thing that I'm. proud of is that everyone that knows me.

from my life prior to Love Island, they. they've all say I've never changed. I've. always stayed the same. Yeah. My life, my circumstances have changed, but me. myself, I' I'm the same person. And I. and I know I am. I've never become. bougie. I've never become like I' I've. never, you know, I just I couldn't. It's. not me. I am that I am still that girl. from Hartford Shere but just with a very. different life now. But I've never. changed. Even then since I've met Fran. in that two and a half years, I'm still. the same person that she met on that day.

when I came out of Love Island. So yeah, I stand by that and I'm proud that I've. stayed the same. What are these drinks. here? So this is Hu. They're the the um it's. basically nutritionally complete food. So it's um it's the fastest growing. e-commerce company in the country. Oh, is it? Yeah. Online and internationally. It's. basically like it's like your your. perfect meal in a drink. So 20, you. know, all your proteins, all your. vitamins, all your minerals, vegan, glutenfree, and if you're ever on the. I'm sure you are cuz you're super busy.

If you're ever on the go and you're like. skipping meals and stuff, you have one of these fills you and make. sure that you get all everything you. need. Amazing. So I think as the world has got busier, Hu has got more popular, you know. But. anyway, right, have to try a hu. Yeah, we'll give you a couple. They. actually send you a big package after. this. They always do. So, Oh, okay. Um, not that anyone knows where you live. now. We'll just make it. We'll talk to. him. Fran barely knows where I live. I'll send it to France. You can put it. on. Speaking though about social media and.

you know, one of the changes you made. and you you've talked about this. publicly is you removed the cosmetic. filler from your face, right? Yeah. And um. and other things, other sort of changes. to your sort of cosmetic appearance. Can. you talk to me first about what it was. that made you want to go and get. cosmetic filler in your face? Well, I think. you're clearly very beautiful. Oh, thank you. Well, I was 17 16 or 17. when I first got filler and 16 if it. was, I think, is actually illegal.

Um, I think you have to be 17 legally. Um, but I I went and got lip filler when. I was around 16. And it didn't stop for. a few years. I kept getting it and I. kept getting it and it became around. that time was when it had become very. normalized. Filler was it was literally. like going going to the gym like I'm. just going to go and get a top off of my. lip filler. It became so normalized. which is terrifying and so scary that. these things are spoken about on social. media like these these um aesthetic. pages they're posting all these packages.

you can get with filler and it's it. became really normal. So I just I went. one day and I just got it and it was. like nothing and I didn't tell my mom. I. just kept it from everyone. no one even. really noticed. But I think on social. media, as I said before, I was seeing. all these girls um with filler and with. all these things done to our fa their. faces. So I thought, well, if I want to. be successful in that industry, if I. want to be an influencer and I want to. have a large following, I'm going to. have to get that, too. Like, I'm going. to need to do that to my face. I need. jaw filler and cheek filler and lip. filler and Botox to look the way these.

girls do. Um when actually what I what I. realize now is all just editing. None of. them look like that anyway. But um it's. scary because it I I wouldn't say I got. addicted to it, but uh by the age of 21, I didn't look like the same person. I. literally looked like a different. person. It was when I look back at. pictures now, I'm I'm terrified of. myself. I'm like, who was that girl? I. don't know what happened. And it was. actually only until my sister said to. me, she was like, we need to sort this. out. It was took her to tell me. I was.

at um a PA in in a club. I don't. remember where I was. And she texted me. and she was like, I need to talk to you. about the filler. like it's too much. now. Like it's it's it's enough. You. need to stop. And then I actually sort. of I I remember going on my front camera. and I was looking I was like what's she. talking about? And I actually realized I. was like I don't it's not nice this. It's my face. I literally everyone used. to call me Quagmire. I don't even know. who Quagmire is. I think it's like a. cartoon character. Don't know. Oh okay. Well people say the screen. Yeah. Quagmire. People used to say. quagmire or they said I look like an. Xbox controller. Like my face was that.

warped. Like I got all all kinds of. things. Um, but there was this one. pivotal moment where I'd gone and I'd. got loads of filler and I posted a. YouTube video. Um, and I hadn't let the. filler sort of settle and it was really. swollen and a picture from a screenshot. from that video. It trended on Twitter. for weeks. It was horrendous. It was. utterly horrendous. It was like, you can. insert the picture. We'll send it to. you. It was my face was literally like. it was just awful. And it it was that.

was a moment for me as well where I was. like I think I think things need to. change. I I thought one day I'm actually. I'm going to get my lips dissolved and. it and it it was a process. I went and. got my lips dissolved and I posted about. it on YouTube and I didn't expect the. response that I got. It was huge and a. lot of girls were tweeting saying made. me laugh and was like Molly May getting. lip filler does not mean that we have. getting her lip filler dissolved sorry. does not mean that we all have to go and. do the same. Cuz obviously they all love. their lip filler which I think is great. Like some girls absolutely love it and. by me getting my filler dissolved did. not mean that I I don't agree with.

filler. I got it at one point like I I. obviously loved it and some girls it. makes them feel super confident and it. did for me for a while until I took it. too far. I think it can be a great. thing. It's not for me to sit here and. bash it because some girls they do feel. amazing with it and that's that's great. But for me um the the minute I started. to sort of reverse my image and dissolve. the filler and dissolve my lips and I. actually had full set of composite um. bonding like veneers on my teeth, I had. them removed as well, I literally took. it to the extremes and I just stripped.

myself back and weirdly I felt the. prettiest I'd ever felt once it had all. gone. And I and I I feel like I'd. dropped about five years off my age and. it was like it was a really really. significant moment for me and I just. stripping everything back and I didn't. realize how much respect that would get. me. I didn't do it for respect. I did it. for myself. I didn't do it for anyone. else. I did it because I knew that I. needed to. But from doing it all these. young girls were like well all these. young girls parents were emailing Fran. and saying thank you so much. Like this. is so amazing for us to see. It's so. different. I actually had some a mom.

come up to me when I was visiting. Hitchin with my mom. She came up to me. in the street crying her eyes out, saying that she was so grateful to me. for doing what I did with my filler. because she's so happy that like the. effect it had on her children. And my. mom started crying and it was all like. emotions. My mom was she when the woman. walked away, she was like, "I'm so proud. of you." And I just didn't realize like. from me doing that the effect it would. have on so many people. Your manager, Fran, told me, she said, um, when you. made that decision to remove the. cosmetic filler and the the bonding from. your teeth, um, she was getting so many.

emails, she couldn't keep up with her. inbox from parents saying expressing. their admiration and gratitude because. obviously previously, um, those parents. and their children had been looking up. to certain role models who do do a lot. of editing because of, you know, because. of the comparison based world we live. in. and to have a role model like. yourself who is taken the very very. brave and um brave is maybe not the. right word but just the very um. important step to say that I'm going to. be a role model that doesn't um tamper.

