September 30, 2024 • 30 mins
Jessica Page's journey from beauty queen to entrepreneur will give you a never seen before insight into the world of pageantry! 👑💪
Instead of letting obstacles slow her down, she turned them into stepping stones on her way to becoming Miss Universe Great Britain in 2023.Â
Now, she's sharing her wisdom on building an authentic personal brand, staying true to yourself, and pushing through the tough times.
Listen to learn:
- How her dad’s deli and her mom’s pageant history shaped her unstoppable drive.
- The unique challenges women face in the entrepreneurial world—and how Jessica tackles them head-on!
- The story behind her passion project, Take Care Lead
- Jess' surprising love for scuba diving!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the we Are Power podcast.
Every week, I talk to the mostamazing individuals.
Every single person has thatdifferent story, different
pathway, different adventure, asI always like to think, and for
us, it's always about havingthat behind the scenes
conversations beyond the bio,for you to be able to take away
your top tips, your takeaways,your life hacks, and we're also
(00:23):
looking for those quotes that wewant to put on the side of a
tote bag and t-shirt as well, bythe way.
But every week, I am delightedand do have the best job in the
world, and this week is noexception.
I am joined by full name,jessica Page Lennon.
From 2023 Miss Universe, greatBritain to serial entrepreneur,
or maybe the other way around.
Actually, we'll get into that.
(00:43):
Marketing professional andcampaigner for promoting role
models to girls.
Jessica Page-Lennon welcome,welcome to the podcast.
Thank you, simone.
You can call me Jess, we canget closer.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
We can get all friendly today.
Yeah, of course, just call meJess.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Oh, thank you so much for coming in You're welcome.
How on earth did you go from adecade in pageantry into
entrepreneurship, intocampaigning?
Where do we even go.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
You know what, I don't even know where to start.
I feel like it's all kind ofmerged into one really.
But I guess my entrepreneurshipprobably comes from when I was
younger.
My dad always had his ownbusinesses.
I remember when I was about 15,my dad had a business on Egbert
Road.
It was called Famished.
When I was about 15, my dad hada business on Egbert Road it
was called Famished, and he hadme working part-time there on a
(01:31):
weekend when I was about 15,buttering the sandwiches that he
would give out of a lunchtime.
So I had a little deli sandwichbar.
So I guess the entrepreneurside of me is kind of always see
, I've always seen my dad kindof have his own businesses and,
you know, have that freedom ofbeing able to kind of look after
his own diary, take holidayswhen he wants and have that
freedom.
And obviously it comes with alot more than that as well.
But I guess that side has comefrom there.
And then my pageantry side hasalmost come from and my mum
(01:54):
actually did some pageants whenshe was younger very different
to the way that it is now, but Iremember, um, I used to flick
through.
She used to cut some newspaperarticles out of newspapers and
magazines and she had thislittle portfolio and I remember
when I was younger I would lookthrough this portfolio of her
little snippets from when shewas younger and I always used to
think, wow, she looks so goodwith these.
(02:16):
She just had this tiny waistand this swimsuit and I used to
be like, wow, I want to get onthis stage and do all these
amazing things and glamorousdresses.
So, yeah, used to be like, wow,I want to get on this stage and
do all these amazing things andglamorous dresses.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
so yeah, I guess it comes from a bit of both.
Both of them, yeah, but adecade in pageantry, it's not
just the glamour, is it?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
oh, no, it definitely isn't, and you know I could
talk forever about pageantry andhow it's changed my life and
how you know I definitelywouldn't be the woman I am today
without, without that industryand I definitely think there's a
lot of stereotypes on it.
But yeah, I started when I was17 and I entered Miss Liverpool
and it came from when I wasyounger.
(02:51):
I was always really tall atschool and I always say the boys
never used to fancy me and theyused to be like, oh, she's so
tall and I used to hate it.
I used to hate being tall, talland my mum was like, why don't
you try and do like a pageant?
Because the girls were normallypretty tall and like modelling
and pageants.
And I was like, yeah, okay,I'll give it a go.
(03:13):
And then, yeah, ever since Ikind of have this must have this
competitiveness in me becausehonestly, I always say I was
always the bridesmaid, never thebride, and I would always come
second or third or fifth and Iwould never win.
And it wasn't until last year,when I turned 28, which I
actually won my first evercompetition, which is also the
(03:33):
best competition in the UK aswell.
So saved the best till last,really didn't I?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
But what did you do to deal with those kind of
setbacks along the way?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Oh, you know, I think there were so many times um
throughout.
I guess I guess coming secondor third is probably a little
bit worse, because you're alwayslike, what can I do to get to
that point of winning?
What else can I do, you know,and the amount of times I would
be there on stage and I would belike I'm the best version of
(04:01):
myself here.
So what else can I give?
Um, and you know pageantry hastaught me, I mean, just a bit of
a background on it.
I'm the best version of myselfhere.
So what else can I give?
And you know pageantry hastaught me, I mean just a bit of
a background on it.
I'm not sure if you know toomuch, simone, but back in the
day pageantry was almost likethey would hold it in a butt
lens and they would makeeverybody line up along the pool
and they would measure yourwaist and your hips and whoever
(04:22):
had the most beautiful curls andthe nicest hair.
And you know it's changed somuch now and I guess you know
what is, who says what'sbeautiful and what isn't.
And you know, I think if youlook at the previous winners of
Miss Universe, great Britain,they are all so different in so
many ways and they allphysically look very different.
But in terms of everything elsethat goes alongside it which is
(04:44):
where we've probably come sucha long way in pageantry is the,
the, everything that you have todo outside of your life in
order to kind of succeed in thatindustry.
And when I went to Miss Universelast year, some of those women
are the most highest achieversI've ever met in my entire life.
They are incredible publicspeakers.
(05:04):
They just almost own a roomwhen they walk into it.
They speak several languages,they have seven, eight degrees,
they have multiple businesses,they're doctors, they're lawyers
, business owners and they arehonestly some of the most
incredible women I've ever met.
They are honestly some of themost incredible women I've ever
met.
And I think we don't talkenough about that part of the
(05:27):
industry.
But yeah, I guess I must justhave some kind of resilience in
me to just make me keep goingover the years.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
And you talk about that perception.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And you put an.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Instagram post out recently I did.
It's not just about the clothesand the makeup.
It's about the insight thatpeople don't see, yeah, what
goes on behind the scenes.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, not just one person yeah, and you know, I
think over the time, over those10 years where I've done
pageantry, I have learned a lotabout how to succeed and how to
interview in a way that canreally bring the most out of you
and I, I think, as women.
One thing that this industryhas taught me is that as women,
we're always told to not speakabout our successes, almost that
(06:11):
we shouldn't brag, because ifwe brag, where you know we're
talking about ourselves too muchand it's kind of like all right
, calm down, you know, don'tbrag about yourself.
But actually I think it's theopposite.
I think we should be taught totalk about our successes rather
than our weaknesses.
And I almost feel like thatindustry.
You know, for example, when yougo to do an interview for a
(06:31):
pageant, you are given twominutes, three minutes to sell
yourself essentially, and youknow there's not really any
other setting in which we teachwomen and you know where we
teach young people in general tosell themselves in a short
period of time like that.
