Interview
Molly Mae: How She Became Creative Director Of PLT At 22 | 110
- Molly May, 22, has been appointed Creative Director of Pretty Little Thing (PLT), a role she described as her "biggest achievement" and the start of her career as a businesswoman rather than just an influencer.
- Her Instagram following has grown to nearly 10 million, averaging 25,000 new followers daily, driven by an "extreme" work ethic and a strategy of only accepting partnerships she personally uses and believes in.
- May refuses to work with brands she does not believe in, turning down a potential £2 million partnership with a brand she did not use to maintain audience trust and authenticity.
- Following a burglary at her previous home in January 2023, May lost approximately £800,000 worth of possessions and has since relocated to a new residence with 24/7 close protection security.
- The burglary forced May to cease sharing her location publicly; she now restricts access to her new home, including barring deliveries from services like Deliveroo, to ensure safety.
- May revealed she underwent significant cosmetic procedures, including multiple sessions of lip filler, jaw filler, cheek filler, Botox, and dental bonding, which she later dissolved to return to a natural look.
- She stated that the decision to reverse her cosmetic enhancements was triggered by a viral moment where she was mocked online for her appearance, and she has since received thousands of messages from parents thanking her for the move.
- May's relationship with boyfriend Tommy Fury has lasted nearly three years since Love Island, characterized by mutual trust; she notes they are "for each other" and can be apart for weeks without doubt.
- She admits to having a "minuscule" social circle of only five people, explaining that maintaining a large friend group is "time-consuming" and detracts from her work and personal priorities.
- May disclosed that she nearly experienced a mental breakdown following severe trolling, specifically after Daily Mail paparazzi published invasive photos of her in a white bikini while on holiday in Barbados.
- She describes her daily routine as strictly work-focused, often working 24/7 on her phone, compartmentalizing her life, and rarely attending social events or parties.
- May is currently working on a major London Fashion Week show for PLT, which has been in development for six months, and is rapidly scaling her own fake tan business, "Filter by Molly May."
- She plans to become a homeowner soon, though she notes the difficulty of the current UK property market, citing stamp duty and renovation costs that would be insurmountable for a typical 22-year-old.
- May expressed a desire to slow down her pace of life and avoid rushing to acquire the "best" possessions immediately, advocating for setting future goals to maintain motivation and gratitude.
- She plans to donate her entire wealth to a homeless charity or organization if she had to choose one, citing a deep personal inability to keep cash when encountering homeless individuals on the street.
- May emphasizes the importance of transparency on YouTube over Instagram, arguing that sharing "low moments" and unedited content builds deeper trust and engagement with her audience.
- She overcame imposter syndrome in high-level business meetings by admitting what she does not know, such as financial terminology, and actively asking questions to learn quickly.
- May credits her manager Fran for being a "second mother" and essential business partner who helps filter the 800+ daily work emails she receives, allowing them to focus on only 1% of opportunities.
- She believes her success is not solely due to her 170,000 pre-Love Island organic following, but rather her willingness to "go to extremes" and work harder than anyone else after the show.
- May's parents are both former police officers; she recalls her father once shutting down a party she attended, and she remains proud of her family's "ordinary" background which motivated her to avoid an ordinary life.
- She revealed that PLT CEO Umar Kakakhel was previously so desperate to secure her partnership that he was seen in a car frantic about not losing her to competitors, despite other brands offering triple the money.
- May advises her younger self to "slow down" on rushing decisions, specifically regarding cosmetic procedures and moving to Manchester while she was financially unprepared.
- She stated that if she were forced to stop working today, she would cry herself to sleep, as she feels she is "nowhere near done" and that her drive to constantly achieve more is essential to her identity.