What does my Grandma, Peggy Mitchell (played by Barbara Windsor) and the Spice Girls have in common?

What do my Grandma, Peggy Mitchell (played by Barbara Windsor), and the Spice Girls have in common? They are a group of women who shaped my early perception of female leadership.

Born in the 90s, my earliest memories of my Grandma are her waking us up at the crack of dawn to get ready for church, then preparing the dining table for Sabbath lunch. Her preparation was a two-day process, beginning on Thursday and perfectly executed every Saturday.

Then there’s Peggy Mitchell – I religiously watched EastEnders during the week and still caught the omnibus on Sunday. Peggy had a voice, she understood ownership, and she knew how to use it with her infamous line: “Get out of my pub.”

Finally, a family trip to Brighton Beach introduced me to the Spice Girls. Back then they were relatively unknown, pushing out flyers to anyone who would accept one, which I now recognise as guerrilla marketing. They were for girls’ and women’s rights, they were eclectic, didn’t fit neatly into any box, and were diverse in their representation.

Preparation, using your voice, and embracing your unique self shaped my formative years and still influence me now. This came to light as I led my Summer ‘25 youth programme “Lash & Lead” Beauty, Brains, and Wellness funded by Lambeth Made.

Twelve girls celebrated themselves for getting to the end of the journey, where I drew on my formative years of seeing the results of organisation to prepare a six-week programme. I encouraged the girls to use their voice (and did they use it! 😅 Haha) and honing in them understanding that their power remains in their authenticity.

Twelve young leaders in the making powered by inner beauty. This assignment is complete, and now we are preparing for the next.