And I think one thing that I donow with women is when I train
them in the settings forpageantry or I do like personal
coaching is I almost want toknow about their life.
(06:54):
I want to know about whatyou've been through and what
makes you tick, and that's whywhen I shared that quote
recently about all theachievements of these women.
Honestly, if people really tookthe time to invest in and find
out about what these winners areand what they do for society,
you'd be blown away by some oftheir achievements.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
And I think that you said you know, I don't know a
lot about pageantry, it's mainlybecause I'm five foot, I think.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Size does not matter, height does not matter, hair
colour does not matter, but it'sinteresting.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
You say you were on a stage at a really young age and
you talk about the resilienceand the confidence.
We talk a lot in genderequality and I know we'll talk
about your coaching business aswell but there's something about
that self-belief.
Do you think you were taughtthat, or learned that without
even realising that it wassetting you up for a business
(07:44):
life?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
I mean, I guess that's probably a personality
trait that not everybody has andI think I must have some kind
of resilience in me that justmakes me want to come back and
come back again.
And I guess I am a competitiveperson in that way because there
are people that almost probablywould come so close.
I mean I competed, I actuallywon on my third time at Miss
(08:05):
Universe, great Britain, so youknow, I can imagine people at
that point probably would havegone.
I'm not going to bother again.
So I guess it almost is apersonality trait of mine.
You know, that competitiveness,that no, I'm going to prove to
myself and I'm going to prove toeverybody else that I can get
to that point.
And I think that does reflect itin my business personality as
well and in my entrepreneur side, because I mean, the amount of
(08:28):
rollercoaster like owning abusiness is a rollercoaster like
this, isn't it?
So I guess you have to havethat resilience in that respect,
and that probably does comefrom my dad, because I've seen
him.
You know, try differentbusinesses over the years and
what you get out of it at theend is worth it, in my opinion.
And sometimes, you know, theroad to success is not easy.
But when you get there, I feellike when you've had the
(08:51):
failures or when you've hadthose down days, when you do
have the up days and thesuccesses, it almost makes it
worth it a little bit morebecause you've had that journey
to get there.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
And you've talked about your dad.
Has he been a real role modelfor you?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Yeah, I mean from a perspective of a business owner.
I saw dad saying that, thoughyou know he always says to me I
wish I had you, cause obviouslyI work in marketing now, and
he's like I wish I had you thenwhen I had my businesses, cause
you would have really helped meout if I knew about social media
back then.
But yeah, no, dad's alwaysbrought out that creativity,
(09:26):
that freedom side of me, and mymom, on the other hand, has
taught me about this.
She's always been withcompanies for a very long period
of time.
She's very successful, she'swon awards for what she does.
So they've almost the two ofthem kind of have instilled in
me these values of how importantit is to work hard and maybe
stick to something you want, butalso, you know, don't be afraid
to try something new out.
(09:47):
You know what's the end of theworld if it doesn't go wrong.
You can try again.
So I guess the two things havekind of played a massive role in
my life.
And I'm an only child.
Um, my mum was actually toldshe couldn't have children, so
when they had me, I think italmost made us a really
tight-knit family and they'vesupported me in everything.
So, yeah, no, they're massiverole models to me.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
And you talk about entrepreneurship being that
roller coaster.
So what's it like to be aserial entrepreneur then?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yeah, so I actually set up my first business in
COVID when I was 23.
And I actually set up because Icame from a hospitality
background and I actually wasworking in marketing and
hospitality.
But the end goal for me felt sofar away because I had to work
my way up in that industry.
(10:30):
And I remember the moment Ichose to work for myself was I
was working 65 hour weeks in arole where I was meant to be
marketing but actually I wasalso a server and I would also
get stuck in with the events andI was business development and
I just thought am I really goingto get to this point in my
career that I want to get to ifI stay here?
(10:50):
And I remember my businesspartner at the time.
He found this idea when he wastraveling and it was the idea of
a cheesecake on a stick and wewere to-ing and fro-ing about
whether we wanted to producethis dessert concept which is a
cheesecake on a stick.
And luckily at the time I wasfurloughed and I know a lot of
(11:11):
people during COVID actuallydecided to set their own
business up and I think italmost gave people this
opportunity to explore theircreativity and their hobby and
kind of turn it into a business,which is really great.
And because I was furloughed, Ihad a lot of all this time on
my hands but also had the moneycoming in as well that I could
invest in the business.
And I just one day I justturned around and I said, right,
(11:31):
I've got this time on my hands,let's just give this business a
go.
And we grew our business to Ithink we were turning over about
a quarter of a million in oursecond year and it purely was.
I remember we started with 200pounds and we turned a box
bedroom in the house into akitchen that was EHO standards
(11:52):
and health and safety standardsand we turned it into this like
mini cheesecake factory where wewould just make like hundreds
and hundreds of cheesecakes aday.
And then we grew it to aquarter of a million in two
years and we had two shops.
We did wholesale, we did latenight delivery and we had the
two front of house shops as well.
And I think that almost showedme that if you put your mind to
(12:17):
something, you really can do it.
And I almost understand the riskto women as to why they don't
set up a business, because youknow, I think at the time I was
quite lucky because I was 23 andI wasn't ready to have a family
.
But I guess you know, now, at28, taking that risk to start a
business, as a woman whopotentially might want to start
(12:38):
a family and you know, has tothink about whether she wants to
give up that maternity pay thatyou would get from working full
time for someone is reallydifficult and I almost
understand that.
That's why a lot of women don'tgo into business, and I think
that's where we need to find alittle bit more support in terms
of providing entrepreneurs andbusiness owners with a little
(12:59):
bit more security to take thatrisk.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
And where have you gone to for support?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
I mean I definitely feel like there's a gap in the
market for that still.
But I did use a lot of supportfrom the Prince's Trust.
So the Prince's Trust,obviously they actually offer
people up to the ages of 30 withkind of business advice they
offer I think they gave grantsout and just kind of connect you
and give you the rightinformation that you need.
(13:27):
But you know, going on to thatkind of business support, I
think growing up, when I was atschool and I was being taught
about business, I was taughtabout how to open a bank account
and, like Simone, I rememberwhen I went to open a bank
account, the bank did it for me.
When I went to open a bankaccount, the bank did it for me.
(13:49):
I didn't do anything.
I just sat there and gave themmy name and my passport and they
opened it for me and I didn'tneed to do that at school.
But what I needed at schoolwhen I look back now is someone
to tell me about the law behindopening a business.
Someone needs to tell me aboutthose things that you really
need to look at.
And the reason why I ended uplosing my business, which was my
dessert business, was becausemy partner at the time didn't
(14:10):
actually want me to become ashareholder of that business and
I actually had spent two and ahalf three years of my life
growing this business.
That was my baby and I lostthat business because I didn't
know how important it was to bea shareholder in a business.
And you know, I'm not a partnerin that business anymore and I
stepped away.
But if I was at school and I'dhave been told about shareholder
(14:32):
agreements and I'd been toldabout those difficult
conversations that you need tohave when you're setting up a
business, maybe it would havebeen a different story.
And when you talk to me aboutrole models and things like that
, I think this is why these kindof conversations need to be had
a little bit more, to kind ofmake people aware of these
things that they need to do whenthey start a business.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
And over the years I've had so many conversations
with people who've gone.
You know what?
