How Rosie Fortescue Went From Reality Star to Serial Entrepreneur
Welcome back to The Silly Little Girls Club — where the glow-up is mental, emotional, entrepreneurial, and sometimes, very sparkly.This week’s guest? Rosie Fortescue. You may know her from the OG days of Made in Chelsea, but reality TV was just the prologue. Rosie is now the powerhouse behind not one, but two thriving brands — Rosie Fortescue Jewellery and Bag-d, her latest venture launched with her twin sister.In this episode, we unpack Rosie’s incredible transformation from public figure to multi-hyphenate founder and creative force. It’s all about reinvention, resilience, and running two fashion-led businesses with zero business training, a tonne of grit, and a handwritten diary (yes, really).We chat about:💍 Launching a jewelry brand without a design degree — and making it last 9+ years👜 Her genius new business Bag-d and why it’s solving a problem luxury fashion forgot📺 The truth about leaving reality TV behind and forging her own path🧠 The mindset, routine and structure behind her success📉 Imposter syndrome, burnout and the loneliness of being a solo founder📦 Running a sustainable business in a luxury marketIt’s honest, empowering, and packed with practical insight for any woman looking to build something beautiful — from scratch.And of course, this season of The Silly Little Girls Club is proudly sponsored by @RedkenPro — because storytelling and science-backed haircare? A match made in heaven 💇♀️✨🤝 Connect with Us:📸 Follow The Silly Little Girls Club on Instagram: @sillylittlegirls.club🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music📺 Subscribe on YouTube: The Silly Little Girls Club🔗 Connect with Rosie:📸 Instagram: @rosiefortescue💎 Rosie Fortescue Jewellery: @rosiefortescuejewellery👜 Bagged Inserts: @wearebagd
--------
39:57
--------
39:57
Mikai McDermott on Beauty Standards, Burnout & Building a Real-Life Community
Welcome back to The Silly Little Girls Club, where we turn big conversations into power moves—one unapologetic woman at a time.This week, I’m joined by Mikai McDermott—beauty theorist, content creator, founder of The Linen Service, and the sharpest voice redefining what it means to work, create, and show up online with purpose.Once a top-tier hairstylist, Mikai walked away from the salon chair to study at LSE, publish essays with Penguin, and start again from scratch—this time on her terms.In this episode, we talk:💇♀️ What really happens when you monetise your passion🧠 How hustle culture nearly broke her—and how she rebuilt from burnout💅 Why the “Instagram Face” is ruining our beauty standards📉 The freelancer struggle no one talks about (and what helped her get out)🤝 The power of community for women and why she launched The Linen ServiceFrom transparency around treatments to truths about being perceived online, this episode is packed with jaw-dropping honesty and real-world wisdom.✨ Tap play and meet the woman whose whole vibe is disrupt the algorithm, but make it soft.🤝 Connect with Us:📸 Follow The Silly Little Girls Club on Instagram: @sillylittlegirls.club📺 Subscribe on YouTube: The Silly Little Girls Club💌 Join the newsletter: Sign up here🔗 Connect with Mikai:📸 Follow Mikai on Instagram: @mikaimcdermott🧺 Follow The Linen Service: @linenservice🌐 More from Mikai: mikaimcdermott.comThis season of The Silly Little Girls Club is proudly sponsored by @RedkenPro, the go-to for science-backed salon-quality haircare.
--------
46:24
--------
46:24
From Barrister to Birkins: How Hanushka Toni Built a Luxury Resale Empire
🎙️ Episode IntroductionWhat do you do when you realise the career you’ve worked your whole life for… isn’t your dream?For Hanushka Toni, the answer was simple: leave law and build a luxury resale empire instead.This episode of The Silly Little Girls Club is a true movie script moment—from being a high-flying solicitor to launching Sellier London, one of the most coveted pre-loved luxury retailers in the world. What started as a small boutique in Knightsbridge is now an industry-changing global business that sells Hermès Birkins, Chanel classics, and the world’s most sought-after designer bags.But it wasn’t all glossy handbags and champagne. Hanushka shares the real, unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship—being underestimated, getting doors slammed in her face, and even surviving a store burglary.We also dive into:💼 How she built an online luxury empire during lockdown👜 The truth about Hermès "bag culture" and why people pay more for resale📲 How TikTok helped Sellier rack up 250 million views💰 Why designer handbags are actually a better investment than stocksIf you've ever dreamed of turning your passion into a thriving business, this episode is for you.Let’s get into it. 🎧✨📜 Show Notes: "From Barrister to Birkins – How Hanushka Toni Built a Luxury Resale Empire"How do you turn a small boutique into a multi-million pound global business?Ask Hanushka Toni, the former lawyer-turned-CEO of Sellier London, one of the most trusted names in pre-loved luxury fashion.🎙️ In this episode, we cover:✅ How Hanushka went from corporate law to selling luxury handbags✅ How one Instagram post changed her entire business✅ Why designer bags appreciate in value more than stocks & crypto✅ The hardest lessons she learned as a female founder in the fashion industry✅ How she built a viral brand on TikTok with over 250 million views✅ The shocking truth about influencer marketing in 2024 (does it even work anymore?)💬 “I always thought you had to be posh and rich to have designer bags—until I realized the resale game changes everything.” – Hanushka Toni🎧 Listen now & hear how Hanushka made luxury fashion more accessible than ever.🔗 Resources & Mentions:👜 Shop Sellier London HERE📲 Follow Sellier on Instagram: @sellierknightsbridge🎙️ Subscribe to The Silly Little Girls Club Podcast HERE 👀 Love this episode? Here’s how you can support!💖 Like & share this episode with your fellow fashion lovers💬 Comment below with your biggest takeaway from Hanushka’s journey📢 Tag a...
