Ambitious, confident and strong are three words we use to describe Jo. Chatty, too! She can talk for England, and I'm not surprised as she had so much to say!
Jo, Founder of Goddess Aesthetics has just launched her new tan 'Goddess Tan' in Waitrose, Windsor and she took us through the highs and lows of her inspiring story where we were left questioning how she stays so strong.
Growing up as a child that has lived through her parents' divorce, we all know how difficult that is, despite the added layer of her mothers mental health and alcoholism playing a huge role in the emotional trauma that Jo still struggles with, even today. At twelve years old, Jo sought help from a childhood psychologist where she learned the skill of compartmentalising, which she still says today, is the one this that helps her to shrug off the negative energy and lean into everything positive about life.
"I just learnt to put my thoughts into certain boxes where I hold the key, and I decide what I let in and out of my mind. I am in control of my thoughts now, not the other way round and that changed the game for me."
Statistics and data obsessed, attractive Jo, now fifty years old, admits that being a woman stopped her from landing what she thought was her dream job at 18 years old, when the man leading the interview sexually harassed her and asked her, "You look hungry and ambitious, so what are you prepared to do to get this job?" whilst stroking his tie suggestively. Jo showed courage and integrity whilst politely telling her interview to "do one" there and then.
Proof that there is always a silver lining, Jo made her way to the pub to tell her friends, and one of them happened to mention that there was an advert for a model needed, and despite Jo's best efforts to stop her, her friend called the advertiser and got Jo booked in for an audition! (Don't we all need friends as supportive as Jo's!) within a heartbeat, Jo got the modelling job and was flying all over the world in a professional modelling career that lasted around 20 years.
She married a man she'd known for 30 years in 2016. "He was my constant... my everything, the one person I could rely on no matter what, but I came home one day with my son, to an empty house. He'd taken everything. Even the ketchup in the fridge and the bed linen and left me and my son with nothing but a shell to live in and a cleared out bank account."
After this, Jo hit the floor for three months. She battled with herself so hard when she felt drawn to take her own life. "I can understand the desperation in people when they take their own life, I've been there, I've felt it. It's terrifying, but I get it." Jo just didn't want to be here any more. But somehow found enough bravery to just keep going, for her son and for herself. "I somehow turned a corner, kids definitely keep you going."
Fast forward a year and Jo, 46 at the time, qualified in anatomy and physiology and launched her non-surgical aesthetics business where Jo and her nurses provide fillers, anti-wrinkle and Aqualyx fat dissolving treatments. "I couldn't believe I passed my exams, I just couldn't believe that I had been able to achieve something like that and I can now say I'm proud of myself for doing the right thing and keeping strong. With everything that is expected of women and everything I had to go through in life, it left me tired and I spent so much time on keeping my head above water that I never found time to look after myself. Now, I get to make other women feel like the goddess they deserve to feel, because we all deserve that."
We asked Jo if she ever saw her life turning out the way it has and she laughed, "No! Of course not! When girls are little, they are taught to dream up fairytales about life, how they can be rescued by a Prince and how everything will be perfect, but let me tell you, all that glitters isn't gold and the grass is never greener. Little girls are not prepared for real life and we need to hear more inspiring stories of real-life struggles that women face, so that little girls don't feel so lost and broken growing up when they are one day just hit with the realities of life! I wish there was a documentary where real women could share their stories... that is what Netflix should be airing." we agree, Jo!
Jo has a list of celebrity clients and her recent launch of her new tanning product 'Goddess Tan' had stars like Kimberley Wyatt from the Pussycat Dolls headlining it. Kimberly Wyatt wore a stunning navy suit designed by Jo's son Josh Birch Jones, a teen London fashion Week designer - YES... you heard that right. Amongst the chaos that Jo carried the weight, she managed to raise an incredibly gifted son who followed his mum's ambitious footsteps, as well as Jo becoming a successful and inspiring business owner and entrepreneur. Jo broke the trauma chain and made sure that the experiences she faced as a child, were not passed down to her son.
What's next for Jo?
We wish we could share what's next for Jo, but it's under wraps as she plans some exciting PR moves to support the growth of her business. All you should know is, this incredible woman means business and we have no doubt that the Goddess brand is going to become a globally recognised name in no time.
Jo's advice
"Don't ever quit or give up on yourself. Turn those NO's into YES. You might not realise yet how capable you are, but always give yourself a chance to prove it to yourself. If life tells you to jump, you turn around and say 'tell me how high and i will do it'. People will try and strip you down along the way and you will realise who your real friends are, but never stop betting on yourself and if anyone tells you that you're not enough, you tell them to come back when they realise what women have to deal with in life and how strong they really are. You are a goddess!"
In a nutshell
"The truth will always come out, don't lie to yourself and don't let other peoples lies about you get you down, you are capable of amazing things and the real you will always shine through."
Our biggest takeaway from Jo
If you felt the need to read this story, you have probably experienced adversity in life, and Jo's story proves that you can experience almost everything that life has to throw at you from mental health struggles, childhood trauma, divorce, depression and still 'somehow' find a way. We want to help inspire other women to keep going and our main takeaway is that, you can, never give up on yourself and if you're struggling, please reach for help. A child psychologist was part of jo's journey and provided her with the skills needed to help her control her emotions. Getting professional help is not something to be fearful of.
Stay strong ladies! x
Well done Jo, you inspire us all and we love you!
Follow Jo on her success journey:
Insta: Goddessbeauty.uk
Goddess Aesthetics, Hever Avenue, Sevenoaks. TN15 6HG