I went to uni and I kept acredit card in my drawer because
I didn't really know what to door how to manage it.
We had a wonderful Sharon Davisone of our previous trophy
holders, shall I say, and she'schief exec of Young Enterprise,
and her mission is about growingthat financial literacy at
(15:12):
school, because, whether or notyou go and become a business
owner, we should be teaching ouryoung emerging talent to be
entrepreneurs as well asentrepreneurs.
So how do you go into thatbusiness and innovate within
there?
So it it all comes to play, butwe don't get that.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, we don't get that and you know, I think as
much as business is quite ahighly chosen subject in schools
, I still think that there isroom for industry professionals
to go in to educational sectors,go into schools, colleges,
universities and actually teachsome kind of sector specific
(15:51):
subject.
Because I think who really is itbest to learn from other than
the horse's mouth, you know?
And I think it's great that wehave these teachers that study
business.
They go to university, theystudy business and then they go
back in to schools withoutalmost going out to be business
owners or to be self-employed.
So you know, I think it's greatto be able to, you know, have
(16:11):
that educational knowledge.
But where is that industryknowledge that we're teaching 15
, 16 year olds who are about tomake the biggest decision of
their life about whether theywant to, what they want to do,
where they want to go?
And you know, as much as I'mvery grateful for my degree that
I've got, maybe if I'd havefelt like it was less risky to
work for myself, I might havedone that earlier than I did.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
So when your business came to an end and you didn't
just lose your business, but yousuddenly lost all this other
stuff and probably frustrationthat.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Why didn't you know that?
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, yeah, what.
How did you bounce back fromthat?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
oh, you know, simone, it was really hard.
It was a really hard part of mylife actually, because
alongside my pageantry, I hadbuilt this personal brand where
I was really going out andspeaking to young people about
how to be a business owner and Iwas.
That was a massive part of mypersonal brand.
So I had my business that I wasrunning as well as kind of
trying to build my personalbrand from.
So I had my business that I wasrunning as well as kind of
trying to build my personalbrand from a pageantry
(17:06):
perspective, because I knew thatmy end goal was when I win this
title of Miss Universe, greatBritain one day.
I want to be able to do thatwith this kind of value that I
can add, which was, as abusiness woman, how to kind of
encourage more young women to gointo business.
So almost when I lost mybusiness, I almost felt like why
do?
Why will people want to listento me?
(17:27):
I've lost my business, what amI going to show?
You know, like I don't havethis successful business anymore
and I did feel like I lost alittle bit of my identity really
and it took a lot for me tokind of realize that actually
those what, what, what happenedto me within that business
actually just amplified my storyand kind of gave me a little
bit more reason to speak aboutit and what and to teach people,
(17:50):
um, but it took me a long timeto to almost go back to
networking events, because somany people knew me for a long
time of having this really cooldessert brand and then one day
it was just all gone.
And I had to explain that I wasquite raw at the time as well,
because whenever I do anything,I put everything, my all, into
(18:10):
something.
So when I lost that, I was justlike I don't know what I'm
going to do.
I'm absolutely devastated.
And you know, the truth behindit is I struggled and I had to
go back into working full timeto build that money pot up again
in order for me to go and setsomething else up again.
And now one thing I've learnedfrom that experience is I now
(18:33):
work full-time for someone else.
I have a freelance social mediabusiness, I am launching my
agency for professional womenand I also have my coaching
business, and I do believe thathaving multiple streams of
income is so important to kindof allow you to have that
financial freedom and just kindof relax a little bit with all
these multiple streams of incomecoming in.
But I think, like that part ofmy life was really hard.
(18:55):
But again, you know, it goesback to that resilience that I
think I have inside of me and Iguess you know, like I said, you
have these really low dips inyour life and it does come and
say does it goes up and down, itgoes up and down.
But then that low dip in my lifealmost spared me on to go and
win Miss Universe Great Britain,because I lost my business in
the December and I won MissUniverse Great Britain in the
(19:16):
July and when I went into myinterview to win Miss Universe
Great Britain I was so honestand raw and I said six months
ago I would have come in here atotally different person.
Six months ago I would havecome in and I would have said
I've got this business, I'm avery successful business owner.
But actually I come at you nowwith a different perspective and
that is I've learned and I knownow what I need to teach other
(19:37):
people and I think almost that'swhat allowed me to win, because
I was so honest and about mystory, um, so I guess you know
everything happens for a reason,and I say this all the time.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
You know what's meant for you, will not pass you by,
and clearly that business wasnot meant for me at that time
and I was meant to walk away wedo a lot of work with undergrads
and further education studentsand actually when we bring our
people from all walks of lifeyou know sort of senior in their
business on their way upentrepreneurs what is always the
most encouraging is that, fromthe students perspective, is for
(20:12):
them to hear from when thingshaven't gone right.
Yeah, because especially whenyou're at a point at that early
stage in your career or beforeyour career and you suddenly
hear that someone hasn't had itall because they look fabulous
or because they've got a greatstory or their personal brand,
but to hear it's not all rightis so refreshing and honesty.
So that honesty thing is is sokey and is that?
(20:33):
And this is you drive acampaign now, don't you?
Which is all around encouraging?
Um, you know sort of younggirls and role models, yeah,
which is at the heart ofeverything we do.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
I think so, so.
So when I, when I went throughthat period of my life, I
started uh, well, actually Istarted Take Care Lead, um
before that happened to mebecause I just wanted to
encourage conversations betweendifferent business owners uh,
also like women in STEM, um,women in finance and just kind
of maybe stop covering thingswith roses and actually have
(21:07):
proper conversation.
And I think, again, this goesback to me saying how we really
need to hear from people whowork within industry, because
without that we don't reallyteach properly.
You know, not everything isgreat.
You know, I think it'simportant to in order for us to
allow young people to take theright routes in life, we need to
tell them the good and the bad.
You know, and I think you're soright when you've just said
(21:30):
that they, they value honesty.
You know we they value whensomeone says you know it's not
going to be great all the time,but if, if this is what you love
, then you'll almost come outthe other side no matter what.
So Take Care Lead originallystarted because I wanted to just
encourage these conversationsand it's almost kind of grown
from there into now I do my TakeCare Lead coaching, where I
(21:52):
kind of work with women to kindof figure out what they give,
what their advocacy is, whattheir values are, because,
honestly, I think a lot of womendon't really know who they are
and what they stand for and youknow the amount of women that
I'll speak to like.
For example, I spoke to a young,a young girl the other day and
(22:14):
she was talking to me about herstory of.
She was like, oh, I don'treally know, I don't really know
what I do.
That's, that's different.
And I was like well, take methrough your life.
I want to know your childhood.
You know where does this startfrom?
And she was talking to me abouthow she's a massive gym person,
gym freak.
And she said I use this becausemy parents went through a
divorce and I use this as a wayfor me to cope with being able
(22:37):
to go through this, but also itgives me a time to kind of
switch off for the rest ofwhat's going on in my life.
And then from that we builtthis story about what her values
are and her how she has thisdetermination to keep going.
And now she will use this inher personal brand going forward
.
And I think again, take HairLeaders now just evolved into
kind of me being a way thatwhere I can kind of help women
(22:59):
and figuring out who they areand what they stand for, and a
lot of the time it helps them tokind of redirect their, their
career journey a little bit aswell.
