She started her brand Jean London ten years ago with the motto ‘Big rocks for powerful people’. As a child, Hannah associated big gems with diamonds and very precious stones, therefore thinking them unattainable to everyone but the one percent.

But after delving into the semi-precious stone market, as well as the mines from which they came (quite literally working in the mines), she realized that she too could wear forty carat rocks on her fingers. She’d found her workaround, and the beginning of her brand.

‍

Starting out in the fashion and jewelry industry is perhaps more difficult and nuanced than mining for gems in Sri Lanka, and with less workarounds. One of which is networking - getting to know people, and letting them get to know you - it’s a non-negotiable. No one is going to help someone they don’t know..

‍

Hannah met one such person early on in her journey, who not only became the subject of her new BBC Sounds podcast, Stalked, but a malevolent presence in her life she couldn’t shake for more than a decade. This person placed themself in Hannah’s corner and offered to hold her hand through the fashion weeks and late-night after parties, seemingly from the goodness of their heart.

‍

Co-hosted by Hannah’s ‘ex -step mom’ and renowned journalist, Carole Cadwallader, Stalked delves into the dark side of the industry, and only begins to crack the surface of a conversation that is long overdue. Each year in the UK, it’s estimated that 1.5 million people are affected by ‘stalking’ - either cyber or in person.

‍

There are few things scarier than being stalked and not knowing who to trust, but even more so when your livelihood and dreams are steeped in an industry that’s also home to your pursuer. Fashion, like Hollywood and the entertainment industry, is a place where you fake it till you make it. It’s see and be seen. Show up and show out. Needless to say, it’s extremely competitive, and young creatives need to have their wits about them in order to level up. But if those wits are constantly beaten down by someone playing cruel mind games, how can you hope to succeed?

‘I realised that it was important to not only raise awareness around stalking and harassment but also offer a space for those affected to find validation and support,’ says Hannah. ‘It’s a space where I can unpack what happened to me, but also create a community where others can feel seen and heard.’

But in addition to being a space for victims, it’s also her first step to creating space for conversation in the fashion industry about the kind of behaviour that can no longer be tolerated.

In a world where it’s no longer ‘eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of what we will’ (or so chanted 19th-century workers campaigning for an 8-hour workday) every hour of our existence can be and is commodified by the rise of social media. We feel the need to not only update our followers, and those we want to attract, with minute and personal details of our lives. By doing so we inherently open ourselves up to scrutiny, criticism, adoration, and perhaps worst of all, mimicry. Online scams are very real, and can take many forms - including twisted individuals who want to impersonate you for their own misguided purposes.

‘I'm hoping to reach anyone who's been affected by online harassment or stalking, but also people who might not realise the risks of their online behaviour. Almost every case of stalking today is virtual or involves an online element,’ says Hannah, who although she travelled around the world, wasn’t able to escape this person’s online presence.

‘I used to think if you're not doing anything ‘wrong’, you're safe online - but that's not true at all. Now I'm hyper-aware of how much information we all put out there - even details that seem innocent can be used against you.’

Information can and will (probably) be used against you, because people are people, and not everyone lives in black and white, let alone good and bad. And sadly, one of those gray areas in which big attitudes, personas, leg-ups, and pettiness prevails is fashion - in the most beautiful shade of charcoal silk. But how do we alter that narrative into one where problems like stalkers happen less?

‍

BSC: Noting how tight-knit the community is, did you feel unable to reach out to those around her in fashion / jewellery to vet this person and find support?

HMM: The tight-knit nature of the fashion and jewellery communities can make it really challenging to reach out for support. On the one hand, the industry relies heavily on personal connections and networking, so it's easy to feel like everyone knows everyone. That closeness can make it feel like speaking up could lead to backlash. I definitely struggled with whether it was safe to talk to others about the situation. I was concerned about how it might be perceived — would I be labeled as difficult or oversensitive? Would my reputation or future opportunities be affected if people found out? You don’t want to risk being alienated in such a competitive environment, especially when you're trying to protect your career. The reality is that the community is not as invulnerable as it may seem — there are people who understand, who have faced similar challenges, but it can be tough to find them when you're afraid of the consequences of opening up.

