Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WgIOKFLrHY
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 [music] 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] [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. [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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. [laughter] 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 [laughter] £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, [clears throat] 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 [laughter] 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 [snorts] 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. [laughter] 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. [clears throat] 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. [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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 [clears throat] 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. [laughter] 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 [laughter] 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 [laughter] 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 [laughter] 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. [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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. [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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." [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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 [clears throat] 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 [sighs] 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 [laughter] 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 about. Quick one. As many of you know, I've been trying to make my life a little bit more sustainable as it relates to energy. Ever since I sold my Range Rover Sport and bought an electric bicycle and My Energy as a sponsor of this podcast, one of the brands that make that transition much, much easier. They are at the forefront of British renewable eosmart technology and their products are really, really changing the game. If you're on YouTube, you can see what I'm holding in my hand. This is called the Eddi, right? It's the UK's number one solar power diverter. So, what is a solar diverter? It's a device for people like you and me. That means you can divert your excess energy back into your home rather than back into the grid, which will save you power and money. It's super userfriendly and easy to install, and you can control it using the My Energy app on your phone. To find out more about this product and more products like it that will help you make that sustainable transition, head over to myenergy.com. And um I highly recommend you check out the Eddie. It's um it's a real game changer, a product, 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. [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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." [laughter] 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 [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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. [laughter] 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." [laughter] 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 [clears throat] there and um can use all those big words like net gross profit [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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. [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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 [clears throat] 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 [laughter] 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 [laughter] 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 [clears throat] 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. [singing]