THERE'S no question that in the past decade we have seen talented women break through the glass ceiling in showbiz.
Here, we introduce three leading ladies of music, TV and radio who are each set to take 2020 by storm.
The singer – Maisie Peters, 19
Brighton-born Maisie released her debut EP It’s Your Bed Babe, It’s Your Funeral last October, before selling out her UK tour.
She’s also supported Tom Walker and George Ezra and gained fans in Lewis Capaldi and Sam Smith.
Have you always loved singing?
I wasn’t really a singing child. But around the age of 11, I started writing songs and would record them, then put them in folders and label them good, bad, really bad. Now I rate my songs with emojis when I write them.
Did you ever dream that you would have a career as a singer?
I definitely never thought I would be doing this. I only ever wrote songs for me because I enjoyed it. I never thought: “I’m gonna be a pop star”. Then at 13, I started my YouTube channel and I began busking.
That must have been a bit scary…
The scariest bit is the setting up. I thought my stuff must have been good because I used to get decent money from it. I would do it for around three hours, singing a mix of covers and my own songs and I’d earn £100. I used the money to buy YouTube equipment, like my first camera and mics.
When did your career take off?
The YouTube channel wasn’t an overnight success. By 2016, after three years work, I had 40,000 followers and my manager found me through that. It was also around that time that I had to decide if I wanted to go to university, but by then I knew that I was far enough along to pursue music.
Do you ever worry about trolls or negative comments online?
I’m not a sensitive person and I’m good at compartmentalising. I’m not saying it doesn’t affect me, but I see it and think: “Well they don’t know me”. I didn’t ever get a huge amount of trolling on my YouTube channel. I just had a really nice fan base.
You describe your music as “emo girl pop” – where did that come from?
I made my own bed and my own funeral with that term because now loads of people ask me about it – but it started as a joke! I’ve got this far so I’ve got to keep going with it. People often ask if Billie Eilish is emo girl pop, and I’m like: “Yes, she can be emo girl pop”. I think she’s amazing.
Who are some of your favourite artists that you’ve supported?
Tom Walker. He’s a lovely northern gem. I supported Mahalia two years ago, too. She’s just the most authentic, lovely, warm and kind person. I’ve done some stuff with George Ezra and he’s also a gem.
Do you enjoy performing?
I hate doing gigs in front of people I know. My favourite gigs to do are always in places like Birmingham, where I don’t know anyone.
What have been the most amazing moments so far?
Playing London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire last year. When you’re actually there it goes so fast that you don’t really have time to clock it before you’re off again.
Have you had any advice from other successful singers?
A lot of musicians have said that the most important thing is your music – full stop. You’ve just got to remember what you’re here to do. You’re here to create music and it’s easy to get distracted and to feel like there are too many other things you should be thinking about.
Have you felt pressure to look a certain way in the public eye?
No. There are people that care about how I look more than I do, but that’s no bad thing! I understand that people just want to help.
What would you say have been some of your biggest challenges so far?
There are always 5,000 things to do and there’s a burning phone in my pocket. It’s a bit like you’re walking in a line and people are constantly throwing chairs at you.
What does the future hold?
World domination! Joking. Songs, and more songs. I just want to keep going and not really stop.
The presenter – Yinka Bokinni, 30
Radio host Yinka landed the Capital Xtra Breakfast Show in September, along with co-host Shayna Marie. The Londoner also hosted the main stage at Wireless 2019.
Did you always want to be a presenter?
No, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I was younger. Up until I started presenting and DJing, I’d been fired from every single job I’d had. I’ve danced on the bar at Proud, I’ve been a hostess in a restaurant, then I worked in an office for a few days… that didn’t really work out. I also studied for a law degree at University College London.
So when did you figure it out?
I was in Superdrug in 2014 and heard its radio station playing, and I thought I could do that. I did some research and found out about Rinse FM in London’s Brick Lane. I went down to the station every day and hounded them until they gave me a job. After a year of handing out flyers at 5am after Ministry Of Sound, working on the street team or burning CDs, I got a slot on the breakfast show.
How did you make the jump to landing a job at Capital Xtra?
I made a show reel over the course of six months by recording my breakfast show at Rinse. I sent it to every radio station I could think of. And it worked, because I got a call in 2016.
Where did you get that perseverance?
I come from a real background, we weren’t rich, we lived on an estate. It’s taught me that you have to work hard for things. I can’t think of anything worse than being old and not thinking that I didn’t go for something or stick at it.
Who in the public eye do you look up to?
Judge Judy! I adore her. I watch her every day on series record. She’s so sassy and knowledgeable and she’s always right. I also love Alesha Dixon. She was in a band [Mis-Teeq] in the Noughties and now she’s a broadcaster and is stunning. I love women who refuse to go away.