And because you know, they saythat you change your career like
four times in your entire life,which is just crazy.
But you know, and I thinkwhenever we do, we always think,
oh my god, no, I can't, I can'tdo that and I can't change
careers.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
But actually it's actually quite refreshing and
healthy to do that and that'swhy I love this podcast, because
everyone has that differentstory that different adventure,
right yeah.
What's your superpower?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
My superpower?
Oh my goodness, do you knowwhat?
I definitely think I have a few.
I'm a really good listener andalso I would say I'm a good
public speaker.
I think you know one thing thatthe weekend just gone I've just
(23:49):
handed over my title as MissUniverse, great Britain and the
the feedback I got from thewomen that spoke to me they were
like you, just you've beenquite normal and humble and
you've just kind of listened tous and listened to our story and
I guess I think listening canbe a massive.
It's a massive benefit to a lotof people because you could, I
think you can give advicemassive benefit to a lot of
people, because I don't thinkyou can give advice until you
listen.
So, yeah, I would say mysuperpower is just being a good
(24:11):
listener.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
And what advice would you give back to your younger
self when you're buttering thatbread for your dad In the
sandwich shop and he's tellingyou you haven't reached the
corners properly?
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Yeah, yeah, so true.
Do you know what I would say?
I think I might have said thisquote to you.
You know what is meant for youwill not pass you by.
And I just live by that quotenow.
And I think, as much as I triedfor so long to win Miss
Universe, Great Britain, if Ihadn't have won, something else
would have just been around thecorner for me anyway, and it
(24:43):
would have been for a reason.
That that wasn't right for meat that time Doesn't mean that
it's not right for me at somepoint.
But I do believe thatwhatever's going on in your life
at that point is meant tohappen, and sometimes we don't
always, you know, achieve ourdreams.
But that might be because it'snot meant to be, not meant to be
for us.
(25:03):
But yeah, what's meant for youwill not pass you by is what I
would probably tell my15-year-old self.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
And you are a coach, you're an advocate, you're an
entrepreneur, business owner.
Obviously, just those.
What's next?
Speaker 2 (25:17):
What else is going in ?
Speaker 1 (25:18):
that basket?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Oh, that's a big question, that's a big one, god
do you know, I guess sincehanding over Machine Universe
Great Britain, I haven't reallyhad a chance to really think
about this.
But I would definitely justlove to kind of share my story a
bit more.
And since I've been doing a lotmore of my coaching, I think to
myself I should have studiedpsychology or something like
(25:40):
that.
You know, because, thinkingabout it now, I actually love
just having conversations withpeople, people, I love just
speaking to people on thehearing about their stories.
But, yeah, I definitely think Iwant to move into more of a um,
like a teaching coachingperspective really, and maybe
more of a speaking role.
Um, I don't know, I guess I'mjust kind of I'm open to see
(26:05):
where life takes me at themoment.
Yeah, but I've definitely I'vedecided to say yes to everything
this year.
Oh yeah, oh, that's what I wantto try and do.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
That was definitely my first on train to kind of
entrepreneurs say yes and workout like to oh yeah, yeah,
definitely got me because I usedto be a bit of a riskier person
.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I don't know about you, but I think I definitely
when I first started in businessI was like, oh my god, I don't
know about you, but I think Idefinitely when I first started
in business I was like, oh mygoodness, I don't know if we can
do that.
And I think I've now become alittle bit more like do you know
what?
We'll just give it a go, we'lltry it and I'm glad that I've
kind of become a little bit morelike that.
I definitely could be more likethat, but you know, just saying
yes to everything.
If somebody one of my friendsasked me to go to palmer, I'm
(26:45):
going tomorrow and is that whathappens?
Speaker 1 (26:49):
is that how you got into scuba diving?
Do you know what right?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
well, actually this just goes to show how varied
pageantry is.
So one year I was offered anopportunity to do a pageant
called miss scuba, unitedkingdom.
And yeah, who'd have thoughtwho'd have thought?
And actually it was.
I just finished competing formy second year at Miss Universe,
(27:12):
great Britain and I just wantedto have a bit of fun.
And somebody approached me andthey said there's a competition
and basically you get a freescuba diving license, we'll take
you to Fuerteventura for theweek and you'll dive, you'll
learn to dive, you'll meet allthese amazing people.
And I thought, yeah, of courseI'm going to do it.
So I actually flew toFuerteventura and they paid for
(27:33):
me to do my scuba diving license.
We did some.
We did a full week of diving.
We saw sharks.
It was amazing.
So, yeah, that's another reasonwhy I'm such an advocate for
pageantry, because I travel theworld.
I all these skills, um, butyeah, so that's that's how I got
my scuba diving license.
Who?
Speaker 1 (27:48):
knew who knew Jessica Page Lennon what is, even at
such a young age?
What is your legacy that you'regonna leave behind?
Speaker 2 (27:57):
oh, you're asking me some tough questions here,
simone.
Um, do it with a smile.
Look at that.
Okay, my legacy, you, I think.
I guess I just want to be knownfor, you know, never giving up
on your dreams, I think, nomatter how many times life just
wants to tell you, no, this isnot for you.
I guess I almost want to just beknown for whether or not I
(28:20):
succeed.
I always gave everything 100%and I just kept going, because,
you know, I'm so aware that I'min a very lucky position to have
won the biggest competition inthe UK and to go to represent my
country on an internationalstage, and it was a dream of
mine since I was 14 years old.
But I'm also aware that there'sa lot of girls out there that
(28:41):
don't get that opportunity, andone thing that I want people to
know about my story is that itdidn't come straight away.
There was a lot of ups, therewas a lot of downs, and as much
as maybe I show and like we alldo on social media how great
life can be, you know it's not.
It's not all like that.
There is ups and downs, andalmost just remember that you'll
(29:02):
get there eventually and itwill all work itself out.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Yeah, more honesty.
Is that honesty?
Speaker 2 (29:08):
and authenticity?
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, of course, of course, Jess.
Thank you so much for joiningus in the we Are Power studio.
I have loved our adventure frompageantry to entrepreneurship
to I'd be devastated toocheesecake on a stick.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
I mean it's just genius, right?
You never know.
Might bring it back 2.0.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Oh, no, no, no, there'll be something way better
.
Thank you for all your tote bagquotes as well.
We love them all I think we'dbe now expanding into T-shirts
as well.
But seriously, I think, themessages and the lessons that
you learn, irrespective of whatyour journey is, I think the
more that you can pass that onthe more that you can use your
(29:48):
voice to amplify and to sharewhat you do.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
It motivates and inspires others.
So thank you so much for havingme.
I really appreciate it and I'vebeen, I've been looking at we
are power women for a long timeand you know it's great to be
able to speak about my journeyand hopefully inspire other
people always.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
You know, we're always a big fan.
Everyone is a role model.
Yeah, everyone is a role model.
And if one person goes away anddoes one thing differently, or
says that yes and works outlater, or doesn't worry because
it's not going to pass you by,no, it's there yeah.
Thank you, thank you so much andthank all of you for watching
and listening.
We love our weekly podcast.
We love these different stories.
(30:18):
We are so immensely, just sortof motivated, inspired by every
single conversation.
I hope you are.
Please do join in theconversation on all of our
socials Twitter, instagram andTikTok.
