Samantha Gilchrist, who was raised on a council estate, has astonished many by turning her wedding venue business into a £20 million empire. Kicking off with just one establishment in 2017, the determined founder and CEO of Gilchrist Collection has rapidly grown her brand, now boasting 12 luxurious estates frequented by celebrities. In a heartfelt chat with OK! , Sam reminisced about her humble beginnings: "I had a magical upbringing, my mum was fantastic and I don't remember anything bad about my childhood.
My parents separated when I was four and we lived in council houses. I got my clothes from jumble sales, but for me, that was the most exciting thing ever until I was a teenager, I really enjoyed it." She shared an endearing birthday memory that highlighted her mother's love amidst financial hardship, saying, "We moved into this flat.
It was super mouldy and really disgusting, but it was my birthday, and because my mum needed to paint it, she painted 'Happy Birthday' on it and as a kid, it was the most exciting thing ever. I was standing there in a fairy dress made out of crepe paper and tinsel that my mum had handmade. It was really incredible.
" Looking back at those moments, Sam credits them with driving her towards a life of self-sufficiency: "It was definitely a struggle for my mum. I remember being aware of my mum working a lot of jobs to support us, and I've always had it in the back of my mind to want to be completely independent. I am very into a woman being able.