Latest news with #socialentrepreneur
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE MAFS' Katie Johnson reveals how rape ordeal left her hiding behind her weight gain before she turned to weight-loss injections to reclaim her health: 'I was slowly killing myself'
Married At First Sight star Katie Johnson has bravely revealed the dark truth behind her journey to healing. The 37-year-old fan favourite candidly detailed the trauma of being raped before the age of 21, how it derailed her sense of self, and how it ultimately sparked a radical transformation of mind, body and soul. In an emotional sit-down interview at the Daily Mail Australia office, the 37-year-old social entrepreneur opened up about the moment her world came crashing down – and how her journey on MAFS triggered a reckoning that helped her begin to take back her power. Katie revealed she was just three months shy of her 21st birthday when a man she trusted violently raped her. 'I completely froze,' she said, her voice shaking. 'I was pinned down. I couldn't move a muscle or say a word. I couldn't fight for myself. I thought I was strong – but I froze.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I had just launched my second remedial massage business. I had everything going for me, and then – in an instant – it was all gone.' Katie said she didn't leave her apartment for two weeks following the assault. When she finally did, it was to visit hospital for a severe urinary tract infection caused by internal damage. 'The nurse said, "It's just a UTI – it's not the end of the world." But I broke down and said, "No – I think I've been raped"' Katie said. Despite the hospital visit, Katie never underwent a forensic rape kit. She also didn't tell anyone for over a year. A psychologist told her pressing charges would 'probably look like your fault' due to the lack of evidence – a comment that caused her to spiral further into isolation and self-blame. 'For a long time, I couldn't even use the word "rape." I just called it "the event" because it was too painful to say,' she said. 'I didn't want to be that woman – the one people look at with pity.' Katie eventually told her family, but by then, she said the psychological damage had already taken root - impacting her career, her mental health, her confidence and especially her relationship with her body. 'I felt like if I stayed small and pretty and bright – I was a target,' Katie said. 'So I got bigger. I hid. I made myself less desirable, less visible. It felt safer to not shine.' The weight became her protection – a barrier between herself and a world she no longer trusted. And while she outwardly projected confidence and resilience, inside she was still 'fighting for air.' Even when she appeared on MAFS in 2025, she thought she was 'healed' – until she watched herself back on screen. 'I saw myself being triggered, affected by someone whose opinion shouldn't have mattered,' she said of her match on the show. 'That's when I realised – I still had work to do. My self-esteem wasn't where I thought it was.' Katie said the wake-up call came not from social pressure or looks – but a scan that revealed her visceral fat levels were dangerously high. Katie says her weight became her protection – a barrier between herself and a world she no longer trusted. And while she outwardly projected confidence and resilience, inside she was still 'fighting for air' 'My bio-age was older than my actual age. The fat around my organs was a massive red flag,' she said. 'That's when it clicked – I've been carrying this weight like a punishment. But I was slowly killing myself. That terrified me.' Determined to reclaim her health, Katie made a commitment to not just lose weight, but to truly live. 'This isn't about vanity,' she said firmly. 'It's about survival.' Katie initially tried weight-loss injections, including Mounjaro, but struggled with fatigue and sickness. 'I didn't feel alive. I was shrinking physically, but I had no energy – no spark,' she said. She then resumed Mounjaro with a supplement that she says helped with side effects. 'It changed everything,' Katie said. 'I felt energised, excited to work out, and like I was finally living again.' She's already dropped a dress size – and has two more to go until she hits her target. 'I'm not chasing a number. I'm chasing a feeling – health, strength, and pride in how far I've come.' Katie's transformation isn't just physical. It's emotional. Spiritual. Empowering. 'I used to sabotage myself. I used to think being at my best was dangerous,' she said. 'Now, I know it's safe to shine. And I have a right to.' The former MAFS bride now uses her platform to share her journey in raw, unfiltered honesty – helping other women feel less alone in their pain. 'I'm not here to tell anyone what to do. But I want to show them what's possible – when you take back control, when you choose yourself.' 'To anyone who's been through trauma – I see you. I feel you. I've been there,' Katie said. 'It's not your fault. It never was. Be gentle with yourself. Take it slow. Speak kindly to yourself. And remember – healing doesn't have a deadline.' Katie said she's now focused on continuing her wellness journey, documenting her progress online, and eventually – hiking a mountain and wearing a bikini again. 'I want to see myself and say, "You did that. You survived. You shined. You're finally home in your own body"' she explained. As for love? That's on the backburner – for now. 'My self-love cup is overflowing,' she smiled. 'And that's all I need.' If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Entrepreneur who made £1,200 on Vinted reveals genius 50p trick to increase sales
