“I stopped seeking external validation and began to talk to myself differently.”
-Amanda Moss
Amanda, thank you for joining us today. To begin, could you introduce yourself in your own words—your background, what you do now, and what you’re currently aiming for?
I am Amanda Moss, 53, mother of six and public relations expert. I trained as a journalist and went into local and national newspapers, then fell into TV promotions scriptwriting. After being made redundant for the fourth time, I set up my own lifestyle magazine in Liverpool, UK. Covid forced me to close it down temporarily and with no advertisers and six children to look after, I left my stale marriage and moved to my holiday home in Cyprus. Here I replicated my business model and set up Lifestyle Magazine Cyprus. I also started a boutique public relations company after being asked several times to help businesses promote themselves.
After spending a lifetime of belittling and emotional neglect from people who should have cared about me (parents, husband), I stopped seeking external validation and began to talk to myself differently. I lost weight, transformed my image, and became more vocal on social media platforms. I didn’t want my children to see me as a pushover; I wanted to inspire them to be the best version of themselves and not tolerate bad behaviour from anyone. And how could I guide them if I didn’t take my own advice? Like anyone in life, I received setbacks after setbacks and was sidelined for work I knew I was capable of doing. Instead of withdrawing into myself, I realised this isn’t uncommon for women, especially in midlife, and someone needed to speak up. I want to make an impact on the world on behalf of women everywhere who are too afraid to say no and choose themselves. Self-love is self-care.
You’ve written a very personal and candid book that earned the Beyond Boundaries Reads Award. Could you walk us through what this recognition means to you—and what part of your story you think resonated most with readers?
This is the best award I could ever receive and I am truly grateful. Finally, people are listening to me. I am not special; I am just an ordinary mum who got fat after pregnancy and shrunk to fit everyone’s expectations of me, and then one day I just had enough. I didn’t recognise the person in the mirror. I was fat and ugly and lost, and I realised I deserved more from life than to pale into insignificance. And I began to realise that I was not alone. Women are in stale, emotionless marriages and relationships all over the world and are feeling trapped. This book is my wake-up call to every woman who wants more from her life. I think every chapter will resonate with readers. Women are scared to leave for financial reasons; they’re scared of being on their own. They’re scared of new relationships and are worried about being judged for having sex. Women are feeling vulnerable, and I want them to know that this is ok and normal, but on the other side of fear is an incredibly liberating and more fulfilling life.
Your story is one of significant transition. What was the first conscious decision you made that marked the start of that reinvention—and what internal or external resistance did you have to overcome?
I was sat on my bed with five of my children and I took a selfie of us all, and I didn’t recognise the woman. I was enormous; my body took up more than half of the double bed. My hair was lank, and my boobs and belly were just morphing into this giant blob. I was disgusted with myself. I did not want my children to have an obese mother; I needed to get my act together, and so I started going to the gym. I became addicted to the feeling of working out, and I took on more classes and started to do workouts at home too. I ditched the grazing sweets in bed and stopped eating after 7pm. Simple steps that anyone can do. I didn’t have any external resistance and I didn’t make any grand announcements. But a couple of my kids came to the gym with me and we worked out together, and that spurred me on.
Throughout your book, you touch on boundaries, solo travel, and building a new life. How did your personal and professional values evolve as you made these changes?
Having children meant I wasn’t as free to solo travel and I felt like a caged bird. I used to sit in bed flicking through travel brochures instead of reading books when they were young. In the process of building a new life, both my personal and professional values underwent significant evolution. Personally, I came to deeply value autonomy and self-trust. I booked the trips alone and this forced me to rely on my intuition, make decisions without external validation, and embrace solitude as a space for growth rather than something to be feared. That directly influenced how I started setting boundaries—not just with others, but with myself. I learned to say no to things that didn’t align with my well-being or direction.
Professionally, I moved from seeking external approval or traditional metrics of success to prioritizing alignment and authenticity. I stopped chasing roles or projects that didn’t feel meaningful and stopped working with people I didn’t like. Instead, I focused on work that allowed me to contribute with integrity and creativity. The experience of starting over and building a life on my own terms helped me realize that fulfillment isn’t a destination, it’s a daily practice of choosing what feels right, even if it’s uncomfortable or unconventional.
There’s a strong thread of self-leadership in your story. What does self-leadership mean to you now, and how has your understanding of it changed over time?