too much with my face because of the. consequences and what that might tell my. audience about themselves. when you went on your transition when. you went from being you know a little. bit too much filler here maybe and. bonded teeth and stuff like that to the. oh natural Molly that you are Now, was. there ever moments of doubt where you. looked at yourself and thought, do you. know what? Maybe I'll nip back and. Yeah. Well, yeah. I mean, it didn't. happen overnight. I can't sit here and. say like I suddenly just felt. incredible. Like, it was a huge change. Like, my I literally I looked like a.

different person with all the filler in. and a different person with it out. And. um there was a moment where I I'd just. done the cover for Cosmopolitan magazine. and it was a really big deal to me. I. was so hugely happy that I'd landed the. cover because. um I it was a dream. It's huge. My mom. used to buy me that magazine when I was. younger and it was it was I couldn't. believe that I was going to be on the. cover. But that was the first time I'd. been pictured after I'd had all the. filler removed and I actually despised. the picture so much that I just I cried. about it for days. Yeah. I cuz I didn't.

get approval of the image and I just. thought I sort of prayed. I was like I. really hope I like the image and I I. absolutely hated it. and it went it went. out and it was fine and everyone was. telling me how amazing I looked and and. it was kind of sad that after everyone. sort of confirmed that they they thought. I looked nice then I felt better. That's. a bit sad because I think I didn't until. I' until people started to started to. say that and I never really thought I. was that girl. I always sort of thought. I don't need people to tell me that I. look nice like it. but I think then I did because I was. really vulnerable like I just had all. this filler and removed. No one had.

really seen me like that. I looked. really different. I did and I think. people noticed it, but people really. admired it because it was different. It. was new. No one had no one had really. done that yet. I I wouldn't want to say that I started. a trend, but I do feel like I did start. a bit of a trend with the sort of. dissolving. And again, I'm proud of that. because yeah, I might have been a bit. uneasy about it at first, but now loads. of people are doing it and I love it. It's like an amazing movement. And with. the with the brands that you're involved. in in the businesses you run, do you now. seek out models and influencers and. creators that are representing that more.

natural look as well? I wouldn't even say so because as I said. before, I don't think filler is a bad. thing. If it's done safely and it's done. in a way that makes a girl feel more or. a guy feel more confident, then then. that's great. Whatever makes that person. feel amazing, that's what I like. kind. of a model comes in and we like her and. she's got a face full of filler. That's. not a problem because another girl. that's looking at that campaign also. might have a face full of filler. You. know, again, it's I don't really judge. people based on things like that. I made. a mistake with it once and but at one.

point I loved it and it did make me feel. confident. So, no, I think we just like. when we're booking models for filter and. things. We just want to be relatable and. we want to sort of have a girl modeling. our the fake tan that that lots of girls. can relate to. That's why we use always. use multiple models in our campaigns and. plus size and we we we try and sort of. cater to everybody. Imposter syndrome when people rise very. very quickly into high places they often. talk about this feeling of imposter.

syndrome where they you know inside them. maybe they're still that girl from. Hitchin but they're in these like big. rooms with these big things talking. about big ideas and do you ever feel. that? Um, I I guess I'm I'm extremely. honest when I need to ask questions when. I don't understand what the hell's going. on. Like I actually said to Fran, I was. like, I bet Steven's going to use loads. of words that I have no idea what they. mean and I'm just going to have to sit. here and pretend that I have a clue what. he's on about when really I don't. Has that happened yet?

No. But when I was listening to your one. with Patricia Bright, you said a few. words and I was like, don't know what. that means. And I was like, it's. definitely that's going to happen. But. I'm really honest. I'm really. transparent when I'll be in finance. meetings with Fran and we'll be talking. about gross profit and I and I say can. we just rewind? I have no idea what. we're talking about here and I'm really. really transparent with that. Like I. tried to just remember I am 22. They. didn't teach me this stuff in school. They they really didn't. And I I talking. about mortgages and stuff. I didn't know. what a mortgage was until a few months.

ago. I'll be honest cuz when I started. looking at buying a house I was like so. what is a mortgage? Cuz I didn't know. And I think um that's how I've sort of. gotten away from that like imposter. syndrome. I just I I just ask I just ask. the questions. I'm not embarrassed. And. um I've had to learn a lot really. quickly. I didn't know anything at the. start of this process. I didn't know I. don't think I I hadn't earned enough. money to even pay a tax bill before. So. I didn't understand. I was making £1,000. a month before the show. So I'd never. paid a tax bill. Like it and I it was it. was a lot of learning very quickly. And.

I've just always asked. I'm not afraid. to ask. I think that's a really. important thing. Don't be afraid to ask. if you don't know. For me, that's it's. so inspiring to hear that answer because. I've been in that exact same situation. I was in boardrooms as well when I was. 22 years old and you're sat there, you're think you're looking around the. room and there's people double your age. and of course it's easy to feel like um. you're inadequate or you're an imposttor. in that room. But the thing that I. always fell back on was this. understanding that I'm in that room for. a reason. There's something that I have.

that those men that are double my age in. suits that have gray hair don't have. And that's my specialty. That's the. reason I'm there. Um, they have things I. don't have. I have things they don't. have. And I think for me, the thing. that's made me feel comfortable in. intimidating situations, whether it's. dragon's den or being in boardrooms out. of my depth at a very, very young age, is continually reminding myself that I. am there for a reason, too. And there's. something that I know. There's some, in. your case, you know, unbelievable. creativity and understanding of the.

customer that has put me there. And I. think what you've realized is incredibly. important. You don't have to speak on. things you don't know. And as a young. person in these in these very. intimidating foreign situations like the. boardroom, you don't have to pretend you. know everything. You can just wait and. have the confidence to speak on the. things that you know well, that you know. better than everybody. And I just think. that's so incredibly important that when. you are in intimidating situations as a. young person in business or in your. career, you got to know that you're. there for a reason, too.