We are power.
Underscore net and Facebook andLinkedIn we are power.
Please do leave us a review.
We love those and please reachout and share and celebrate.
(30:40):
We'd love to hear from you.
Thank you so much for joiningyou.
My name is Simone and this isthe we Are Power podcast.
Hello and welcome to the we Are Power podcast.
Every week, I talk to the mostamazing individuals.
Every single person has thatdifferent story, different
pathway, different adventure, asI always like to think, and for
us, it's always about havingthat behind the scenes
conversations beyond the bio,for you to be able to take away
your top tips, your takeaways,your life hacks, and we're also
(00:23):
looking for those quotes that wewant to put on the side of a
tote bag and t-shirt as well, bythe way.
But every week, I am delightedand do have the best job in the
world, and this week is noexception.
I am joined by full name,jessica Page Lennon.
From 2023 Miss Universe, greatBritain to serial entrepreneur,
or maybe the other way around.
Actually, we'll get into that.
(00:43):
Marketing professional andcampaigner for promoting role
models to girls.
Jessica Page-Lennon welcome,welcome to the podcast.
Thank you, simone.
You can call me Jess, we canget closer.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
We can get all friendly today.
Yeah, of course, just call meJess.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Oh, thank you so much for coming in You're welcome.
How on earth did you go from adecade in pageantry into
entrepreneurship, intocampaigning?
Where do we even go.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
You know what, I don't even know where to start.
I feel like it's all kind ofmerged into one really.
But I guess my entrepreneurshipprobably comes from when I was
younger.
My dad always had his ownbusinesses.
I remember when I was about 15,my dad had a business on Egbert
Road.
It was called Famished.
When I was about 15, my dad hada business on Egbert Road it
was called Famished, and he hadme working part-time there on a
(01:31):
weekend when I was about 15,buttering the sandwiches that he
would give out of a lunchtime.
So I had a little deli sandwichbar.
So I guess the entrepreneurside of me is kind of always see
, I've always seen my dad kindof have his own businesses and,
you know, have that freedom ofbeing able to kind of look after
his own diary, take holidayswhen he wants and have that
freedom.
And obviously it comes with alot more than that as well.
But I guess that side has comefrom there.
And then my pageantry side hasalmost come from and my mum
(01:54):
actually did some pageants whenshe was younger very different
to the way that it is now, but Iremember, um, I used to flick
through.
She used to cut some newspaperarticles out of newspapers and
magazines and she had thislittle portfolio and I remember
when I was younger I would lookthrough this portfolio of her
little snippets from when shewas younger and I always used to
think, wow, she looks so goodwith these.
(02:16):
She just had this tiny waistand this swimsuit and I used to
be like, wow, I want to get onthis stage and do all these
amazing things and glamorousdresses.
So, yeah, used to be like, wow,I want to get on this stage and
do all these amazing things andglamorous dresses.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
so yeah, I guess it comes from a bit of both.
Both of them, yeah, but adecade in pageantry, it's not
just the glamour, is it?
Speaker 2 (02:31):
oh, no, it definitely isn't, and you know I could
talk forever about pageantry andhow it's changed my life and
how you know I definitelywouldn't be the woman I am today
without, without that industryand I definitely think there's a
lot of stereotypes on it.
But yeah, I started when I was17 and I entered Miss Liverpool
and it came from when I wasyounger.
(02:51):
I was always really tall atschool and I always say the boys
never used to fancy me and theyused to be like, oh, she's so
tall and I used to hate it.
I used to hate being tall, talland my mum was like, why don't
you try and do like a pageant?
Because the girls were normallypretty tall and like modelling
and pageants.
And I was like, yeah, okay,I'll give it a go.
(03:13):
And then, yeah, ever since Ikind of have this must have this
competitiveness in me becausehonestly, I always say I was
always the bridesmaid, never thebride, and I would always come
second or third or fifth and Iwould never win.
And it wasn't until last year,when I turned 28, which I
actually won my first evercompetition, which is also the
(03:33):
best competition in the UK aswell.
So saved the best till last,really didn't I?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
But what did you do to deal with those kind of
setbacks along the way?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Oh, you know, I think there were so many times um
throughout.
I guess I guess coming secondor third is probably a little
bit worse, because you're alwayslike, what can I do to get to
that point of winning?
What else can I do, you know,and the amount of times I would
be there on stage and I would belike I'm the best version of
(04:01):
myself here.
So what else can I give?
Um, and you know pageantry hastaught me, I mean, just a bit of
a background on it.
I'm the best version of myselfhere.
So what else can I give?
And you know pageantry hastaught me, I mean just a bit of
a background on it.
I'm not sure if you know toomuch, simone, but back in the
day pageantry was almost likethey would hold it in a butt
lens and they would makeeverybody line up along the pool
and they would measure yourwaist and your hips and whoever
(04:22):
had the most beautiful curls andthe nicest hair.
And you know it's changed somuch now and I guess you know
what is, who says what'sbeautiful and what isn't.
And you know, I think if youlook at the previous winners of
Miss Universe, great Britain,they are all so different in so
many ways and they allphysically look very different.
But in terms of everything elsethat goes alongside it which is
(04:44):
where we've probably come sucha long way in pageantry is the,
the, everything that you have todo outside of your life in
order to kind of succeed in thatindustry.
And when I went to Miss Universelast year, some of those women
are the most highest achieversI've ever met in my entire life.
They are incredible publicspeakers.
(05:04):
They just almost own a roomwhen they walk into it.
They speak several languages,they have seven, eight degrees,
they have multiple businesses,they're doctors, they're lawyers
, business owners and they arehonestly some of the most
incredible women I've ever met.
They are honestly some of themost incredible women I've ever
met.
And I think we don't talkenough about that part of the
(05:27):
industry.
But yeah, I guess I must justhave some kind of resilience in
me to just make me keep goingover the years.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
And you talk about that perception.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And you put an.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Instagram post out recently I did.
It's not just about the clothesand the makeup.
It's about the insight thatpeople don't see, yeah, what
goes on behind the scenes.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, not just one person yeah, and you know, I
think over the time, over those10 years where I've done
pageantry, I have learned a lotabout how to succeed and how to
interview in a way that canreally bring the most out of you
and I, I think, as women.
One thing that this industryhas taught me is that as women,
we're always told to not speakabout our successes, almost that
(06:11):
we shouldn't brag, because ifwe brag, where you know we're
talking about ourselves too muchand it's kind of like all right
, calm down, you know, don'tbrag about yourself.
But actually I think it's theopposite.
I think we should be taught totalk about our successes rather
than our weaknesses.
And I almost feel like thatindustry.
You know, for example, when yougo to do an interview for a
(06:31):
pageant, you are given twominutes, three minutes to sell
yourself essentially, and youknow there's not really any
other setting in which we teachwomen and you know where we
teach young people in general tosell themselves in a short
period of time like that.
And I think one thing that I donow with women is when I train
them in the settings forpageantry or I do like personal
coaching is I almost want toknow about their life.
(06:54):
I want to know about whatyou've been through and what
makes you tick, and that's whywhen I shared that quote
recently about all theachievements of these women.