‍

BSC: Not to mention coping with the pressures of trying to enter such an appearance-centric fake it till you make it world while navigating this situation

That was one of the toughest aspects of the experience — trying to maintain the outward appearance of confidence and success while navigating such a challenging and isolating situation. The fashion and jewellery industry can often feel like a ‘fake it till you make it’ world, where you're constantly under pressure to look perfect, act perfect, and never let anyone see cracks in the facade. In some ways, this pressure amplified everything I was going through.

It was like I was trying to keep my professional persona intact, all while feeling completely drained behind the scenes. The expectation to always appear poised and flawless, no matter what is happening in your personal life, creates a dangerous dynamic where it’s easy to feel like you can’t ask for help or that you're not allowed to be vulnerable.

To cope with this, I had to learn to compartmentalise. When I was working or attending events, I focused all my energy on keeping up the act. But when I was alone or in a safer space, I would let myself process what was really happening. It was exhausting but I also knew that if I let the pressure show, it might give people the impression that I was weak or unfit for the industry. Now I realise that my well-being has to come first, even if it means stepping away from the expectations of ‘perfection’ that the industry often demands.

‍

BSC: Lastly, much like Hollywood, fashion is an industry where people are willing to overlook gray or outwardly wrong things and acts in order to 'make it.' So how can we make the fashion industries safer moving forward, and a community where people feel they can speak up?

‍

The fashion industry, much like Hollywood, often operates under this unspoken rule where the end goal of 'making it' sometimes justifies overlooking troubling behaviors or situations. It's a culture that often rewards silence, and that needs to change if we want to create a safer and more supportive environment for everyone involved.

To make the fashion industry safer, we need a fundamental shift in how we view power dynamics, respect, and accountability. First, it starts with creating a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and abuse — not just on paper, but actively enforced across all levels of the industry. That means ensuring there are clear, accessible reporting mechanisms that feel safe and trusted, and making sure there are real consequences for perpetrators. It’s about creating an environment where speaking up isn’t seen as a threat to one’s career, but as a necessary action to protect the integrity of the community.

Another important shift is changing the culture around the idea of 'faking it.' Instead of rewarding toxic behaviors like manipulation or the acceptance of abuse for the sake of success, we should promote authenticity and transparency. People should feel empowered to show up as their true selves — to be vulnerable without fear of being seen as weak or unprofessional. This can start with better mental health support within the industry, as well as more open conversations about the pressures that people face behind closed doors.

For too long, there has been this notion of 'protecting the brand' or 'protecting the individual,' even when doing so compromises the well-being of others. That has to change. We need to stand up for each other, not just for the sake of individual success, but for the health of the industry as a whole.

Ultimately, it’s about creating a culture where people feel safe enough to speak up without fear of being dismissed, silenced, or punished for it. When we start placing value on kindness, respect, and accountability — rather than just appearances and success at any cost — that’s when we’ll begin to see real change.

‍

'Stalked' is a BBC Sounds podcast, now streaming on all platforms

‍

She started her brand Jean London ten years ago with the motto ‘Big rocks for powerful people’. As a child, Hannah associated big gems with diamonds and very precious stones, therefore thinking them unattainable to everyone but the one percent.

But after delving into the semi-precious stone market, as well as the mines from which they came (quite literally working in the mines), she realized that she too could wear forty carat rocks on her fingers. She’d found her workaround, and the beginning of her brand.

‍

Starting out in the fashion and jewelry industry is perhaps more difficult and nuanced than mining for gems in Sri Lanka, and with less workarounds. One of which is networking - getting to know people, and letting them get to know you - it’s a non-negotiable. No one is going to help someone they don’t know..

