SASHAYING right into a London metropolis boardroom sporting a horny crimson bodycon costume, false lashes, and a full face of make-up, Sophie-Charlotte North confidently takes her seat and flips open her laptop computer.
The opposite women and men – all wearing conservative fits or designer clothes – stare at her in confusion, earlier than one asks if she’s the secretary and one other calls for to know when her boss is arriving.
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It’s a situation the uber-glam 25-year-old occasions firm proprietor is aware of solely too properly.
“Folks assume as a result of I appear like a Love Island contestant, I’m a bimbo,” says Sophie-Charlotte.
“I commonly get tweakment-shamed by enterprise executives, potential dates and even different girls, and I’m continually mistaken for an assistant or secretary fairly than the enterprise proprietor.
“Different folks inform me my Botox and filler-enhanced face and boob job means I’ll by no means be taken significantly as a businesswoman or discover a husband.
Learn extra in cosmetic surgery
It’s discrimination primarily based on my appears to be like.
Sophie-Charlotte
“It’s discrimination primarily based on my appears to be like,” says Sophie-Charlotte, who additionally will get common manicures, eyebrow waxes, and blow-dries and wouldn’t dream of leaving the home with out her make-up on.
“It’s shameful that in 2024 women and men assault you for caring for your physique and being happy with your appears to be like, however I attempt to take the positives.
“It means they underestimate me and I’ve thrown them off guard, in order that they gained’t see my deal-making prowess coming!”
Sophie – who lives in Woolwich, London, with Jordan, 30, her accomplice of 10 months – is just not the one girl to expertise appears to be like discrimination or glam-shaming.
Earlier this month, authorized secretary Megan Bratt gained a sexual harassment declare towards her boss after she was advised she seemed like a “Love Island reject”.
Some folks say that 22 is simply too younger to start out Botox, however it’s my physique. I’ve a beautician who’s extraordinarily expert in administering her tweakment doses, which is the important thing.
Sophie-Charlotte
Ms Bratt, who holds a Grasp of Regulation, had been criticised by feminine colleagues on the solicitors the place she labored for dressing like she was “on an evening out”, with faux tan and false eyelashes, whereas her male boss advised her she seemed “good”.
Sophie-Charlotte began having tweakments in 2019, and has since spent £7k on fillers and Botox, plus £4k on breast implants.
“I’ve at all times had a skinny higher lip, which made me self-conscious,” she explains. “So once I was 21, I made a decision to do one thing about it – I had 1ml of filler injected into each lips, and cherished the outcomes. It made me really feel empowered and assured, so I get a £150 top-up each six months.”
Aged 22, Sophie-Charlotte started having what she calls “preventative Botox”.
“It’s simpler to stop than treatment. I did the analysis and began having Botox on my brow, to stop wrinkles and round my eyes, at £200 a session. I additionally had filler in my cheeks, which additionally prices £200 a go. I cherished the outcomes.
“Some folks say that 22 is simply too younger to start out Botox, however it’s my physique. I’ve a beautician who’s extraordinarily expert in administering her tweakment doses, which is the important thing.
“I contemplate it an funding in my shallowness.”
In Might 2023, Sophie-Charlotte flew to Turkey for a boob job, going from a 34B to a 34E.
“I used to be focused by imply women as a result of I had a small chest in class. That bullying plagued me, so I wished larger boobs for my self-confidence. The brand new curves complimented my filler and Botox, and my entire new, Love Island-esque look suited me.”
In the meantime, Sophie-Charlotte – who began her profession as a catwalk and catalogue mannequin aged 18, earlier than opening her personal occasions administration firm and mannequin company in 2022 – additionally constructed up her enterprise.
5 Tweakment Purple Flags
Amish Patel, Award-Profitable Aesthetics Practitioner, Skincare Knowledgeable at Intrigue Beauty Clinic shared his 5 crimson flags with Fabulous.
1. Low-cost is not-so-cheerful
If you’re looking for ‘low-cost Botox’, low-cost is usually low-cost for a cause. Botulinum toxin is a prescription remedy, solely to be carried out by the medical skilled prescribing the drug. Low-cost costs imply that corners are being lower.