Yeah. You're you're bringing value to that. room, too. You don't have to speak on. everything, but you are there for a. reason. When when I read about your. story, when I I've watched you over the. years and I've been close to people that. you're close to, um I could not believe. for the life of me when my team told me. you were 22. I like I I was like, "Yeah, sure." Like Googled it myself and I was. like, "Wikipedia is wrong as well.". Because it doesn't make sense, right? And it it as you say there are so many. like fundamental things about business. and money and life and finance that must.

just now be like. thrown at you. and um and to be honest they're thrown. at everybody, right? Um especially when. we you know we start thinking about. mortgages and stuff. in terms of money and finance. What are. some of the lessons that you've you've. had to learn um or the the advice you. would give to people that are listening. to make sure that they don't blow all. their money and get end up in jail? I don't think I'm the I'll be honest, I. don't think I'm there yet myself to give. advice. I'm still learning. I I have.

yeah a a large amount of money for. someone my age and I'm I have to sort of. rely on people around me to advise me. with it. like I've just started. investing which has been a huge. interesting new chapter for me. I hadn't. got a clue about investing but I know. it's really important. I knew it's a. it's a key thing and I need to do it. I. didn't know where to start. So, I've. I've been learning about that, which has. been really interesting. But I know it. is cliche and I know everyone says it, but because you don't learn these things. in school, like it is so daunting and my. situation is so niche in that I came.

into a large amount of money so quickly. and it was so vulnerable. Like I had to. sort of like get my parents on board. with it because I just you trust all. these people, but it it was so scary. I'd say it's probably the most daunting. thing really. Like come now and this new. world of like I didn't have literally a. pot to piss in before and now I'm like. dealing with these huge banks and. they're like it's it's mental. It's it's. and I don't want to I wouldn't even give. advice because I'm still learning and. I'm not afraid to say that. I'm learning every day with it. Um but.

yeah, it's it is daunting. It's a whole. new world. On the we talked a little bit earlier. about we kind of touched on mental. health. One of the things that I was. really inspired by is you you gave the. profits from your one of your PLT ranges. to the charity mind, the mental health. charity. Yeah. Why did you do that? Well, it was it was shortly after. Caroline Flack had passed away. Um which was obviously heartbreaking and. it was a huge huge huge shock. Um and.

myself and PLT we'd planned this huge. launch party and a big launch dinner and. and we I was there getting ready for it. We canled it on the night because we. just found out the news and it was just. it wasn't right. It just it didn't feel. right and the only way it would feel. rightly releasing the collection is if. we did donate the the profits made to. mind um at that time and it was just it. was a really tricky time and I think I'm. so proud to to be a part of PLT in a way. that they were so on board with it. straight away and it was totally my idea. and I went to them and I said this is.

what needs to happen and they were like. yeah it wasn't even a hesitation. It. wasn't like no but we need to make money. back. No, they they totally understood. Um, yeah, and I'm I'm blessed to work. with PLT so closely because they're. they're just they were amazing at that. time. Was that one of the things on your. proverbial mood board that becoming the. creative director of PLT? Did you ever. dream about that? What was the and how. did that all come about? Do you know with Pretty Little Thing? It's It was crazy because I knew when I. started working with them, it was like I.

I had this feeling that it was going to. go bigger than I had anticipated. We. bought out these collections and bought. out these edits and it was just growing. and growing and my growth was was going. up and and it just wasn't slowing down. and I created such a close relationship. with PLT and they they we really. understood each other and it just grew. past that point of being an influencer. cuz I don't really count myself as an. influencer anymore. I know I am. theoretically but it's more than that. now and I am more of a businesswoman and.

I feel like PLT it was in it was in the. works for a while. There was. conversations about this role and um I. never really spoke about how it happened. but there was conversations about a role. creative director was mentioned and I. was like that's the only one I want. I. don't want anything else. I don't want. to be head of any other department. Creative director is my role and if not. then we'll just carry on doing what. we're doing or we'll see. And um Fran. worked on it with Umar and they spoke. and they spoke and it was about six. months in in discussion and then Fran.

rang me. I was in my car and she was. like we've got it. you're going to be. the creative director of P Little Thing. And I I it was a really like it was a. crazy moment. I screamed on the phone. I. was like, "Oh my god, like this is. wild." And I was just so excited to tell. everybody. I had to wait a few months. I. knew I was sitting on it for a while and. then I told everyone and it literally. blew up the internet. I didn't expect it. to have like the effect that it did, but it was huge. Literally huge. It was massive. Yeah. I don't know. It was Yeah. I think it. was just No one really expected it. I.

think um no one saw it coming. I think. they probably just thought when I said I. had a big announcement, they probably. like, "Oh, it's just another. collection." She's just bringing out a. few more pieces of clothes. No, it was. when I said I had the biggest piece of. like my biggest achievement yet, I meant. it. It was my biggest achievement yet. Like I'm not just an influencer anymore. I'm the creative director of Pretty. Little Thing. Like that hasn't still. really sunken in yet for me. And what does that mean? So the thing. that brands do very well is they they. like use, you know, influencers, creators to kind of sell, you know, we'll do a line with you, we'll do an. edit with you. This is different, right? Yeah, it's completely different. Talk to.

me about how it's different. Well, I have a huge role within the. business now. I have a huge voice within. the business. And I think what's so. amazing is that I am the consumer. I am. that their their target market really. that age range. I'm I am that consumer. So to have me in the business with my. views, with my, you know, with my. guidance, like it's really helpful to. them. It's a fresh pair of eyes. I think. they really needed that. And I I think. um because I know the brand so well and. I've worked with them. I worked with.

them way before Love Island. I've worked. with PLT now heading on six years. They. were the one of the first businesses, one of the first fashion companies that. gifted me when I had about 11,000. followers on Instagram. So, I've I've. just we believed in each other from the. very start. So, it was just such an. organic movement for me like just to in. that business. And another funny story. is that when I came out of Love Island, I had this day where um all these. fashion brands, they came forward and. they sat down and they offered me all. these crazy deals. They I'm not joking.

There was probably about 15 of all my. dream brands. They came in and they were. like, "We'll offer you this. We'll offer. you a car. We'll offer you this amount. of money." Um and PRT didn't actually, it was um Zoom called me. They were. actually the only one that didn't show. up on the day, but they were the most. important to me because I knew that I. was like it these business meetings with. all these other brands are kind of. irrelevant because I know I want PLT. PLT wasn't the highest money offer that. came forward. There were brands that. came forward and offered me triple what. PLT offered me. But because I love PLT.

so much and because I believed in them. wholeheartedly and I knew that me. working with them was going to be. something the way it is now, I I went. with them. and it was the best thing I ever did. And what's the best what's now you've. been in that role for several months. What's your what's your what do you. enjoy most from because you've taken a. big step from being, you know, doing. ranges with them to now being inside the. business. Yeah. What surprised you? What have you. enjoyed? Well, I think people wouldn't understand. that the creative director role, it.

wasn't just out of the blue. It came. about because I have been I've always. given my input in everything that I've. done. In every collection I bought out, I've always done more than the average. influencer. And I think PLT saw that. I. think they saw, hang on, this girl's. actually got something to offer. She's. got ideas on every shoot. I have a large. input with location, sets, um, you know, photographers, models that I use. Like, it's I've always never just sat back and. said, "Yeah, that'll do. I'll do that.". I've always had something to say. Um, so. it was I think they they they saw that. and I think even things have changed so.

much now since I've come in this role. like the collections that I'm bringing. out now like they're worked on for a. year. They're not it's like I mean the. one we we're bringing out next is it's. been working on we've been working on. now for about seven months. So it's um. things are done a lot more seriously. They're not rushed. They're really. thought through. Um we're working I. don't know how much I can speak about it. but we're working on um a London Fashion. Week show which has been in the works. now again for about 6 months. Um there's. it's a lot of work and it's interesting. as well again I'll sit here and I'll say. I'll be honest it's a business role and.