‍

Hannah met one such person early on in her journey, who not only became the subject of her new BBC Sounds podcast, Stalked, but a malevolent presence in her life she couldn’t shake for more than a decade. This person placed themself in Hannah’s corner and offered to hold her hand through the fashion weeks and late-night after parties, seemingly from the goodness of their heart.

‍

Co-hosted by Hannah’s ‘ex -step mom’ and renowned journalist, Carole Cadwallader, Stalked delves into the dark side of the industry, and only begins to crack the surface of a conversation that is long overdue. Each year in the UK, it’s estimated that 1.5 million people are affected by ‘stalking’ - either cyber or in person.

‍

There are few things scarier than being stalked and not knowing who to trust, but even more so when your livelihood and dreams are steeped in an industry that’s also home to your pursuer. Fashion, like Hollywood and the entertainment industry, is a place where you fake it till you make it. It’s see and be seen. Show up and show out. Needless to say, it’s extremely competitive, and young creatives need to have their wits about them in order to level up. But if those wits are constantly beaten down by someone playing cruel mind games, how can you hope to succeed?

‘I realised that it was important to not only raise awareness around stalking and harassment but also offer a space for those affected to find validation and support,’ says Hannah. ‘It’s a space where I can unpack what happened to me, but also create a community where others can feel seen and heard.’

But in addition to being a space for victims, it’s also her first step to creating space for conversation in the fashion industry about the kind of behaviour that can no longer be tolerated.

In a world where it’s no longer ‘eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of what we will’ (or so chanted 19th-century workers campaigning for an 8-hour workday) every hour of our existence can be and is commodified by the rise of social media. We feel the need to not only update our followers, and those we want to attract, with minute and personal details of our lives. By doing so we inherently open ourselves up to scrutiny, criticism, adoration, and perhaps worst of all, mimicry. Online scams are very real, and can take many forms - including twisted individuals who want to impersonate you for their own misguided purposes.

‘I'm hoping to reach anyone who's been affected by online harassment or stalking, but also people who might not realise the risks of their online behaviour. Almost every case of stalking today is virtual or involves an online element,’ says Hannah, who although she travelled around the world, wasn’t able to escape this person’s online presence.

‘I used to think if you're not doing anything ‘wrong’, you're safe online - but that's not true at all. Now I'm hyper-aware of how much information we all put out there - even details that seem innocent can be used against you.’

Information can and will (probably) be used against you, because people are people, and not everyone lives in black and white, let alone good and bad. And sadly, one of those gray areas in which big attitudes, personas, leg-ups, and pettiness prevails is fashion - in the most beautiful shade of charcoal silk. But how do we alter that narrative into one where problems like stalkers happen less?

‍

BSC: Noting how tight-knit the community is, did you feel unable to reach out to those around her in fashion / jewellery to vet this person and find support?

HMM: The tight-knit nature of the fashion and jewellery communities can make it really challenging to reach out for support. On the one hand, the industry relies heavily on personal connections and networking, so it's easy to feel like everyone knows everyone. That closeness can make it feel like speaking up could lead to backlash. I definitely struggled with whether it was safe to talk to others about the situation. I was concerned about how it might be perceived — would I be labeled as difficult or oversensitive? Would my reputation or future opportunities be affected if people found out? You don’t want to risk being alienated in such a competitive environment, especially when you're trying to protect your career. The reality is that the community is not as invulnerable as it may seem — there are people who understand, who have faced similar challenges, but it can be tough to find them when you're afraid of the consequences of opening up.

‍

BSC: Not to mention coping with the pressures of trying to enter such an appearance-centric fake it till you make it world while navigating this situation

That was one of the toughest aspects of the experience — trying to maintain the outward appearance of confidence and success while navigating such a challenging and isolating situation. The fashion and jewellery industry can often feel like a ‘fake it till you make it’ world, where you're constantly under pressure to look perfect, act perfect, and never let anyone see cracks in the facade. In some ways, this pressure amplified everything I was going through.