No one is responsible for you or your happiness and you have to choose yourself. My parents abandoned me, my husband ignored me, but I knew I was worthy of more. I knew I was a good, kind person. People in work asked me for advice all the time and I realised I needed to start taking it myself. I have been in and out of therapy all my life; I set up a business without any help. I realised I have useful skills to offer others who may not be as bold as me and I wanted to share these skills. It’s not arrogance.
You mention health, mindset, and even aesthetics as part of your transformation. What practices have helped you sustain these changes, and what role has habit or discipline played in your reinvention?
I am incredibly disciplined and start every day with a workout, either at home or in the gym. This sets me up for the day and makes me feel strong and invincible. I got a fit watch so I can track my calories and steps. I don’t diet, but I need to know I am burning 2600 calories a day. So if I have a day sat at my laptop working and see I haven’t moved much, I will take myself on a 5k walk.
Aesthetically, I want to look my best, so Botox top-ups every 3 months are essential and a PRP facial every 6 months is also in my diary. These treatments are self-grooming, not vanity, and make me feel and look my best.
Creativity often re-emerges in people’s lives when other distractions fall away. How has your creative voice or approach to storytelling evolved since moving abroad and writing your book?
The beach and coastline have always been my creative inspiration. Being able to go on beautiful scenic coastal walks or sitting staring out at the ocean has a massive impact on my creativity, and I love the solitude of open water swimming with my body gliding in the ocean. I am so pale and insignificant when you see how vast the sea is, but it’s also so empowering to glide through the waves and I feel a strong connection to the universe when I swim or walk. These are my best moments for creative inspiration.
You’ve made bold lifestyle and location choices that required independence and resourcefulness. What advice would you give to others—especially women—considering unconventional life shifts later in life?
I am told every week, “Oh I wish I could do what you did,” and I always reply with, “You can.” You just need to make that decision. You don’t need to know all the answers—I mean, I don’t! But you can change the path you’re on; you’re in the driving seat. I live week to week and go with the flow now. It’s far more freeing than worrying if I can pay my mortgage in six months or whatever. Life has a way of working out the way you want it to, and if you’re unhappy, move. That’s what our legs are for.
How do you now think about inclusion and visibility—especially in how society perceives women over 50—and in what ways do you believe your work supports broader conversations around representation?
More than ever, it is important for women over 50 to speak up. With the rise of the incel movement on social media and horrendous misogyny, if we don’t speak up then our children’s generations will suffer. Women have so much wisdom and life experience to offer, and yet we’re told to shrink into the background. I refuse to.
The media tells us how we should dress at a certain age and how we should cut our hair and behave nicely. Sorry, not sorry, but no one tells me what to do or what to wear. We have a voice, we have intelligence, and we need to shout louder.
Women’s bodies go through so much—through puberty, monthly periods, and then menopause with life-changing hormonal imbalance—and we’re told “we’re crazy.” No, we’re not. We’re refusing to tolerate bad behaviour from others and society’s misogynist expectations of us.
I found out recently that most over-the-counter drugs such as paracetamol are tested on men, not women, so the effects on our bodies are different. Same with workout routines and diets, usually aimed at men. This has to stop.
Women tend to live longer than men and we’re not going quietly. Oh, and it’s absolutely ok and perfectly ladylike to curse.
I write a blog touching on all these themes.
Looking ahead, what are you most curious about building, exploring, or learning next—and what questions are you still asking yourself today?
Looking ahead, I would like to believe that true love does exist. I have never had romance in my life and hold on to the fairytale belief that it does exist. Of course, I would have to start dating and opening myself up vulnerably, and that terrifies me—but again, it’s all part of growth and maybe one day I will be ready to do that.
In the meantime, I want to build a community of courageous women who aren’t afraid to speak up, who defy society’s expectations of women, and who are prepared to walk boldly into the unknown. After all, you’re going to die—so do it anyway.
If you were to write your bio in your own words, what would you say?
I am a dynamic PR expert and dedicated mother of six, known for my passion, resilience, and innovation in the communications industry. I have earned multiple accolades, including the prestigious Best Global PR Award in both 2022 and 2023, and a Lifestyle Award from Downtown in Business Liverpool. In 2025, I am named a finalist in the She Inspires Awards – Women in Digital, recognizing my leadership and impact in the digital space. Balancing motherhood and a thriving career, I hope to inspire others with my bold approach to storytelling and brand visibility.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“You’re going to die—so do it anyway.”
-Amanda Moss
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Alignment with the UN SDGs
- SDG 5: Promotes gender equality through women’s empowerment and visibility
- SDG 3: Highlights mental health, well-being, and healthy lifestyle choices
- SDG 8: Supports decent work and entrepreneurship
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