Award-winning activist, author, broadcaster and life coach Michelle Elman is best known for actively trying to encourage self-love and body positivity.
Since beginning her career as a five-board accredited life coach back in 2014, with the launch of Mindset For Life, Michelle has worked tirelessly to create a series of wellness campaigns, aiming to motivate and inspire people from all walks of life, to live their best lives, no matter what their background or personal circumstance.
Scarred Not Scared, her most notable campaign, came to fruition after Elman decided there was little representation within society for people who had scars. After having many surgeries herself, Michelle felt compelled to share her own personal experiences as a way to help make others feel less alone. The success of the movement, led to Elman writing her debut novel AM I UGLY? in 2018.
MICHELLE ELMAN: SCARS | SPOKEN WORD | SCARRED NOT SCARED
Three years on, Michelle Elman now returns with her second book THE JOY OF BEING SELFISH, – a captivating read that touches on the importance of practising self-love, ridding your life of drama and toxicity, the importance of creating boundaries and teaching people to love themselves, in the best way they can.
Favourite neighbourhood:
I love South Kensington. I love going for a walk around there, sometimes venturing up to Hyde Park and having a cycle through there with a friend.
Favourite place for brunch:
It’s a cliche but The Breakfast Club is the perfect place, especially after a night out. Whether you want sweet or savoury, they have both!
Best coffee in London:
I’m not a coffee girl, but I would never turn down a trip to Hummingbird Bakery, a cupcake and a cup of tea.
Favourite gallery or museum:
My favourite thing to do is to go to The Science Museum or the National History Museum with my nephews. Seeing everything through the eyes of a toddler is amazing.
Tell us a secret:
I once went paddleboarding in Paddington Basin, got a little too cocky and decided a friend and I could swap boards in the middle of the canal without getting off first. We both went in, in the middle of duckweed season. It was lunch hour and many people were filming.
Favourite place to shop:
Unfortunately, shops are not great at stocking plus size yet so for now, it’s online for me!
Favourite place to find inspiration:
I have never been a coffee shop author and actually find I write best in my own office at home. I have a collage wall opposite my desk that inspires me when I get a writer’s block and two amazing Grey’s Anatomy quotes that keep me going.
Best London destination for a date:
Are you truly a Londoner if someone hasn’t taken you to Gordon’s Wine Bar? Whilst it might not be the best London destination, somehow it always ends up being the place where the best memories are made.
Favourite park:
Hyde Park. In lockdown, I’ve been meeting friends at The Round Pond and walking down to the serpentine and through to the Italian Gardens.
Favourite food market:
Borough Market, it was actually where I went on my last date. I bumped into someone who follows me online and it was all a little awkward.
Your sanctuary in the city:
There is a bridge over the Serpentine right next to the cafe, that got me through a really hard time in my life. Whenever I felt down, I would go to that bridge and watch people on the pedalos and you can’t be sad on a pedalo!
What inspires you?
Movement. For some reason, I always get my best ideas when I am moving, whether it’s cleaning the house, going for a walk or pre-pandemic, in the gym.
This season I’m loving:
Never having to leave my pyjamas, having slow starts in the mornings and the extra time I’ve had to work on a lot of chronic pain issues that have been bugging me for years!