2. ‘Filler packages’
And at all times have a session BEFORE committing to any remedy. Your face is exclusive & what fits one face won’t go well with yours.
3. ‘Botox events’
If a clinic is providing ‘Botox events’ keep away from: alcohol and partying with associates don’t combine with a medical aesthetics process.
4. Soiled clinics
The place do they do their therapies? Is it a clear and medical surroundings? Hygiene and shopper security is paramount. As with all injectables, there’s potential for an infection in contaminated environment.
5. Two-for-one offers
Do not be tempted by ‘share with a pal’ filler offers. Filler syringes are single-use solely; altering the needle doesn’t defend from cross-contamination.
“I work with document and media corporations, do collaborations on social media to advertise merchandise and roll out promoting campaigns for small- and medium-sized companies.
“I’ve 50 fashions on my books, who’re booked for shoots, adverts, commercials, or so as to add glamour as occasion friends at massive occasions. I’ve used my expertise as a mannequin to faucet into the enterprise potential of occasions administration – and I’ve carried out this all earlier than I used to be 25 years previous.”
Within the final two years, Sophie-Charlotte has doubled each her income and her purchasers – however she’s endured loads of appears to be like discrimination and treatment-shaming alongside the best way.
“After I meet the accountants and enterprise executives about occasions they need to maintain, they get the shock of their lives.
“I stroll in sporting stylish outfits, trying glam, and am immediately judged. They inevitably assume I’m the assistant, work-experience particular person or secretary.
I do know feminine executives have a look at me and assume ‘Bimbo Barbie’, whereas the lads assume I can’t appear like this and be clever.
Sophie-Charlotte
“I do know feminine executives have a look at me and assume ‘Bimbo Barbie’, whereas the lads assume I can’t appear like this and be clever. They don’t even ask about my {qualifications} or expertise. If I used to be a person, this wouldn’t occur,” she says.
“It used to horrify me, particularly when girls did not take me significantly. I assumed they’d welcome a 25-year-old with open arms. As an alternative, they assume that as a result of I put the effort and time into bettering my appears to be like, I forgot to convey a mind.
“I don’t get indignant any extra although – now, I play it up. Allow them to decide my plumped-up lips and enhanced breasts. I do not miss a trick!”
Her appears to be like entice loads of undesirable consideration from males, too.
“When random blokes attempt to chat me up, I smile and inform them I’ve a boyfriend and I’m not – that’s when the plastic surgery-shaming begins.
When random blokes attempt to chat me up, I smile and inform them I’ve a boyfriend and I’m not – that’s when the plastic surgery-shaming begins.
Sophie-Charlotte
“As an alternative of gracefully strolling away, males will inform me I’m too plastic for them, or they weren’t actually anyway.
“One man advised me I should not go close to an open flame as a result of I’d soften!
“I simply chuckle. They wouldn’t have tried to ask me out in the event that they weren’t eager. Their response says extra about their very own insecurities than mine and loves by appears to be like and helps by enterprise. He stands up for me if folks inform me I’m brainless. He is aware of I’ve enterprise prowess!.” she says.
Now, Sophie-Charlotte is planning on having veneers on her tooth, in addition to different nips and tucks as she will get older.
One man advised me I should not go close to an open flame as a result of I’d soften.
Sophie-Charlotte
“Tweakments and cosmetic surgery are as widespread as having your hair colored lately,” she says.
“I did not have something carried out to make a person blissful – I did it for me, and I’m sick of individuals assuming the extra tweakments you might have, the much less brains you possess.
“Simply because I don’t match into some outdated stereotype of what a boss ought to appear like doesn’t imply I should be demeaned, trolled or attacked.
“Ladies can’t win – if you happen to go glam, you’re brainless. Should you go make-up free, you’re not making an attempt arduous sufficient. It’s 2024, and I’m free to look nonetheless makes me really feel empowered.
“I’m happy with my put-together look and camera-ready look. I’m extra self-confident than I’ve ever been – and my enterprise is booming. What may probably be mistaken with that?”
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