Honestly, if people really tookthe time to invest in and find
out about what these winners areand what they do for society,
you'd be blown away by some oftheir achievements.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
And I think that you said you know, I don't know a
lot about pageantry, it's mainlybecause I'm five foot, I think.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Size does not matter, height does not matter, hair
colour does not matter, but it'sinteresting.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
You say you were on a stage at a really young age and
you talk about the resilienceand the confidence.
We talk a lot in genderequality and I know we'll talk
about your coaching business aswell but there's something about
that self-belief.
Do you think you were taughtthat, or learned that without
even realising that it wassetting you up for a business
(07:44):
life?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
I mean, I guess that's probably a personality
trait that not everybody has andI think I must have some kind
of resilience in me that justmakes me want to come back and
come back again.
And I guess I am a competitiveperson in that way because there
are people that almost probablywould come so close.
I mean I competed, I actuallywon on my third time at Miss
(08:05):
Universe, great Britain, so youknow, I can imagine people at
that point probably would havegone.
I'm not going to bother again.
So I guess it almost is apersonality trait of mine.
You know, that competitiveness,that no, I'm going to prove to
myself and I'm going to prove toeverybody else that I can get
to that point.
And I think that does reflect itin my business personality as
well and in my entrepreneur side, because I mean, the amount of
(08:28):
rollercoaster like owning abusiness is a rollercoaster like
this, isn't it?
So I guess you have to havethat resilience in that respect,
and that probably does comefrom my dad, because I've seen
him.
You know, try differentbusinesses over the years and
what you get out of it at theend is worth it, in my opinion.
And sometimes, you know, theroad to success is not easy.
But when you get there, I feellike when you've had the
(08:51):
failures or when you've hadthose down days, when you do
have the up days and thesuccesses, it almost makes it
worth it a little bit morebecause you've had that journey
to get there.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
And you've talked about your dad.
Has he been a real role modelfor you?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Yeah, I mean from a perspective of a business owner.
I saw dad saying that, thoughyou know he always says to me I
wish I had you, cause obviouslyI work in marketing now, and
he's like I wish I had you thenwhen I had my businesses, cause
you would have really helped meout if I knew about social media
back then.
But yeah, no, dad's alwaysbrought out that creativity,
(09:26):
that freedom side of me, and mymom, on the other hand, has
taught me about this.
She's always been withcompanies for a very long period
of time.
She's very successful, she'swon awards for what she does.
So they've almost the two ofthem kind of have instilled in
me these values of how importantit is to work hard and maybe
stick to something you want, butalso, you know, don't be afraid
to try something new out.
(09:47):
You know what's the end of theworld if it doesn't go wrong.
You can try again.
So I guess the two things havekind of played a massive role in
my life.
And I'm an only child.
Um, my mum was actually toldshe couldn't have children, so
when they had me, I think italmost made us a really
tight-knit family and they'vesupported me in everything.
So, yeah, no, they're massiverole models to me.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
And you talk about entrepreneurship being that
roller coaster.
So what's it like to be aserial entrepreneur then?
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Yeah, so I actually set up my first business in
COVID when I was 23.
And I actually set up because Icame from a hospitality
background and I actually wasworking in marketing and
hospitality.
But the end goal for me felt sofar away because I had to work
my way up in that industry.
(10:30):
And I remember the moment Ichose to work for myself was I
was working 65 hour weeks in arole where I was meant to be
marketing but actually I wasalso a server and I would also
get stuck in with the events andI was business development and
I just thought am I really goingto get to this point in my
career that I want to get to ifI stay here?
(10:50):
And I remember my businesspartner at the time.
He found this idea when he wastraveling and it was the idea of
a cheesecake on a stick and wewere to-ing and fro-ing about
whether we wanted to producethis dessert concept which is a
cheesecake on a stick.
And luckily at the time I wasfurloughed and I know a lot of
(11:11):
people during COVID actuallydecided to set their own
business up and I think italmost gave people this
opportunity to explore theircreativity and their hobby and
kind of turn it into a business,which is really great.
And because I was furloughed, Ihad a lot of all this time on
my hands but also had the moneycoming in as well that I could
invest in the business.
And I just one day I justturned around and I said, right,
(11:31):
I've got this time on my hands,let's just give this business a
go.
And we grew our business to Ithink we were turning over about
a quarter of a million in oursecond year and it purely was.
I remember we started with 200pounds and we turned a box
bedroom in the house into akitchen that was EHO standards
(11:52):
and health and safety standardsand we turned it into this like
mini cheesecake factory where wewould just make like hundreds
and hundreds of cheesecakes aday.
And then we grew it to aquarter of a million in two
years and we had two shops.
We did wholesale, we did latenight delivery and we had the
two front of house shops as well.
And I think that almost showedme that if you put your mind to
(12:17):
something, you really can do it.
And I almost understand the riskto women as to why they don't
set up a business, because youknow, I think at the time I was
quite lucky because I was 23 andI wasn't ready to have a family
.
But I guess you know, now, at28, taking that risk to start a
business, as a woman whopotentially might want to start
(12:38):
a family and you know, has tothink about whether she wants to
give up that maternity pay thatyou would get from working full
time for someone is reallydifficult and I almost
understand that.
That's why a lot of women don'tgo into business, and I think
that's where we need to find alittle bit more support in terms
of providing entrepreneurs andbusiness owners with a little
(12:59):
bit more security to take thatrisk.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
And where have you gone to for support?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
I mean I definitely feel like there's a gap in the
market for that still.
But I did use a lot of supportfrom the Prince's Trust.
So the Prince's Trust,obviously they actually offer
people up to the ages of 30 withkind of business advice they
offer I think they gave grantsout and just kind of connect you
and give you the rightinformation that you need.
(13:27):
But you know, going on to thatkind of business support, I
think growing up, when I was atschool and I was being taught
about business, I was taughtabout how to open a bank account
and, like Simone, I rememberwhen I went to open a bank
account, the bank did it for me.
When I went to open a bankaccount, the bank did it for me.
(13:49):
I didn't do anything.
I just sat there and gave themmy name and my passport and they
opened it for me and I didn'tneed to do that at school.
But what I needed at schoolwhen I look back now is someone
to tell me about the law behindopening a business.
Someone needs to tell me aboutthose things that you really
need to look at.
And the reason why I ended uplosing my business, which was my
dessert business, was becausemy partner at the time didn't
(14:10):
actually want me to become ashareholder of that business and
I actually had spent two and ahalf three years of my life
growing this business.
That was my baby and I lostthat business because I didn't
know how important it was to bea shareholder in a business.
And you know, I'm not a partnerin that business anymore and I
stepped away.
But if I was at school and I'dhave been told about shareholder
(14:32):
agreements and I'd been toldabout those difficult
conversations that you need tohave when you're setting up a
business, maybe it would havebeen a different story.
And when you talk to me aboutrole models and things like that
, I think this is why these kindof conversations need to be had
a little bit more, to kind ofmake people aware of these
things that they need to do whenthey start a business.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
And over the years I've had so many conversations
with people who've gone.
You know what?
I went to uni and I kept acredit card in my drawer because
I didn't really know what to door how to manage it.
We had a wonderful Sharon Davisone of our previous trophy
holders, shall I say, and she'schief exec of Young Enterprise,
and her mission is about growingthat financial literacy at
(15:12):
school, because, whether or notyou go and become a business
owner, we should be teaching ouryoung emerging talent to be
entrepreneurs as well asentrepreneurs.