I'm learning I'm not I don't know. everything about business you know and a. lot of I got a lot of backlash when I. came forward saying I was the new. creative director people were saying. what do you know about being a creative. director you've never been to university. but it's not so much that I go in and I. talk about numbers and I talk about the. nitty-gritty of like that I'm more there. to give my perspective on how things. should be done I'm there to go into the. studios and say I think this needs to be. changed change. I think this, you know, I'm there to be that fresh set of eyes. and to be the consumer giving their. voice.

Um, that's sort of how it works. And Umar, you know, the founder and CEO. of Pretty Little Thing, he himself. started in that role when he didn't know. anything about fashion other than, you. know, you know, obviously he's got links. with his family, but that was his first. real chance. And I I've worked with him. as well, and one of the things he's. always said to me is he likes bringing. people in that don't have experience. He. I've seen I've sat in his office for. many many years and he said we need more. 16-year-olds in here. And what he's saying is you said is he. wants fresh eyes. He wants a fresh. perspective. He wants kids that. understand Tik Tok. Yes. And keeping and that's probably why.

they've done so well and been so. relevant. You're so right. You're so right. When. you go into the PLT office, it's all. young girls working in there. All. different kinds of girls, but all young. And it's it's really interesting because. there's like two sides to the office. You've got like the tech side which are. like all the guys like working away on. their computers like trying to make sure. the website doesn't crash when they have. a massive sale. Then you have like the. side of things where it's like the young. girls doing the Tik Toks, doing the. tweets, doing the Instagram. It's huge. It's it's absolutely it's like um it's. like an empire PLT. Every time I go in.

that head office, I'm like blown away. Um and I think if I didn't do what I did. now, I'd want to work for PLT in a. different way. Like I'd want to work in. their social media cuz it's it's an. incredible job. All the girls that work. there are so lucky. On the other side of. the fence, I actually have a very unique. perspective because I got to see I was. in the car with the CEO of PLT on the. day when they were he was trying so so. hard to make sure you joined the brand. And. I've never seen him um so frantic and so. and you know he was not going to. lose the opportunity to work with you.

So I've never seen him like that. actually in all the years. He's a very. ambitious, relentless spray driven guy. that you know knows what he wants and is. willing to work to get it. But that day. in that car, he was like, "We need her.". He was like, "We need her. I can't let. her go anywhere else.". He must have just seen something. I. don't know. Maybe he just. he told me. Yeah. You represent, as you've said, you. represent the customer. You rep, you. know, the customer. You are the. customer. I am. Yeah. And for him, it was like the stars had. aligned and there could there wasn't.

another human being on earth that was. more perfect for the brand than you. And. it's funny to hear from your perspective. because you felt the same way on the. other side. So, yeah, it matched up quite nicely. I. think. it matched up perfectly. Um, life, you know, life life is very. unpredictable and everything has a cost. We've talked a lot about that today. Even though the high points have a cost. and one of the costs of your um meteoric. rise and your success and your openness. is was um came out in the papers quite. recently when someone broke into your.

home. Yeah. one of the most unthinkable. traumatic things um from a psychological. perspective because that is your safe. place. It's your happy place. It's. your. Well, especially the home that we were. living in. Um it was I spoke about it in. a YouTube briefly really briefly because. again I'm always too scared to say too. much but it that home for me was I've. had a lot of homes and it nothing quite. was like that place for me. It was just. this it wasn't a huge apartment. And it. was just a normal apartment um in a.

really nice area. And ironically, I I. just always felt so safe there. Every. time I went in and I locked the the the. front door and I run myself a bath, it. was like my switch off zone. It was like. where I felt um like I could just be. that 22-year-old normal girl with a few. thousand followers on Instagram. Like I. like I just it was my haven. So I think. out of what happened with the burglary, I think that's been the hardest thing. because that was snatched away from us. It wasn't there wasn't the materialistic. things that were taken. It wasn't all.

the possessions that were gone. It. wasn't the you know them violating our. space and it was ransacked. It wasn't. any of that. It was the fact that I knew. the second we found out we were in a. meeting in London and we got the call. and I and I knew the minute I found out. that we were going to have to leave and. I just it was that was the most. heartbreaking thing for me because to be. forced out of your home that you love so. much and that you weren't ready to leave. anytime soon. It was like it was. heartbreaking. It was awful. Says a lot about what home is. It's not.

really a place. I guess it's a set of. emotions, right? 100%. And once once those emotions are. tampered with and once they're spoiled, it's gone. Like it's not it's just it's. just bricks and mortars, then it's not. it isn't it's not a special place. anymore. And I think yeah, out of. everything that happened, that's been. what I've been finding hard to deal with. cuz we um when I drive past it and. stuff, it's it's heartbreaking. It's. like, God, that's how quickly can things. change? like things can change in such a. like few hours everything had changed. like I was in a meeting about something.

really exciting in London next thing you. know your house has been ransacked. everything's been taken you need to come. home right away and I just didn't know. what to expect I just expected the worst. and it was a good job that I did because. it it was bad everything. gone. how did Tommy react. well. it was it's tricky because I'll be. honest Tommy he's different with how he. spends his money. He He doesn't really. buy things. He's a bit of um the way. he's been raised, he's he's quite shrewd.

with his he's just he's we're very. different. And um he reacted differently. to me. I was um much more like um trying. to sort everything out, you know, insurance and making sure we're we're. okay. And Tom is just like sort of it'll. be fine, it'll be fine. He's very. laidback. It's very hard to explain how. he is. We're like polar opposites, but. that's why we work. But yeah, I mean it. was just different. And is this you've talked about how this. has changed your desire and willingness.

to be as open. Yeah. Which I find I found to be quite. sad to be honest. Yeah. I had no choice. And I mentioned. that like on my social media. I said. like I don't want to change the way I. live. I don't want to change the way I. talk to you guys. That's what I love. doing. I love sharing everything. But if. it's going to compromise my safety, I. can't do I can't. It's not fair. Like, it's really hard. And I'm now trying to. work on this new balance of sharing, but. not oversharing to so that I um make me.

and Tommy not safe anymore. And it's. it's finding this new way of living and. having close protection, security now. And and moving and making sure not even. my nail tech so much as comes to my. house because I I can't have anybody. knowing where I live now. It's like even. Deliveroo. No, can't. It's not possible. like it's just not safe because it takes. one wrong person to know where you live. and and I think I've it you know what I. I will say that it is not a positive. thing what happened but maybe it needed. to happen in order to make me learn how.