It was like I was trying to keep my professional persona intact, all while feeling completely drained behind the scenes. The expectation to always appear poised and flawless, no matter what is happening in your personal life, creates a dangerous dynamic where it’s easy to feel like you can’t ask for help or that you're not allowed to be vulnerable.

To cope with this, I had to learn to compartmentalise. When I was working or attending events, I focused all my energy on keeping up the act. But when I was alone or in a safer space, I would let myself process what was really happening. It was exhausting but I also knew that if I let the pressure show, it might give people the impression that I was weak or unfit for the industry. Now I realise that my well-being has to come first, even if it means stepping away from the expectations of ‘perfection’ that the industry often demands.

‍

BSC: Lastly, much like Hollywood, fashion is an industry where people are willing to overlook gray or outwardly wrong things and acts in order to 'make it.' So how can we make the fashion industries safer moving forward, and a community where people feel they can speak up?

‍

The fashion industry, much like Hollywood, often operates under this unspoken rule where the end goal of 'making it' sometimes justifies overlooking troubling behaviors or situations. It's a culture that often rewards silence, and that needs to change if we want to create a safer and more supportive environment for everyone involved.

To make the fashion industry safer, we need a fundamental shift in how we view power dynamics, respect, and accountability. First, it starts with creating a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and abuse — not just on paper, but actively enforced across all levels of the industry. That means ensuring there are clear, accessible reporting mechanisms that feel safe and trusted, and making sure there are real consequences for perpetrators. It’s about creating an environment where speaking up isn’t seen as a threat to one’s career, but as a necessary action to protect the integrity of the community.

Another important shift is changing the culture around the idea of 'faking it.' Instead of rewarding toxic behaviors like manipulation or the acceptance of abuse for the sake of success, we should promote authenticity and transparency. People should feel empowered to show up as their true selves — to be vulnerable without fear of being seen as weak or unprofessional. This can start with better mental health support within the industry, as well as more open conversations about the pressures that people face behind closed doors.

For too long, there has been this notion of 'protecting the brand' or 'protecting the individual,' even when doing so compromises the well-being of others. That has to change. We need to stand up for each other, not just for the sake of individual success, but for the health of the industry as a whole.

Ultimately, it’s about creating a culture where people feel safe enough to speak up without fear of being dismissed, silenced, or punished for it. When we start placing value on kindness, respect, and accountability — rather than just appearances and success at any cost — that’s when we’ll begin to see real change.

‍

'Stalked' is a BBC Sounds podcast, now streaming on all platforms

‍

She started her brand Jean London ten years ago with the motto ‘Big rocks for powerful people’. As a child, Hannah associated big gems with diamonds and very precious stones, therefore thinking them unattainable to everyone but the one percent.

But after delving into the semi-precious stone market, as well as the mines from which they came (quite literally working in the mines), she realized that she too could wear forty carat rocks on her fingers. She’d found her workaround, and the beginning of her brand.

‍

Starting out in the fashion and jewelry industry is perhaps more difficult and nuanced than mining for gems in Sri Lanka, and with less workarounds. One of which is networking - getting to know people, and letting them get to know you - it’s a non-negotiable. No one is going to help someone they don’t know..

‍

Hannah met one such person early on in her journey, who not only became the subject of her new BBC Sounds podcast, Stalked, but a malevolent presence in her life she couldn’t shake for more than a decade. This person placed themself in Hannah’s corner and offered to hold her hand through the fashion weeks and late-night after parties, seemingly from the goodness of their heart.

‍

Co-hosted by Hannah’s ‘ex -step mom’ and renowned journalist, Carole Cadwallader, Stalked delves into the dark side of the industry, and only begins to crack the surface of a conversation that is long overdue. Each year in the UK, it’s estimated that 1.5 million people are affected by ‘stalking’ - either cyber or in person.

‍

There are few things scarier than being stalked and not knowing who to trust, but even more so when your livelihood and dreams are steeped in an industry that’s also home to your pursuer. Fashion, like Hollywood and the entertainment industry, is a place where you fake it till you make it. It’s see and be seen. Show up and show out. Needless to say, it’s extremely competitive, and young creatives need to have their wits about them in order to level up. But if those wits are constantly beaten down by someone playing cruel mind games, how can you hope to succeed?