So how do you go into thatbusiness and innovate within
there?
So it it all comes to play, butwe don't get that.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, we don't get that and you know, I think as
much as business is quite ahighly chosen subject in schools
, I still think that there isroom for industry professionals
to go in to educational sectors,go into schools, colleges,
universities and actually teachsome kind of sector specific
(15:51):
subject.
Because I think who really is itbest to learn from other than
the horse's mouth, you know?
And I think it's great that wehave these teachers that study
business.
They go to university, theystudy business and then they go
back in to schools withoutalmost going out to be business
owners or to be self-employed.
So you know, I think it's greatto be able to, you know, have
(16:11):
that educational knowledge.
But where is that industryknowledge that we're teaching 15
, 16 year olds who are about tomake the biggest decision of
their life about whether theywant to, what they want to do,
where they want to go?
And you know, as much as I'mvery grateful for my degree that
I've got, maybe if I'd havefelt like it was less risky to
work for myself, I might havedone that earlier than I did.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
So when your business came to an end and you didn't
just lose your business, but yousuddenly lost all this other
stuff and probably frustrationthat.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Why didn't you know that?
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Yeah, yeah, what.
How did you bounce back fromthat?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
oh, you know, simone, it was really hard.
It was a really hard part of mylife actually, because
alongside my pageantry, I hadbuilt this personal brand where
I was really going out andspeaking to young people about
how to be a business owner and Iwas.
That was a massive part of mypersonal brand.
So I had my business that I wasrunning as well as kind of
trying to build my personalbrand from.
So I had my business that I wasrunning as well as kind of
trying to build my personalbrand from a pageantry
(17:06):
perspective, because I knew thatmy end goal was when I win this
title of Miss Universe, greatBritain one day.
I want to be able to do thatwith this kind of value that I
can add, which was, as abusiness woman, how to kind of
encourage more young women to gointo business.
So almost when I lost mybusiness, I almost felt like why
do?
Why will people want to listento me?
(17:27):
I've lost my business, what amI going to show?
You know, like I don't havethis successful business anymore
and I did feel like I lost alittle bit of my identity really
and it took a lot for me tokind of realize that actually
those what, what, what happenedto me within that business
actually just amplified my storyand kind of gave me a little
bit more reason to speak aboutit and what and to teach people,
(17:50):
um, but it took me a long timeto to almost go back to
networking events, because somany people knew me for a long
time of having this really cooldessert brand and then one day
it was just all gone.
And I had to explain that I wasquite raw at the time as well,
because whenever I do anything,I put everything, my all, into
(18:10):
something.
So when I lost that, I was justlike I don't know what I'm
going to do.
I'm absolutely devastated.
And you know, the truth behindit is I struggled and I had to
go back into working full timeto build that money pot up again
in order for me to go and setsomething else up again.
And now one thing I've learnedfrom that experience is I now
(18:33):
work full-time for someone else.
I have a freelance social mediabusiness, I am launching my
agency for professional womenand I also have my coaching
business, and I do believe thathaving multiple streams of
income is so important to kindof allow you to have that
financial freedom and just kindof relax a little bit with all
these multiple streams of incomecoming in.
But I think, like that part ofmy life was really hard.
(18:55):
But again, you know, it goesback to that resilience that I
think I have inside of me and Iguess you know, like I said, you
have these really low dips inyour life and it does come and
say does it goes up and down, itgoes up and down.
But then that low dip in my lifealmost spared me on to go and
win Miss Universe Great Britain,because I lost my business in
the December and I won MissUniverse Great Britain in the
(19:16):
July and when I went into myinterview to win Miss Universe
Great Britain I was so honestand raw and I said six months
ago I would have come in here atotally different person.
Six months ago I would havecome in and I would have said
I've got this business, I'm avery successful business owner.
But actually I come at you nowwith a different perspective and
that is I've learned and I knownow what I need to teach other
(19:37):
people and I think almost that'swhat allowed me to win, because
I was so honest and about mystory, um, so I guess you know
everything happens for a reason,and I say this all the time.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
You know what's meant for you, will not pass you by,
and clearly that business wasnot meant for me at that time
and I was meant to walk away wedo a lot of work with undergrads
and further education studentsand actually when we bring our
people from all walks of lifeyou know sort of senior in their
business on their way upentrepreneurs what is always the
most encouraging is that, fromthe students perspective, is for
(20:12):
them to hear from when thingshaven't gone right.
Yeah, because especially whenyou're at a point at that early
stage in your career or beforeyour career and you suddenly
hear that someone hasn't had itall because they look fabulous
or because they've got a greatstory or their personal brand,
but to hear it's not all rightis so refreshing and honesty.
So that honesty thing is is sokey and is that?
(20:33):
And this is you drive acampaign now, don't you?
Which is all around encouraging?
Um, you know sort of younggirls and role models, yeah,
which is at the heart ofeverything we do.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
I think so, so.
So when I, when I went throughthat period of my life, I
started uh, well, actually Istarted Take Care Lead, um
before that happened to mebecause I just wanted to
encourage conversations betweendifferent business owners uh,
also like women in STEM, um,women in finance and just kind
of maybe stop covering thingswith roses and actually have
(21:07):
proper conversation.
And I think, again, this goesback to me saying how we really
need to hear from people whowork within industry, because
without that we don't reallyteach properly.
You know, not everything isgreat.
You know, I think it'simportant to in order for us to
allow young people to take theright routes in life, we need to
tell them the good and the bad.
You know, and I think you're soright when you've just said
(21:30):
that they, they value honesty.
You know we they value whensomeone says you know it's not
going to be great all the time,but if, if this is what you love
, then you'll almost come outthe other side no matter what.
So Take Care Lead originallystarted because I wanted to just
encourage these conversationsand it's almost kind of grown
from there into now I do my TakeCare Lead coaching, where I
(21:52):
kind of work with women to kindof figure out what they give,
what their advocacy is, whattheir values are, because,
honestly, I think a lot of womendon't really know who they are
and what they stand for and youknow the amount of women that
I'll speak to like.
For example, I spoke to a young,a young girl the other day and
(22:14):
she was talking to me about herstory of.
She was like, oh, I don'treally know, I don't really know
what I do.
That's, that's different.
And I was like well, take methrough your life.
I want to know your childhood.
You know where does this startfrom?
And she was talking to me abouthow she's a massive gym person,
gym freak.
And she said I use this becausemy parents went through a
divorce and I use this as a wayfor me to cope with being able
(22:37):
to go through this, but also itgives me a time to kind of
switch off for the rest ofwhat's going on in my life.
And then from that we builtthis story about what her values
are and her how she has thisdetermination to keep going.
And now she will use this inher personal brand going forward
.
And I think again, take HairLeaders now just evolved into
kind of me being a way thatwhere I can kind of help women
(22:59):
and figuring out who they areand what they stand for, and a
lot of the time it helps them tokind of redirect their, their
career journey a little bit aswell.
And because you know, they saythat you change your career like
four times in your entire life,which is just crazy.
But you know, and I thinkwhenever we do, we always think,
oh my god, no, I can't, I can'tdo that and I can't change
careers.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
But actually it's actually quite refreshing and
healthy to do that and that'swhy I love this podcast, because
everyone has that differentstory that different adventure,
right yeah.