--------
37:13
--------
37:13
What It's Really Like Writing for Vogue, Refinery29 & Grazia – with Humeara Mohamed
From writing poems about bees in Year One to writing for Vogue, Refinery29, and Dazed—journalist and copywriter Humeara Mohamed has one hell of a story.In this raw, warm, and wildly funny episode of The Silly Little Girls Club, she opens up about what it really took to break into the fashion and beauty media industry—from unpaid internships to launching a freelance career from scratch. We talk:🖊️ Getting published at 14 and knowing her dream job at 17💻 The reality of freelance journalism (and why £200 a month was the norm at first)🛍️ Writing beauty copy for Cult Beauty & Estée Lauder💔 Why she left copywriting to chase her journalism dream👰♀️ Her sitcom-worthy wedding via Zoom during lockdown🌈 What it means to be a South Asian Muslim woman working in beauty media💬 And why representation in beauty writing actually mattersThis episode is a love letter to creativity, cultural complexity, and the courage it takes to carve out your own path.🎧 Listen now 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube → https://youtu.be/n5UqEq_bLmkProudly sponsored by @RedkenPro – because good hair and great stories go hand in hand. 💇♀️Chapters:00:00 – Meet Humeara Mohamed02:00 – Childhood poetry, creative roots & South Asian family expectations04:00 – The life-changing magazine internship08:00 – Interning in Dubai & writing pages before knowing how to get cash out18:00 – Uni, estrangement, and working 2 jobs to survive30:00 – Freelance struggles & emailing every PR in London35:00 – Writing for Vogue, Dazed & Refinery41:00 – Jack’s conversion, religion & the Zoom wedding48:00 – Family drama, the imam’s flat & diabetic samosas50:00 – Pink hair, personal essays & the power of representation54:00 – The dream guest she hasn’t yet interviewed (manifesting Hailey Bieber)
--------
55:58
--------
55:58
Healing Starts with Discomfort: Alanna Kit on ARC & Human Potential
What do ice baths, neuroscience, and ancient rituals have in common? According to Alanna Kit—everything.In this episode of The Silly Little Girls Club, Samantha Cusick sits down with Alanna Kit, neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and founder of ARK—London’s cutting-edge wellness sanctuary that merges science, spirituality, and ritual into one transformational space.From running psychedelic retreats to building a spa that caters to the nervous systems of bankers, Alanna’s journey is as mind-blowing as it is inspiring.You’ll learn:🧠 Why contrast therapy boosts neuroplasticity (and how it rewires your stress response)💥 Why Alanna says burnout is a gift🌱 How ancient rituals + neuroscience = the future of self-care❄️ What really happens to your brain in an ice bath💫 How to tap into peak experiences without tech or trends🧬 Why she wants ARK to become a psychedelic clinical trial siteThis is the episode to listen to if you're craving something deeper than your average wellness chat. Alanna's story will challenge what you think healing looks like—and give you tools to explore your own nervous system in the process.If you’ve ever experienced burnout, disconnection, or felt like your nervous system is stuck in overdrive—this is for you.🔗 Links & Mentions:🌐 Check out ARK London: @arccommunity_📲 Follow Alanna on Instagram: @alannakit🎙️ More episodes from The Silly Little Girls Club: Binge Episodes HERE📸 Follow us on Instagram: @sillylittlegirls.club💇♀️ Season 2 sponsored by @RedkenPro – powered by science, trusted by stylists.💬 Let us know belowWhat's your biggest takeaway from this conversation? Ever tried contrast therapy or an ice bath? Drop it in the comments 💙👇🛎️ Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.
The Silly Little Girls Club - Where ‘silly’ means strong, and ‘little’ dreams make a big impact.
Welcome to The Silly Little Girls Club, the podcast that turns underestimation into empowerment. Hosted by Samantha Cusick, a successful salon owner and entrepreneur once dismissed as a “silly little girl” with a dream, this show is for every woman who’s been told she’s too much, too ambitious, or just plain “silly” for chasing her goals.
This isn’t just a podcast; it’s a community and a movement. Each week, Samantha sits down with inspiring women from all walks of life—founders, artists, leaders, and dreamers—who share their stories of overcoming doubt, defying expectations, and making their mark. These are conversations filled with laughter, honesty, and sometimes even tears, as guests open up about their journeys, the challenges they’ve faced, and the victories they’ve celebrated.
Why should you listen? Because this is more than just motivation; it’s real talk from women who’ve been where you are. You’ll hear unfiltered insights and practical advice on topics like:
- Turning Setbacks into Strengths: How to keep pushing forward when you’re told “no.”
- Building Confidence and Community: Surrounding yourself with those who lift you up.
- Redefining Success: Creating a life and career on your own terms.
- Finding Joy in the Journey: Embracing the “silly” moments along the way.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, or simply someone with a passion for self-growth, The Silly Little Girls Club is here to remind you that you’re not alone. Together, we’re rewriting what it means to be a “silly little girl”—one story at a time.
So, if you’re ready to challenge the limits, laugh through the struggles, and take on the world with a little extra girl power, hit “subscribe” and join us every week for conversations that are equal parts inspiring, uplifting, and empowering. Because in The Silly Little Girls Club, your dreams aren’t just possible—they’re powerful.
Connect with the Silly Little Girls Club:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sillylittlegirls.club/
Website - www.sillylittlegirls.club
Connect with Samantha:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/samantha.cusick/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@samantha_cusick
Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthacusick/
New Zealand