A Vinted seller has shared the '50p hack' that can increase sales on the fashion and beauty resale app. Zakia Moulaoui Guery has always loved vintage clothing, having spent her childhood scouring thrift shops in France with her mother. Now based in Edinburgh, Zakia, 37, uses the online thrifting app - that gained popularity among Gen Z and millennials during the Covid pandemic - to sell one-of-a-kind pieces from her own closet. Over the past two years, Zakia has earned £1,200 from the app - and picked up handy tricks to close a deal on the app along the way. For instance, if you find something is proving particularly difficult to sell, Zakia recommends reposting it with a price that's 50p lower than your original listing since 'reducing your items regularly works quite well'. This is especially helpful if you want to maintain your 'Frequent Seller' badge, she told The Sun, but don't have enough stock to flog. She explained: 'I always start by knowing what I would absolutely sell it for at a minimum, so that I can reduce the price if needed. Once it's posted online, I just want it to sell. 'So if I'm reposting, I knock off £1 or 50p. Reducing your items regularly works quite well.' The social entrepreneur, who runs a company that organises walking tours by people who have experienced homelessness, also shared some of her other tried-and-tested strategies to maximise earnings on Vinted. She recommended picking a niche so your shop front stands out to Vinted's 16 million users, with Zakia focusing her collection on 'vintage or retro-inspired pieces'. The founder of Invisible Cities also suggested looking through your wardrobe for branded items from labels like Cos or Uniqlo that don't fit your style, since these can go for a pretty penny on Vinted. Finally, she advised that Vinted isn't just for clothes; selling beauty and skincare products - so long as their unopened and still in their original packaging - can 'make a lot of money' as well. It comes after another ace Vinted user revealed the five most common mistakes first-time sellers make. In a clip titled 'How I made over £4k selling on Vinted', Chloe outlined the things you 'shouldn't be doing' if you want to make big bucks on the app. Chloe revealed her very first step is to always check the account that she is selling to or buying from as there are some 'scam accounts' floating around on the app. She said: 'The first thing that you shouldn't be doing on Vinted is not checking accounts. 'I call this 'account vetting' and if I'm buying or selling to somebody, I will go to their account and check their reviews, check their bio, check everything that there is to do with their account. 'If something feels a little bit dodgy, then I just either don't buy from them or I don't sell to them. 'This is so important because so many accounts are made to scam people now, so if they don't have any reviews, if their username looks really weird, if they have nothing in their bio or no picture, stay clear from these sorts of accounts. 'Please, please, please before you buy anything or before you sell to somebody, you need to make sure that it is a genuine account and that it is an actual person rather than a scam account.' Elsewhere Chloe revealed that you don't have to spend money on fancy packaging to send items. She said: 'Please, please, please do not buy the TikTok shop bags to ship your items in - please recycle. 'Ask your family, ask your friends, ask your partner, ask your neighbours, collect old packaging, because this is so much better for the environment and it really, really saves a lot of waste.' Chloe also stressed that it is very important to collect packages quickly and if you will be away get the package delivered to the house. She said: 'The third thing that you shouldn't be doing is leaving your parcels when you should be collecting them. 'Please, please, please, if you are a buyer, collect your parcel. 'I buy and sell on Vinted and if something is delivered to the parcel shop, I try and pick it up straight away, because I know how frustrating it is when you are a seller and you're waiting for somebody to pick up their parcel and they just don't.' She also urged Vinted sellers not to spray the clothes with perfume before they package them up. Finally, Chloe claimed it was very important to ensure that your bio was complete. She explained: 'The fifth and final thing that you should not be doing is leaving your bio blank. 'Fill in your bio, put a nice picture, put in a little bit of information about you.' Chloe said this makes sales 'a little bit more personal' and allows users to identify whether you are a real person or a scam account.
