Alexa says that knowing how to carry herself has helped her succeed

WHILE most students were stuck in lockdown boredom, this savvy woman was busy building her first business, and she's not shy about what helped her succeed.

Alexa Wilkinson from Leeds, says she's fully aware of how people perceive her - and she's not apologising for it.

She said: "I've always known how to carry myself.

"When you show up with presence, people notice - I just learned to use it to my advantage.

"Some call it pretty privilege. I call it a skill."

Alexa, 26, now a multi-six-figure entrepreneur and mother, began her journey at just 19 during the height of the COVID pandemic.

While studying music at university, she launched a social media marketing agency from her bedroom.

Having dabbled in content creation and influencing as a teen, stepping into the digital marketing world felt like second nature to her.

Within a year, she dropped out of university to run the business full time - working with clients across industries and quickly learning what worked online.

But it wasn't long before Alexa realised her clients, mostly women, weren't just struggling with Instagram posts. They were craving something deeper.

So, in early 2024, Alexa closed her agency and launched 'Alexa Wilkinson LTD' - a business and marketing consultancy for female founders who were already earning but wanted to grow profitably and sustainably.

In 2022, she welcomed her daughter - shortly after buying her first home with her partner - and says motherhood completely reshaped her mission.

Since then, she's worked with clients internationally, hosted sold-out retreats across Europe, travelled for speaking engagements and been invited on top business podcasts.

She said: "They didn't need more ideas. They needed clarity. Strategy. A proper plan to scale their business without burning out.

"It didn't slow me down. It sharpened my focus. I became more driven, and more determined to show that motherhood and ambition don't have to be opposites.

"When I was younger, I'd get told that certain opportunities only came to me because of how I looked - and I used to find that really offensive.

"But over time, I realised that it wasn't because of how I looked, it was because of the skills I'd picked up along the way.

"It's just something I've always had, and instead of denying it, I chose to use it to my advantage.

"I've learned not to fight the narrative - I just show up and let the results speak.

"I'm not just building a company. I'm building proof that women can have it all -- the business, the family, the success - without apology."