What's your superpower?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
My superpower?
Oh my goodness, do you knowwhat?
I definitely think I have a few.
I'm a really good listener andalso I would say I'm a good
public speaker.
I think you know one thing thatthe weekend just gone I've just
(23:49):
handed over my title as MissUniverse, great Britain and the
the feedback I got from thewomen that spoke to me they were
like you, just you've beenquite normal and humble and
you've just kind of listened tous and listened to our story and
I guess I think listening canbe a massive.
It's a massive benefit to a lotof people because you could, I
think you can give advicemassive benefit to a lot of
people, because I don't thinkyou can give advice until you
listen.
So, yeah, I would say mysuperpower is just being a good
(24:11):
listener.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
And what advice would you give back to your younger
self when you're buttering thatbread for your dad In the
sandwich shop and he's tellingyou you haven't reached the
corners properly?
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Yeah, yeah, so true.
Do you know what I would say?
I think I might have said thisquote to you.
You know what is meant for youwill not pass you by.
And I just live by that quotenow.
And I think, as much as I triedfor so long to win Miss
Universe, Great Britain, if Ihadn't have won, something else
would have just been around thecorner for me anyway, and it
(24:43):
would have been for a reason.
That that wasn't right for meat that time Doesn't mean that
it's not right for me at somepoint.
But I do believe thatwhatever's going on in your life
at that point is meant tohappen, and sometimes we don't
always, you know, achieve ourdreams.
But that might be because it'snot meant to be, not meant to be
for us.
(25:03):
But yeah, what's meant for youwill not pass you by is what I
would probably tell my15-year-old self.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
And you are a coach, you're an advocate, you're an
entrepreneur, business owner.
Obviously, just those.
What's next?
Speaker 2 (25:17):
What else is going in ?
Speaker 1 (25:18):
that basket?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Oh, that's a big question, that's a big one, god
do you know, I guess sincehanding over Machine Universe
Great Britain, I haven't reallyhad a chance to really think
about this.
But I would definitely justlove to kind of share my story a
bit more.
And since I've been doing a lotmore of my coaching, I think to
myself I should have studiedpsychology or something like
(25:40):
that.
You know, because, thinkingabout it now, I actually love
just having conversations withpeople, people, I love just
speaking to people on thehearing about their stories.
But, yeah, I definitely think Iwant to move into more of a um,
like a teaching coachingperspective really, and maybe
more of a speaking role.
Um, I don't know, I guess I'mjust kind of I'm open to see
(26:05):
where life takes me at themoment.
Yeah, but I've definitely I'vedecided to say yes to everything
this year.
Oh yeah, oh, that's what I wantto try and do.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
That was definitely my first on train to kind of
entrepreneurs say yes and workout like to oh yeah, yeah,
definitely got me because I usedto be a bit of a riskier person
.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I don't know about you, but I think I definitely
when I first started in businessI was like, oh my god, I don't
know about you, but I think Idefinitely when I first started
in business I was like, oh mygoodness, I don't know if we can
do that.
And I think I've now become alittle bit more like do you know
what?
We'll just give it a go, we'lltry it and I'm glad that I've
kind of become a little bit morelike that.
I definitely could be more likethat, but you know, just saying
yes to everything.
If somebody one of my friendsasked me to go to palmer, I'm
(26:45):
going tomorrow and is that whathappens?
Speaker 1 (26:49):
is that how you got into scuba diving?
Do you know what right?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
well, actually this just goes to show how varied
pageantry is.
So one year I was offered anopportunity to do a pageant
called miss scuba, unitedkingdom.
And yeah, who'd have thoughtwho'd have thought?
And actually it was.
I just finished competing formy second year at Miss Universe,
(27:12):
great Britain and I just wantedto have a bit of fun.
And somebody approached me andthey said there's a competition
and basically you get a freescuba diving license, we'll take
you to Fuerteventura for theweek and you'll dive, you'll
learn to dive, you'll meet allthese amazing people.
And I thought, yeah, of courseI'm going to do it.
So I actually flew toFuerteventura and they paid for
(27:33):
me to do my scuba diving license.
We did some.
We did a full week of diving.
We saw sharks.
It was amazing.
So, yeah, that's another reasonwhy I'm such an advocate for
pageantry, because I travel theworld.
I all these skills, um, butyeah, so that's that's how I got
my scuba diving license.
Who?
Speaker 1 (27:48):
knew who knew Jessica Page Lennon what is, even at
such a young age?
What is your legacy that you'regonna leave behind?
Speaker 2 (27:57):
oh, you're asking me some tough questions here,
simone.
Um, do it with a smile.
Look at that.
Okay, my legacy, you, I think.
I guess I just want to be knownfor, you know, never giving up
on your dreams, I think, nomatter how many times life just
wants to tell you, no, this isnot for you.
I guess I almost want to just beknown for whether or not I
(28:20):
succeed.
I always gave everything 100%and I just kept going, because,
you know, I'm so aware that I'min a very lucky position to have
won the biggest competition inthe UK and to go to represent my
country on an internationalstage, and it was a dream of
mine since I was 14 years old.
But I'm also aware that there'sa lot of girls out there that
(28:41):
don't get that opportunity, andone thing that I want people to
know about my story is that itdidn't come straight away.
There was a lot of ups, therewas a lot of downs, and as much
as maybe I show and like we alldo on social media how great
life can be, you know it's not.
It's not all like that.
There is ups and downs, andalmost just remember that you'll
(29:02):
get there eventually and itwill all work itself out.
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Yeah, more honesty.
Is that honesty?
Speaker 2 (29:08):
and authenticity?
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Yeah, of course, of course, Jess.
Thank you so much for joiningus in the we Are Power studio.
I have loved our adventure frompageantry to entrepreneurship
to I'd be devastated toocheesecake on a stick.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
I mean it's just genius, right?
You never know.
Might bring it back 2.0.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
Oh, no, no, no, there'll be something way better
.
Thank you for all your tote bagquotes as well.
We love them all I think we'dbe now expanding into T-shirts
as well.
But seriously, I think, themessages and the lessons that
you learn, irrespective of whatyour journey is, I think the
more that you can pass that onthe more that you can use your
(29:48):
voice to amplify and to sharewhat you do.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
It motivates and inspires others.
So thank you so much for havingme.
I really appreciate it and I'vebeen, I've been looking at we
are power women for a long timeand you know it's great to be
able to speak about my journeyand hopefully inspire other
people always.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
You know, we're always a big fan.
Everyone is a role model.
Yeah, everyone is a role model.
And if one person goes away anddoes one thing differently, or
says that yes and works outlater, or doesn't worry because
it's not going to pass you by,no, it's there yeah.
Thank you, thank you so much andthank all of you for watching
and listening.
We love our weekly podcast.
We love these different stories.
(30:18):
We are so immensely, just sortof motivated, inspired by every
single conversation.
I hope you are.
Please do join in theconversation on all of our
socials Twitter, instagram andTikTok.
We are power.
Underscore net and Facebook andLinkedIn we are power.
Please do leave us a review.
We love those and please reachout and share and celebrate.
(30:40):
We'd love to hear from you.
Thank you so much for joiningyou.
My name is Simone and this isthe we Are Power podcast.
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