International Womens Day 2024

I never work on International Women's Day. It's the 8th March, and every year - along with my birthday, and my work anniversary, and Christmas - I buy myself a nice cake and a bottle of champagne! I absolutely make sure that I book the day off in my diary in advance. I wholly believe in celebrating myself on International Women's Day and think you should too! Especially as this year it falls on a Friday.

Last year I wrote a blog recommending some of my favourite female wedding suppliers who're doing great things. This year's theme is #InspireInclusion - here to celebrate those people who raise you up, bring you under their wing, who'll speak about you in rooms you're not in, and who will cheerlead you when you're rocking and comfort you when you're sobbing. There's very few people that will do that so selflessly, so this blog is here to celebrate those that I've found provide that incredible support and do things every day that will inspire inclusion in all that they do. 

Lottie L'Amour she/her

Lottie is an absolute bossanova. She's an award-winning marketing whizz who works at TikTok. She's seriously cool. She was awarded "Highly Commended" at the European Diversity Awards for her work as a Diversity Champion at TT! ON THE SIDE OF THIS (like, as well as having a super involved full on job) she applied to be (and was accepted as) a delegate for @unwomenuk Commission on the Status of Women, and she's a trustee at Music for Youth. Oh, and all this is on top of relocating, dealing with surgery x 2, and planning a wedding that was rescheduled three times during the pandemic. What a boss!

Maxine Delicious she/her

Maxine has run Little Miss Delicious for over 15 years, always providing colourful, handmade, WELL MADE, home decor and once upon a time jewellery. I did makeup for a few photoshoots back in the day, so you may have seen her on my website! Her home decor these days is gorgeous; inclusive and sometimes political and sweary, which can be scary for small businesses owners - lots of people out there still expect you to be very sanitised. Thing is, the people that want that aren't your customers; they just want to control you. So now she's doing these awesome wall hangings, garlands, and felt hoops with swears, in pride colours, smashing the patriarchy and encouraging self-care, and business is thriving. G'wan Maxine!

Lynsey VE she/her

Lynsey used to be a professional alt-model who I super admired but never got to work with before she retired to have her son and created a makeup line! VE Cosmetics was born nine years ago, and she's gone from strength to strength; launching incredible eyeshadow palettes, foundations (with a fully inclusive colour range!), eyeliners, lipsticks in a variety of finishes and most recently, a skin care range. Always making sure her products are fully cruelty-free and vegan, she's also been to the Houses of Parliament to campaign for the Business without Blood Sports pledge, and was a finalist at the Great Big Small Awards 2023.