I need to be now I can't just be that. normal girl that is blas and post. everything on her socials it's not I. need to I need to do better to protect. myself and Tommy unfortunately it's sad. but it's just the way it's got to be now. and everything's got to change. that is sad isn't it It is sad. It is. But I think people understand. They I. see a lot of tweets now being like cuz. I've posted I mean literally a smidg of. where we live now. Like I mean like a. cushion and everyone's like saying I'm. so glad we're not going to get a house.

tour. And I'd absolutely love to give a. house tour because this house is. incredible and I want to I don't want to. show it off but I want to show my. followers and be like this is where. we're living now. This is the new. kitchen. This is the new bedroom. You. know like I that's me. I'm an. oversharer. But now I'm I'm taking. videos and I'm like, "God, is that too. much? Am I showing too much there?" Like. the newspaper's going to find out from. right move which house that is, you. know, I'm I'm thinking that way now. And. it's sad at 22 years old that you have. to think that way, but it's the pros and. cons with this this new life that I'm.

living. Do you feel safe in your new home? Yeah, you do. Yeah, we we're really lucky in that, as. I said, it's taught us how we need to be. now. And I actually have clothes. protection security now, and I'm trying. to get used to that. It's 24 247 and I'm. I don't know how long I or if forever or. whatever, but I'm it's just mad like. that having to put these precautions in. place now. Um I don't really wear my. jewelry anymore, what I have left of it. I'm I'm not wearing it because I just it. made me realize that it just doesn't.

really matter. People are just so cruel. and and and they are jealous that these. things it's better off just to I don't. know. I I just think it changed things. for me. It took that superficialness. away. It just made me realize actually. these things aren't important. Your. health and your happiness and your. safety. Safety is key. I'm spending a. fortune now on security. But really, there's no price on feeling safe. at all because I'd rather spend money on. security than spend it on a handbag. cuz what makes you feel better now? The.

security of course cuz I can go down the. street and know I'm safe. I don't know. It's it's changed a lot. Are there things that you miss from your. old life? old life as in. as in you know before the before all the. paparazzi in the Caribbean or wherever. it was and. No, I wouldn't say so. You know, I I I. love my life now. I'm I literally I. pinch myself every day that this is the. life I live and yeah, like things like. the burglary happened and it's [ __ ] and. it's scary and I have bad days, but I'm.

so blessed to live this life. Like I I. pinch myself every day that I wake up. and I I I never want to go back to my. old life. That terrifies me because. obviously as I told you at the start. that ordinary life that I was living. before I never wanted that. I want what. I had now and know what I'm working on. achieving. So. if you were to to to leave your house. and just walk through a mall or down the. street now, what's that experience like? It's different. It's I I never really. talk about that cuz it sounds big when. you're like you do get stopped, but it's.

it's mental and it's crazy and like it. will never feel real. Especially when I. go out with Tommy. Obviously he's tall. everyone spots Tommy. and he has um a really different. audience to me. So it's like when. walking through like a shopping center, his audience is in there and my audience. is in there. So it's like a huge amount. of people and obviously our combined. following when we go out it's heading on. 10 million. people. That's a lot of people. So. it's a lot of people that know who you. are and want to grab pictures and it's. amazing. It is amazing. And I one thing.

I'll always say is that I never ever. ever in my whole career ever said no to. a picture because I just I like it. It's. fun. It's nice that people like want to. take a picture of you like what an honor. like that someone wants to take a. picture of me. Like that will never feel. real. But is then I went out with um my mate. Liam Payne from One Direction and. obviously I've experienced. I met him before you know. Yeah. On a. plane. We were flying back from um Vegas. together at the same time. He was so. lovely to me and Tommy and like has.

always stayed in contact with Tommy. since and messages him and says, "Hope. you're well, brother." And I really. didn't expect that. Yeah, he's a he's sweet. He's a really. sweet guy under the you know when I say. there I mean just underneath all of the. like the fame and the public image and. the boy band stuff. He's this really. sweet soul it's called. my I went out. with him a couple of times in Manchester. for the we did a couple of parties. together for the Euros just getting our. close friends together and um sit in a. restaurant in the Ivy in Manchester one. person find you know clocks that it's. pain.

comes over can we have a photo he's like. sure another and then they go back to. their table and tell their table then. there's another person and then the. dinner is actually a meet and greet. and I'm looking at this thinking cuz. like I'm like no I'm not famous at all. but like I've got like Dragons Dennis. dropping in January and things like that. so I'm thinking I don't want that in my. [ __ ] life. Like that is too much for. me. And how do you find how do you find. those moments where you can enjoy. yourself in public without it becoming a. Molly May meet and greet? Or do you just choose to go to other.

places? I just choose not to go out. I'll be. honest. And I think sometimes it has to. take Fran to say to me going to Trapper. Center on a Saturday afternoon in. Manchester is not a smart idea as much. as I would like to. Um even like the. Christmas markets just opened in. Manchester. We were going to go the. other night but we were like no it's a. bad idea. Like it sounds like you're. being beheaded when you say it, but you. just I mean someone come out with me and. say like it's not it's not like a normal. experience. You have to take security. You have to it's not like a just quick. nipping out. It's a lot. Sounds like. you've got a baby. It sounds like you're. trying to get a baby ready. You're not. just nipping out. It's a lot to think.

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and one that I'm going to be installing. in my home soon. What's it like being a. a woman in business, right? Because. there's there's you know, especially. when you're a woman that's come from. um you know, built this big Instagram. following and it's been on a TV show, there's so much like stigma, stereotyping, and assumptions being. made, right? But even outside of your. your role as creative director of PLT, you are a businesswoman at your very at. the core of it. You're dealing with. multiple brands across multiple deals. and you've got your own companies. What. is it like being a woman in business at.