What’s been the highlight so far?
I DJd at Wireless festival last summer in front of 50,000 people. I got to take my whole family to that, and they were gassed about it. Also, the Capital Xtra Breakfast Show – it’s my dream job, so to be there three years (she started off on the Capital Xtra evening show) and then be given the opportunity to be at the helm is amazing.
Who have you loved meeting so far?
KSI [YouTuber and rapper]! I didn’t get it before, he was just some dude on YouTube, but when he came in I was kicking myself. He was such a nice guy. I love Stefflon Don and Stormzy, too. He’s adorable.
Any wild stories?
I’ve become such a bore since doing the breakfast show because I have to go to bed early, but the places I’ve been invited to blow my mind. Cara Delevingne threw a launch party with fashion brand Nasty Gal and there were fire-eaters and women running around wearing nipple tassels. I just couldn’t believe I was there!
What’s been your biggest challenge?
Coming from London’s rough North Peckham estate, I struggle with feeling like I deserve to be places. But now I’m doing Capital Xtra and a documentary for Channel 4 on growing up on the estate [out later this year]. The only way I’ve been able to get over that is just doing it anyway.
Is there anyone you’ve lost who you wish could see you now?
My mum passed away 12 years ago in 2008 from cancer. I looked after her when I was 16-19 years old, and went to university late because of that. We were so close, so I know my mum would be proud of me.
What’s next for you?
I plan on keeping my job at Capital Xtra for a bit! I want to grow in the show. We are the first of our kind, in terms of two black women at the forefront of a commercial breakfast show. And I want to keep doing more television like 4Music and red carpet work at film festivals. I’m in it for the long haul.
The actress – Milly Zero, 20
Last summer, former BRIT School student Milly joined the cast of EastEnders as Dotty Cotton, grandaughter of the soap’s most iconic character, Dot Branning. She also starred in CBBC’s All At Sea.
How have you found life on Albert Square so far?
It was really weird at first. I’ve seen these other actors on screen since I was a child. I’d watch it with my family all the time, so it was strange to see they were actually real people! Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia, has kind of been my on-set mum since the start. I also love Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale. On my very first episode he was filming his 6,000th episode!
Was there anyone you were scared to meet?
When I met Danny Dyer I was like: “Oh my god”, because he’s just so famous. He’s so lovely though, and his daughters are my age so he kind of treats me how he would treat them. Then meeting June [Brown, who plays Dot Branning] was surreal.
Have people started recognising you out and about?
Yeah, definitely. Sometimes they look at you funny and because I dress quite differently from my character, people aren’t sure. Then when they realise, they say they really like Dotty. Plus, people always wait outside the studios to meet
me which is really sweet.
Have you always been a performer?
Yeah, I would say so. None of my family are in the business, but in assemblies at school I would push to the front and sing louder than everyone else. Then my mum put me in the local drama class and I just lapped up the attention. When I was 13, I started looking up acting agents and emailing them. I did it all myself.
And it worked?
One agency said come in for an audition. I don’t know how or why they were interested, but I got signed with them and a week later I got a part on CBBC show All At Sea. Then I started at the BRIT School in Croydon full-time when I was 14. Tom Holland [who plays Spider-Man] and Raye [the singer] were a few years above me at the time. Clay Milner Russell, who plays Bobby Beale in EastEnders was in my year, too. It was so nice having a familiar face on set when I first started.
Which other actors do you look up to?
Lesley Manville. I think she is stunning on screen. She came from a similar background to me. She started in Emmerdale, and went on to do things like Phantom Thread with Daniel Day-Lewis. I thought, if she can do it…
What sort of childhood did you have?
I have a really supportive family, but as a young person who’s not from a really rich background you look at older actors and see that they all went to Eton and private schools and boarding schools, and you can think: “Is there a place for me in this industry?” Now I’ve realised that things are really changing. In EastEnders a lot of the cast speak like me, so I feel like I really belong there!
What would be your dream role in the future?
I love history, so I’d like to get involved with period dramas and plays as well. I watch lots of theatre. I think that’s really important as an actor, you learn a lot from just watching.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Being told at the BRIT School: “You’re enough, you’re always enough”. In this industry you’re going to doubt yourself and there is going to be competition, but they told me to always remember that. Natalie Cassidy also told me on my first day to stay grounded and stay focused on the work – don’t get lost. She said millions of people are watching it and not everyone’s going to like you, but don’t let that get in the way of what you’re doing.
- Hair: Dino Pereira using Kiehl’s Since 1851 Magic Elixir
- Make-up: Aimee Adams using Bare Minerals
- Styling: Nana Acheampong
- Maisie wears: jumper, Never Fully Dressed Yinka wears: top, Topshop Milly wears: top, Reserved; trousers, Topshop; boots, Primark
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