Interview with London Beauty Queen: Let’s talk about it
We’ve been catching up with beauty blogger and owner of London Beauty Queen, Hayley Carr and finding out how she’s using her popular beauty blog to highlight more than just her cheek bones.
In 2016, Hayley is embarking on a project she’s calling “Let’s Talk About It” which aims to highlight important issues that affect women but are often considered too “embarrassing” to talk about.
We wanted to find out a little more about how one of the UK’s top ten beauty bloggers decided to take the plunge and branch out into the clumsy, cringey and sometimes leaky world of real life.
Nicci: Why don’t we start with you telling us a little bit about yourself and your blog?
Hayley: I've worked in the beauty industry for about ten years, starting off at Paul Mitchell. I moved on to other beauty brands including Bourjois and Aapri, before moving to work in digital marketing.
I started the blog just as a creative outlet when I left the beauty world, but my prior experience enabled me to provide a different perspective. I didn't really have any specific goals; I honestly just did it for fun.
(image courtesy of London Beauty Queen)
Nicci: When did you decide to start writing about non-beauty related issues that were close to your heart?
Hayley: I started writing about non-beauty about three years ago when I went to my smear test and was tweeting about it; I got loads of questions, so I spent my appointment chatting to the nurse and gathering info for a blog post.
The reception was overwhelmingly positive, so when I went through a cancer scare afterwards and had to have an op to remove some stage four pre-cancerous cells, it was a natural reaction to keep using my platform to talk about it.
Since then, I've opened up about my sister’s mental health issues and charity campaigns I relate to - people responded, so I kept on writing.
Nicci: Was there ever any part of you that wondered (or worried) about how your readers might react to certain topics?
Hayley: My blog has always been my space; if people don't like it they don't have to read. I think if we're always worried about what everyone else will think, we won't get very far and our sites will all merge into one.
I know my readers are mature, intelligent women who actually WANT to talk about these things - so I've never doubted for a second it's the right thing to do.
Nicci: So do you always get a positive reaction when you post about non-beauty related topics?
Hayley: Always positive; always lots of conversation. I'm one of very few bloggers that are comfortable enough to chat about periods, boobs, bums and everything in between - and my readers love it.
Even if it's not relevant to them specifically, they feel like they're learning something or myths are being broken down.
(image courtesy of London Beauty Queen)
Nicci: Tell us more about the Let’s Talk About It project.
Hayley: I've been talking openly and honestly for a few years now, but I felt it was time to collectively start conversations about those topics that are often deemed TMI.
Some bloggers talk about waxing as if it's the most embarrassing thing in the world, so I thought it was time to be a grown up and prove that we all go through these things - be it IBS, hairy pits, periods or bladder weakness.
I take my position of influence seriously, so while I love talking about lipstick, it's also important to use my position for good!
Nicci: Finally, how can people get involved in the Let’s Talk About It project?
Hayley: I've set up the hashtag #LetsTalkAboutIt and will be posting weekly about a different topic - there are other bloggers who have kindly agreed to share their stories and get involved too.
People can request a post, volunteer to write about a topic close to their heart, or simply start talking with their mates more honestly.
I've lined up a few brands who offer products that can be of help but who struggle to get awareness. There will be Twitter chats happening in the near future too.
I also encourage other bloggers to open up on their sites and discuss topics with their followers; we all have vaginas, breasts and bums, so I don't know why us Brits try to pretend like we don't!
Nicci: We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