22? It's. it's it's hard. I mean, it's confusing. and it's hard. It's amazing obviously, but as I said, like I am learning. So, it's um a little bit scary at times. You. do feel a little bit like overwhelmed. and when you're in meetings and you're. you you don't want to look like you. don't know what's going on. You don't. want to look vulnerable. You just have. to sort of come across as as this woman. that you you you do have all your [ __ ]. you all have your ducks in a row. You. know what's going on. And um by sort of.

like pretending that I do, I feel like. I've sort of. become that I I've I've sort of like. embodied someone that does know what's. going on because I've had to. learn it so quickly and sort of. sometimes pretend that I've now embodied. that person that I when I'm in a. meeting, I can hold my own and I can sit. there and say, "Yeah, I know what's. going on. I want to do this, this, and. that.". Hasn't come overnight. Um as I said, I am so young and it's. such a quick turnaround. Like two years. ago I was in Man I was in Manchester and. living by myself going to the gym taking. a few pictures going to work my mom was.

on a weekend like and now I'm in these. huge meetings with huge people about. really important subjects and it's like. God it's it's it's hard sometimes but I. like it. It's interesting. It's. different. Every day in my life is so. different and it's a bit of a challenge. each day. It's like even today like this. this this podcast I felt honored that. you even asked me to do it because it's. like I'd listened to the people that you. done them with and I and you sort of. sometimes think God like. I'm not the same as them but then you.

sort of realize oh maybe I am you know. like the likes of Patricia Bright and. Jacqueline Gold like you look up to. people like that and then suddenly. you're being asked to do the same things. as them and it's like how's that. happened like it it I don't know if. it'll ever feel real things like that. Patricia Bryce especially is someone. I've always looked up to. And I actually. filmed I've been working with Patricia a. few times now and that was really huge. for me because she was like my woman. She was like my goals. Yeah. She was the. woman on YouTube and and I aspired to. just be just like her. She's just.

everything I wanted to be. She was so. successful, so business-minded, but also. so relatable and so hilarious. And I. loved everything that she was about. And. then she asked me to do a video with her. after love and I was like, "Oh, no. This. is just not happening." And then you try. and act cool and you try and act like. this is just the normal, but it it's. not. It's not. And it's sometimes okay. to sit there and be like, "Oh god, I. cannot believe this is happening." Like. even today, like when Fran was talking. to me about doing this with you, and. it's just like these things just I don't. know, they don't ever really feel real.

What do your parents think about your. life? They must be looking at and. thinking, "What the?". Yeah. I think, yeah, I think it is crazy like. when they see me doing my Pretty Little. Thing adverts on TV, like how does that. ever feel normal? And they're just. they're just really really proud. They're just my my parents are divorced. now. Um, so it's dealing with my dad and. dealing with my mom is like two separate. completely different things, but they're. both so they're both so proud of me and. it's just I don't think anyone could. really have expected this. Do do you. sometimes see them or feel them trying.

to work out what they did to cause you. to be like trying to connect the dots. back to like what the like in hindsight. what did we do like what what did you. feed her like. yeah I don't know but I I don't think. that I think obviously you're a product. of your environment and and how you grow. up and how you're raised is a huge part. of who you become. But at the same time. I wouldn't like no disrespect to my. parents they're incredible but I don't. think anything they've done made me do. what I've done now if that makes sense. Everything I've done in the last two. years is down to me and down to Fran.

It's it's us two together. Like we've. done this and like my parents Yeah. They. raised me and they made me into a a. polite and nice person, but they they're. not respond. Do you do you get what I'm. saying? Like they're not I don't know. how you feel about that, but you. probably don't feel like your parents. are the reason that you've been so. successful. Or maybe you do. I don't. know. Well, it's funny because with parents. like we I have I'm I'm the youngest of. four. Oh, are you? And we're all completely different. So. it would be pretty dumb to say that. there was a ton of intention that went.

in from my parents. They were thinking. we'll raise one entrepreneur, one. lawyer, you know, it's just they they do. their best. and it's like rolling the dice, right? And you, as you've said from your. family, your sisters in the army, you're, you know, this mega star um. businesswoman and a creator. So you. never really know what's going to. happen. And you know, it will be the. same someday when I have kids. And when. you have kids, I'm sure it's kind of a. rolling of the dice. Yeah. Luck draw. Speaking of kids, speaking of relationships, Tommy. Yeah. Um, one of the things I, you know, when.

people leave Love Island, you you kind. of look at it and you think, "Oh, these. are just gimmick relationships, right? We think that they're in it for the. money. They're not going to last for 5. days and then the minute they leave Love. Island, the relationship's over. after they've done all like the deals. and stuff together and everyone's like, "Yeah, we understand." Yeah. With you and Tommy again, you've been an. anomaly. Yeah. because you're still together um years. and years and years years after the show. and from everything I've read you have a. really solid relationship. Tell me about. that and I guess you didn't expect that, right?

Yeah. I mean I think as I mentioned. briefly before because I went on the. show so not expecting to find love and I. just went on for a bit of a we'll just. see what happens. Potentially come out. with a million followers. We'll see. I. came out the only person having fallen. in love. Me and Tommy were the only. couple that year that are still. together. um and that were really. together in the show. Every other couple. broke up a couple of weeks after. We. were the only people that actually found. each other properly and it's been like. nearly three years now. And it's just. been a whirlwind. And I think what's. been so incredible is that both our.

lives have changed together at the same. time and we've grown together and. experienced it all with one another. And. I think having him to lean on through. all these, you know, ups and definitely. lows he's been there for me has been so. amazing because it would have been. lonely doing it alone. I think like, you. know, after me and Fran have spoken all. day and then going back to that. apartment alone when you're living in. this new world and navigating all these. new things that it would have been a bit. sad to not experience it with someone. So, we're really blessed to have had. each other through this whole thing. And.

is it is it at times quite a longdist. relationship because if he's away. fighting in or training in the US Yeah. or you know he's with Tyson doing some. training which I saw recently. Is it is it a bit of a longdistance. relationship at times and how do you. manage that? We don't see each other for weeks on end. at the moment like weeks on end. Um and. we've become really good at the long. distance thing. I don't know like I. think we're just one thing that I find. so key in our relationship and it's the. most important thing I think in any. relationship is trust. we have that. complete and utter trust in one another.

And I think in a relationship, that is. literally all you need to survive. If. you've got that trust, everything else. just falls into place because he could. literally go away for weeks on end. And. there's not a doubt in my mind that if. he was to be around a load of girls, it. it I I could sleep peacefully at night. knowing that he's just he's for me and. I'm for him and that's that. When you've. got that, I just think I don't know why. I'm giving a relationship advice here, but I do think like that is the key. That is literally the key. You got. trust, you've got everything. And relationships require work, right?

