I had the pleasure to be featured in January 2018’s issue of Hearst’s Good Housekeeping Magazine, as one of five women chosen for a real-life feature titled 2018 Our Year To Shine!

Melanie Jones in Good Housekeeping Magazine January 2018

All of our journeys were different. We all had faced challenging times and are now looking forward to a new year and chose it as our time for a fresh start. Our stories ranged from death and becoming a carer to a parent (Sarah-Jane), surviving breast cancer (Juliet), achieving the desired weight loss (Kathryn), a career change later in life (Jenni) to letting go and moving forward after a painful divorce (me).

Melanie Jones founder of Melanie Jones PR featured in Good Housekeeping Magazine, Hearst Magazine

All these experiences are not the easiest to talk about and share let alone publically. Yet collectively we agreed the process was cathartic. It allowed us to process, let go and share the burden. Sharing our stories allowed us to demonstrate that life and business don’t require perfection but resilience, the willingness to take on challenges, grow with and learn from them and share the process in the hope that we may learn from one another.

We are all vulnerable and survivors in many ways. Showing our humanity makes us relatable and able to connect. It’s the relief of recognising, “Oh my, she struggled too! She made it out the other end! She achieved and is achieving her goals despite or maybe even because of what life is throwing at her! I C-A-N do it too!” The stories of my fellow interviewees moved, encouraged, inspired, and motivated me.

The feature included a bit of each of our journeys but we were also treated to some major pampering, and breakfast and a delicious lunch. And most of all a makeover prior to the photoshoot. I was invited to Charlotte Mensah’s award-winning salon The Hair Lounge in Portobello on a Friday and in true VIP style, a car was sent to deliver me. There I was treated by the amazing hair stylist herself who to a contouring colour technique and highlights to sections of my hair. Of course, I couldn’t leave without her coveted award-winning Manketti Oil. The actual shoot took place the following week.

Arriving first thing I entered the Hearst headquarters and was directed upstairs to a large studio space.

I was greeted by buzzing activity but a very warm and friendly team; one of the most personable beauty editors I have come across Gillian Davies, the Bare Minerals make-up team Liz and Georgina, nail technician Tracy Dudziak at Opi and the hair team headed by the wonderful celebrity hair guru Laurence Close, one of the nicest people to meet.

Stylist Emma Bigger managed to surprise me with items I would have never considered but absolutely adored as she pulled my look together. Liam Duke managed to get all of us ladies comfortable and relaxed in front of his camera and captured some beautiful images.

Check out Good Housekeeping Magazine here: http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/news/mary-berry-christmas-tips-january-cover-star

Front Cover of Good Housekeeping Magazine with TV chef Mary Berry inside real-life feature on Melanie Jones founder of Melanie Jones PR