‘I realised that it was important to not only raise awareness around stalking and harassment but also offer a space for those affected to find validation and support,’ says Hannah. ‘It’s a space where I can unpack what happened to me, but also create a community where others can feel seen and heard.’

But in addition to being a space for victims, it’s also her first step to creating space for conversation in the fashion industry about the kind of behaviour that can no longer be tolerated.

In a world where it’s no longer ‘eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of what we will’ (or so chanted 19th-century workers campaigning for an 8-hour workday) every hour of our existence can be and is commodified by the rise of social media. We feel the need to not only update our followers, and those we want to attract, with minute and personal details of our lives. By doing so we inherently open ourselves up to scrutiny, criticism, adoration, and perhaps worst of all, mimicry. Online scams are very real, and can take many forms - including twisted individuals who want to impersonate you for their own misguided purposes.

‘I'm hoping to reach anyone who's been affected by online harassment or stalking, but also people who might not realise the risks of their online behaviour. Almost every case of stalking today is virtual or involves an online element,’ says Hannah, who although she travelled around the world, wasn’t able to escape this person’s online presence.

‘I used to think if you're not doing anything ‘wrong’, you're safe online - but that's not true at all. Now I'm hyper-aware of how much information we all put out there - even details that seem innocent can be used against you.’

Information can and will (probably) be used against you, because people are people, and not everyone lives in black and white, let alone good and bad. And sadly, one of those gray areas in which big attitudes, personas, leg-ups, and pettiness prevails is fashion - in the most beautiful shade of charcoal silk. But how do we alter that narrative into one where problems like stalkers happen less?

‍

BSC: Noting how tight-knit the community is, did you feel unable to reach out to those around her in fashion / jewellery to vet this person and find support?

HMM: The tight-knit nature of the fashion and jewellery communities can make it really challenging to reach out for support. On the one hand, the industry relies heavily on personal connections and networking, so it's easy to feel like everyone knows everyone. That closeness can make it feel like speaking up could lead to backlash. I definitely struggled with whether it was safe to talk to others about the situation. I was concerned about how it might be perceived — would I be labeled as difficult or oversensitive? Would my reputation or future opportunities be affected if people found out? You don’t want to risk being alienated in such a competitive environment, especially when you're trying to protect your career. The reality is that the community is not as invulnerable as it may seem — there are people who understand, who have faced similar challenges, but it can be tough to find them when you're afraid of the consequences of opening up.

‍

BSC: Not to mention coping with the pressures of trying to enter such an appearance-centric fake it till you make it world while navigating this situation

That was one of the toughest aspects of the experience — trying to maintain the outward appearance of confidence and success while navigating such a challenging and isolating situation. The fashion and jewellery industry can often feel like a ‘fake it till you make it’ world, where you're constantly under pressure to look perfect, act perfect, and never let anyone see cracks in the facade. In some ways, this pressure amplified everything I was going through.

It was like I was trying to keep my professional persona intact, all while feeling completely drained behind the scenes. The expectation to always appear poised and flawless, no matter what is happening in your personal life, creates a dangerous dynamic where it’s easy to feel like you can’t ask for help or that you're not allowed to be vulnerable.

To cope with this, I had to learn to compartmentalise. When I was working or attending events, I focused all my energy on keeping up the act. But when I was alone or in a safer space, I would let myself process what was really happening. It was exhausting but I also knew that if I let the pressure show, it might give people the impression that I was weak or unfit for the industry. Now I realise that my well-being has to come first, even if it means stepping away from the expectations of ‘perfection’ that the industry often demands.

‍

She started her brand Jean London ten years ago with the motto ‘Big rocks for powerful people’. As a child, Hannah associated big gems with diamonds and very precious stones, therefore thinking them unattainable to everyone but the one percent.