We had a guest on the other day and he. said something which I actually spun my. head a little bit. He said, you know, um. in a relationship there is the. relationship in there is love. You only. have to work on one of them, which means like, you know what I mean? The relationship is like a a job in the. sense that you've got to like invest in. it, nurture it, commit to it. Whereas. the love is going to be there and you. can you can see it because some people. have loads of love and a crap. relationship, right? Yeah, that's true. So what what work do. you do with Tommy on the relationship to. make sure that you are yeah like working.

on it actively to protect. I never pictured it like that I guess we. you do work in a relationship it is like. a bit of a full-time job that never ends. um it just comes naturally I think when. you're with the right person it does. just all fall into place and I don't. know with it's it's weird with him like. we know that we're going to be together. forever and we we we're just so excited. for what the future holds for us all we. ever talk about is kids and like. marriage and I'm so excited like I'm. doing all these amazing things but I. always have that to look forward to and. we I don't see our relationship as a job.

like your other person said I I don't I. just see it as a part of my life and. it's just there and I'm so blessed that. it it just works so well. We never have. any problems. We're really lucky. Obviously we're not perfect. I'm not. going to sit here and say we don't argue. like cat and dog. We definitely do. He. drives me crazy and I do feel like I'm a. bit of his manager sometimes. The way. Fran is for me I am for him. It's like. passed down. Um Fran does it for me. I. do it for him. He just looks after. himself. Um, but yeah, I don't know. I. feel like it we've just got something. good going on. It really works.

As we look ahead then at your future, you're very ambitious. You're always. asking that question, what's next? What's next? What's next? You've made that, you know, that mood. board, that planning session with Fran. recently, you know, in the previous. couple of months as to what the next big. goals are. What are those big goals and. ambitions? Well, specifically, I wouldn't I I always try. and keep things under wraps a little bit. because I. I've spoken to Fran. She said, "You can. tell me everything.". Not sure if that's true. Um well, in all. aspects of my life, I'm working on.

different things. Um pretty little. thing. And me, we're it's a as I said. 24/7. It's a constant thing. And we're. working on um London Fashion Week is. next and that I'm not going to say too. much cuz I do really want to keep it. main secret, but it's going to be huge. like the biggest thing maybe PRT has. maybe ever done. Um, so that's going to. be huge. We're working on that. Then. obviously I've got Filtered by Molly May. which is my own fake tan business which. is growing rapidly. And when I spoke. about in this podcast a lot about. learning the business side of things, that's what I'm relating it to is my.

business. when I go into these meetings. with these people, you know, like um. wholesalers that want to take on the the. product and sell it on their websites. and I'm it's it's just interesting to. learn and I'm just looking forward to. learning more like and I'm and as I. said, I'm not shy to sit here and say. that I've got so much more to learn. I. I'm not like the likes of Jacqueline. Gold and the Patricia Bes that sit here. and they've got a few years on me and. they've learned all this stuff and they. they do come across like these strong. powerful business women and I'm I aspire. to be like that and I'm heading there. M.

and I'd love to revisit this in a few. years when I'm there and um can use all. those big words like net gross profit. all that [ __ ] that I don't know how to. use. It's really interesting with you because. I actually think you have you've clearly. demonstrated the thing that will get you. there which is that humility of like. admitting that there's a lot of things. you don't know. and I think of when speaking as someone. that was once a very young entrepreneur. as well at 22 years old I didn't know. anything about anything because you. you're right no one tells you business. stuff and net gross profit margins and. stuff. that makes me feel better. No, but but.

but the most important like key. component I think in entrepreneurs is. being like there are so many things I. don't know and I'm not going to pretend. I don't because as you said and one of. the things that really actually inspired. me when you said it was listen if I. don't know something I just ask it. that's the for me the mindset of someone. who's going to in the future know a lot. of [ __ ] like you know what I mean so. yeah. so tell me more about the future then. what else has got going on you got your. your brand the the tan business you've. got loads of stuff happening with your. creative director ro at PLT Yeah. Well,

obviously my socials, I'm I'm growing. 25,000 a day on average. Um it's not. stopping and it it's it's strange to me. Like I. when I came out of the show, I never. anticipated. the growth just it just doesn't stop. like and I could even disappear for a. few weeks and it doesn't stop and I. don't know why. I think it's just people. they do find me so relatable and and I'm. just I'm excited to see with like what. happens as I grow like where is it going. to stop you know and I every every.

million I hit I'm I'm like well I want. next million now so now I'm working. towards 7 million even though when I. said I hit 6 million that would be. enough I was like 6 million wow that. would be amazing and now I'm like 7. million's next that will be enough and. then it won't be then I'll be working. towards 10. um but focus not become a problem when. you know now because of how big your. platform is, you could pretty much go. after any goal or ambition you have with. your manager Fran. Yeah. So, how like you there there is a know a. risk of spreading yourself too thin, right? I guess so. But there is a still there.

are there are still goals that are a. little bit like for everybody there's. things that are a little bit out of. reach and I like reaching for those. things because it's, you know, you know, working with like really really high-end. fashion brands, you know, we've not. tapped into that yet because. Oh, here we go. Well, we don't know yet. But it's just. interesting to think about the different. types of of brands I can work with. You. know, I'm working more on like the high. street budget right now. And then, you. know, in years to come, who's to say, well, that's going to, you know, you. just don't know. And I think with my. following growing so rapidly, where is.

it going to end up? We just don't know. But that's what's so exciting about it. Like, it's just every day is a new is a. new chapter. I know it sounds so cringy, but it is. Every day is so different. Well, yeah. My next my my main goal has. been my main goal for the last two. years. I'm just desperate to own a. house. I still don't own a house yet. But it's not because I can't or I don't. want to. It's because I've not found the. right house yet. And um I'm so. particular and picky with what house I. want. Um it's come it's come close a few. times to like I've got my mortgage and.

principal and it's been all really. exciting and then it's no, but I yeah, that's my next goal is is getting on the. property ladder and maybe building a. house. We don't know. It's there's loads. of exciting things with that and I'm. still still trying to learn again. mortgages and all that interesting. stuff. It's um stamp duty. What the hell. is that. and why on earth does that exist? May I. ask? Cuz it's a lot of money. Um but yeah, there's loads of things. that you don't realize. cuz I I I looked at this house and and I.

really really liked it and was like, "Yeah, you know the stamp duty on that. is going to be x00,000." I was like, "What?" Then then I had a builder come. around and look at all the work that I. want to do into it. He was like, "Yeah, so that's going to be about 900,000 just. for the work you want doing." And I was. like, "This is just stupid." I was like, "That. like how?" But this is the thing, like. I'm in a really financially um blessed. situation. So, how is any normal. 22-year-old on a normal income ever. going to get on the property ladder? I. don't understand that. That's. fascinating to me. How's anybody ever. going to get on the property ladder with. the way it's going? It's wild, isn't it?

So, this is the di This is the actual. diary of a CEO. Oh, wow. Wow. This is the famous diary where it all. began. And every guest that comes on the. podcast um when they leave they write a. question for um the guest that's coming. up. Oh. right. So you actually won't know who's. written this question for you and I. and I guess it wouldn't be like it. wasn't going to be someone Patrice Sra. It wouldn't be that would it because. we've had a couple since then. They probably come out in. Yeah. Exactly. So we've had you know.

Jimmy Carr came out. We've had some some. very big um guests recently. And you'll. also be writing a question this but for. our next guest. Okay. So the question in the diary of a co for. you this week from our previous guest. was if you had to give all of your money. to one organization tomorrow morning. what organization would it be and why? I mean there's so many charities like. and there's so many things that come to. mind. It's almost like I can't even. think of one. But one thing I didn't. speak about in this podcast is that I am.

a massive um I always give money to. homeless people. Always. I cannot keep. cash in my wallet because I will. literally just dish them out like fun. coupons to I can't I just I have to when. I see anybody on the street, I give my. money away instantly cuz I cannot fathom. how anybody can end up in that situation. of of not having a home. It literally. breaks my heart. So, I'd probably I'd probably just find. someone on the street and give it all to. them. Wow. Yeah, I honestly would. Or or give it to.

a homeless organization or or something. like that because it is a hard question, but. yeah, that's something that I feel really. passionate about. And as I said, I just. I have to stop putting cash in my wallet. because I just. Yeah. Yeah. The minute I get out of the cash point, it's gone to someone on the street, which I like doing. I I enjoy doing. that. It's. I don't know. It's a really hard. question. Like. it is. I like I I would say Well, cuz. you're right, right? So it's it has it's. a really considered thing. My question is going to be like what you. have for your dinner tomorrow. No. Yeah. I.

see. No, it's Oh, yeah. I would I would I. would probably do the same as what you. did there, which is like what causes. what what hurts my heart and what what. problem would I like to solve if I was. like either vanishing off the earth. tomorrow or just having to donate. everything? And yeah, I would people. that don't have stuff. Yeah. Yeah. So, I'd probably sell all my assets and. give it to I don't know one of these. organizations that helps people that. don't have stuff like which is pretty. much what you said there. So, makes a. lot of sense. If you if you could speak. to Molly May um from Hitchin.

now. based on everything you've been through. and everything you've learned, what what. kind of things would you tell her about. Warner about advisor on looking back? That's a good question. I think I. without repeating myself with what I've. said before in the past, I I do wish I. could tell her to slow down a little bit. with rushing things. And even now, it's. something that I'm trying to work on. 22. I don't want to get to 25 and and. not have anything to look forward to. when I'm 30 cuz I've done everything.

already. You know, have the best car I. can drive and have the best house. I. want to slow things down and I and I. want to work on enjoying where I'm at. because it's not healthy to always. always want more because you've got to. be grateful for where you're at and the. things you've achieved. Um, but Fran's a. really good person for that cuz she. grounds me. Like it's a really. superficial example, but I'll use it. anyway. I passed my driving test a few. months ago and the only car I wanted was. a Gwagon. I was like, I'm getting a G. Wagon. I was like, no, you're not. I was. like, why not? She's like, yeah, you can. get a G Wagon, but what have you got. forward to look what have you got got to.

look forward to when you hit 25? like. she was like get something a little bit. you know underneath that and then you. can look forward to it when it comes and. I was like no no but then I thought. actually you're right I don't need to. just always go for the biggest thing. like work towards these things have. things to look forward to because I'm. only 22 like I'm so young and I've got. so much to work on and look forward to. and I don't want to rush things and I. would tell my younger self down slow. down on the filler slow down on moving. to Manchester maybe when you couldn't. afford it slow down on worrying about. trying to get Instagram followers and.

it's just everything will come, you. know, in it when it's meant to. And do you think you are you feel like. you going back to one of the questions I. spoke about earlier, do you feel like. you are enough now? Like you've achieved. enough and you've done enough and to be. to be happy, you know, do you feel like. you're enough? Oh, it's a really really good question. I honestly I'm going to say no because. then it just contradicts everything I've. said in this podcast if I say yes. And. but but no, I would say no because.

if Fran or someone told me today that. this was the last day of me working and. I'll go back to Manchester now and I sit. in my house and have babies and get. married and I won't work another day, I'd cry myself to sleep and I would not. be happy because I'm nowhere, as I said, I'm nowhere near done. This is just the. start. So no, like I'm not I am enough. Me I am enough, but the work I've done. isn't enough yet. I've got so much more. to do. Will it ever be? I don't know. Maybe not. Maybe when we. if we ever revisit this and I've got. more followers and more money and a.

better house or whatever, I'll still be. saying it's not enough. I probably will. be. But maybe I need that. Maybe that's. like the recipe to making me the way I. am and making me different to the other. Love Islanders and the other. influencers. Maybe it is because I'm. hungry and I always want more. So maybe. I don't need to get rid of that. Maybe. I'll just stick with that mindset. because it works clearly. I completely. agree and it's been incredibly inspiring. and insightful talking to you because. you know you're inc I I still can't.

believe you're 22 years old because. you know at 22 years old I wasn't I. wasn't in the rooms that you're in now. and I wasn't in engaged in the. conversations I hadn't built businesses. and you know the role as at PLT as. creative director I know how demanding. that that will be and. um how particular and cautious Umar. would have been in picking you he. wouldn't have done it as a token thing. no And I've I've actually spoken to the. team at PLT. I've actually worked with. them for about seven years. Yeah. With through my business and um they say. that you are heavily heavily involved.

during the office and you are helping to. build and shape what that brand is. Yeah. It's remarkable that you can do all of. that and run all of your other. businesses and uh you know keep up with. your personal life as well all at the. age of 22. There's a real mature wise. head on your shoulders and it's really. fascinating to watch how that's going to. play out for you over the coming years. And I you're a force right? So, I can't. think of anything getting in your way. Um, thank you so much. Thank you for. your honesty. Thank you. You're doing a. real service to the world and being. yourself. And I know how I don't to be.

honest, I don't know because I have. people hold me to a they don't hold me. to the same standard as they hold you. But you're doing a real service I think. to a younger generation by being a. relatable role model. One that is. incredibly real, honest, open, and um. yeah, an all round nice person. Thank you. Thanks for having this. conversation with me today cuz yeah, I've been I've watched your career and. your rise with total fascination and uh. I would bet on you for the future. So. you're a formidable businesswoman and. person. Thank you so much. Thank you for having. me. Very grateful to be on the podcast. Quick one. Can you do me a favor if.

you're listening to this and hit the. subscribe button, the follow button, wherever you're listening to this. podcast. Me and my team use that as an. indication of whether the episode is. good or not based on how many new. followers and subscribers we get. Thank. you so much. [Music].