But after delving into the semi-precious stone market, as well as the mines from which they came (quite literally working in the mines), she realized that she too could wear forty carat rocks on her fingers. She’d found her workaround, and the beginning of her brand.

‍

Starting out in the fashion and jewelry industry is perhaps more difficult and nuanced than mining for gems in Sri Lanka, and with less workarounds. One of which is networking - getting to know people, and letting them get to know you - it’s a non-negotiable. No one is going to help someone they don’t know..

‍

Hannah met one such person early on in her journey, who not only became the subject of her new BBC Sounds podcast, Stalked, but a malevolent presence in her life she couldn’t shake for more than a decade. This person placed themself in Hannah’s corner and offered to hold her hand through the fashion weeks and late-night after parties, seemingly from the goodness of their heart.

‍

Co-hosted by Hannah’s ‘ex -step mom’ and renowned journalist, Carole Cadwallader, Stalked delves into the dark side of the industry, and only begins to crack the surface of a conversation that is long overdue. Each year in the UK, it’s estimated that 1.5 million people are affected by ‘stalking’ - either cyber or in person.

‍

There are few things scarier than being stalked and not knowing who to trust, but even more so when your livelihood and dreams are steeped in an industry that’s also home to your pursuer. Fashion, like Hollywood and the entertainment industry, is a place where you fake it till you make it. It’s see and be seen. Show up and show out. Needless to say, it’s extremely competitive, and young creatives need to have their wits about them in order to level up. But if those wits are constantly beaten down by someone playing cruel mind games, how can you hope to succeed?

‘I realised that it was important to not only raise awareness around stalking and harassment but also offer a space for those affected to find validation and support,’ says Hannah. ‘It’s a space where I can unpack what happened to me, but also create a community where others can feel seen and heard.’

But in addition to being a space for victims, it’s also her first step to creating space for conversation in the fashion industry about the kind of behaviour that can no longer be tolerated.

In a world where it’s no longer ‘eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of what we will’ (or so chanted 19th-century workers campaigning for an 8-hour workday) every hour of our existence can be and is commodified by the rise of social media. We feel the need to not only update our followers, and those we want to attract, with minute and personal details of our lives. By doing so we inherently open ourselves up to scrutiny, criticism, adoration, and perhaps worst of all, mimicry. Online scams are very real, and can take many forms - including twisted individuals who want to impersonate you for their own misguided purposes.

‘I'm hoping to reach anyone who's been affected by online harassment or stalking, but also people who might not realise the risks of their online behaviour. Almost every case of stalking today is virtual or involves an online element,’ says Hannah, who although she travelled around the world, wasn’t able to escape this person’s online presence.

‘I used to think if you're not doing anything ‘wrong’, you're safe online - but that's not true at all. Now I'm hyper-aware of how much information we all put out there - even details that seem innocent can be used against you.’

Information can and will (probably) be used against you, because people are people, and not everyone lives in black and white, let alone good and bad. And sadly, one of those gray areas in which big attitudes, personas, leg-ups, and pettiness prevails is fashion - in the most beautiful shade of charcoal silk. But how do we alter that narrative into one where problems like stalkers happen less?

‍

BSC: Noting how tight-knit the community is, did you feel unable to reach out to those around her in fashion / jewellery to vet this person and find support?

HMM: The tight-knit nature of the fashion and jewellery communities can make it really challenging to reach out for support. On the one hand, the industry relies heavily on personal connections and networking, so it's easy to feel like everyone knows everyone. That closeness can make it feel like speaking up could lead to backlash. I definitely struggled with whether it was safe to talk to others about the situation. I was concerned about how it might be perceived — would I be labeled as difficult or oversensitive? Would my reputation or future opportunities be affected if people found out? You don’t want to risk being alienated in such a competitive environment, especially when you're trying to protect your career. The reality is that the community is not as invulnerable as it may seem — there are people who understand, who have faced similar challenges, but it can be tough to find them when you're afraid of the consequences of opening up.

‍