Inspiring Vanessa has taken her gift for radiating positive messages to the stage and set it on fire.Vanessa is a 19-year-old Actress,Talk Show Host, and Speaker. Although many challenges have been faced, Vanessa has overcome each one with maturity and grace, all with her mom by her side, supporting and encouraging Vanessa every step of the way. Vanessa approaches each speaking endeavor with her full heart and soul. From attending movie screenings, such as The Magic Faraway Tree screening in March, 2025, to lighting up the stage speaking powerful messages of positive affirmations to various audiences, Vanessa is choosing a life of excitement and encouragement for those who cross her path.
I recently had the privilege of interviewing Vanessa about her current events and successes. She discusses hardships and how she overcame them, to celebrating an unforgettable decade of influencing others to help increase their focus and confidence while pursuing their own goals. Vanessa is an advocate of promoting the thoughts and ideas of the next generation as she understands the significance of fusing together fresh ideas with seasoned professionals to create the most effective change in the world as they can.
1.) The last time you were interview led by ILM, you had won the prestigious Diana award. Now looking back, how would you reflect on your journey since then? What have been some of the most defining moments or changes along the way?
Becoming a Diana Award recipient back in 2021, was such an honour and truly made me reflect on how far I had come in those moments. Now, looking back from the present day, there have been an array of different experiences and moments that became catalysts for pushing myself even further along my journey. One of which, has to be a more recent one, when I had the opportunity to speak to Year Six students in Qatar earlier this year. I had delivered a virtual talk to another school in the country a few years prior, but had always wanted to visit! This event in particular was incredibly special as the person who organised both engagements used to be my old art tutor in the UK. Before I had discovered my drive to pursue speaking, I was still keeping myself occupied in my younger years, focused on my passion for the arts. Painting and drawing always came naturally to me and Keisha was one of the people who taught me so much about art when I was her pupil. We then went on to collaborate on her Teen Summit Seminar event, which was an annual conference held at a UK secondary school with over 500 girls for International Women’s Day, and this ran for four consecutive years in a row. So in hindsight, this was a major full-circle moment for me, and the cherry on top was that I was also in Year Six when I began this journey a decade ago. Therefore being able to speak to these bright, emotionally intelligent kids, truly melted my heart in ways I didn’t know possible. At some points during my talk, I was holding back tears because it all just felt so familiar and surreal. Speaking to young people constantly reminds me of why I feel so deeply about the work I set out to do, and for all other sectors that intend to empower, educate and actually understand young people from a place of hope and not judgement. I will always look back on that day, and every other moment where I got to speak one on one with young audience members and hear what they took away from my talk. All it takes is one person to make a difference, and I’ll forever continue to take that with me.
2.) As you mark this anniversary, what opportunities or experiences stand out the most to you, and how have they shaped what’s next for you?
The last 10 years have shaped me in more ways than I can count. I wholeheartedly think that if it weren’t for pursuing this with 110% commitment a decade ago, I would be nowhere near as confident or assured in myself as I am now. It transformed my life and my mum’s life and we are better and more wise for it every single day! But with every 1 opportunity that was granted to me, I had 4 rejections and that has been one of the biggest learning curves thus far. There were countless times where I missed an opportunity due to being too young, having an “over-qualified” skill set (real feedback by the way), or discrepancy in following compared to other industry counterparts. However, everything always aligns and falls into place long after the opportunity passes. I have really learnt to live and breathe that timing is everything, and that everything which is meant for me, will never pass me by, and in fact, never has. Every listening ear, platform, opportunity, stage that I was lucky to be granted was pivotal in the next steps of my journey, as well as every step I didn’t take that I thought was necessary to my growth. For everything I wasn’t granted, I received back an abundance of learning that is invaluable. And growing up, I was always a little reluctant when I’d hear someone express the importance of learning, especially from the things that don’t happen, but I definitely do now. Anything that I was so desperate for and betted my heart on was preparing me for something even bigger down the line. Its like that one image, of a miner, and he stops just before he hits the jackpot of diamonds; you really never know what’s round the corner if you don’t finish the trail you started on.
3.) Can you tell the readers about your endeavor on April 2, 2026? The ten year anniversary of your motivational speaking endeavors?
The 2nd April 2026 marks a full decade of my motivational speaking career as ‘Inspiring Vanessa’! I began this journey when I was 9-years-old, and now I’m here celebrating at 19-years-old. Which, to put it into perspective, I’ve been doing this for more years than I haven’t. Over 50% of my life has been this; using my voice for others who don’t have the courage or can’t use theirs, helping people of all ages, and all the while, discovering my own voice through the years as well. I originally began my endeavour into public speaking at a time where I wasn’t very confident around unfamiliar faces, and hadn’t really grasped my ‘calling’, if you will – even though I think 9-year-olds don’t need the pressure to discover this at that age!
My first time speaking on stage did feel like I had found what I was destined for, and I was beyond fortunate and lucky to have an incredible support system in my mum, who nurtured my new-found passion and always made me believe in my own dreams and never any doubt in my mind, that they wouldn’t come true. Over this past decade, I have fallen back in love with acting, presented and hosted with my dream brands and role models, interviewed stars alike and delivered talks across the world; something little me always dreamt of achieving. But despite this, there have been many times where I’ve lost track. I’ve never thought about giving up, because I never truly considered it as an option for me and most definitely not for 9-year-old Vanessa, but I certainly saw the sparkle dull from my passions. Not taking my own advice and being my worst critic, did in fact harm my consciousness in the long run. And in turn, was a detriment to the pillars I had built up so strongly. Burnout became a regular visitor in my life, but so did my negative mindset. Despite preaching positive affirmation to others, I was doing anything but. And maybe at times, I used my work to distract myself from my inner thoughts, rather than purely foster it like I did when I first started. However, something I always turned back to was her. Vanessa at 9-years-old. A twinkle in her eyes and ready for what the world had to offer, not because she expected it but because she commanded it. I always used to say, ‘When you feel like giving up, think about the reason why you started’. This is as poignant as ever when I look back at the whirlwind of the last 10 years. I started this journey because I wanted to help people, but it was also because helping others, in turn, helped me. So when I get to speak to kids on stage, I have never felt more alive and lucky to be in a position where I might just be able to inspire one child to dream a little bigger.
4.) Your goal through your work is to inspire the next generation. What is the response typically that you receive when you deliver motivational speeches? Do you receive positive feedback?
When I first became a speaker, my mum and I basically became serial-event-attendees! Every weekend, even evenings after school, we were at a self-development event or conference; and I became really good at becoming a sponge in these audiences. The breadth of knowledge that I was exposed to at 9-years-old is something I will never take for granted, and played an astronomical influence in how I perceive the world now and react to rejection, trauma and loss. Once I opened my YouTube channel, we began creating a stronger presence with event organisers, press outlets etc. I was speaking at more and more events. But being provided a platform didn’t automatically mean I was taken seriously. The overwhelming response was always positive, however, and mostly justified, some people wouldn’t understand the act of a child speaker delivering an inspirational talk to a room full of adults. Whilst the story itself was unique and unheard of, I could tell when it remained as only this to some people, a story is one-dimensional, and can be manipulated, however an actual person with ideas just became an inconvenience. Learning who truly had my back was monumental, and allowed both myself and my mum to entirely look at my trajectory from a different lens. Young people are too often underestimated, even with the right experience, drive and talent, but as long as the next generation subject themselves to these standards and limits, we’ll always be left out of the rooms we deserve to be in. It took me a long time to say ‘no’ to more things than I said ‘yes’ to. Now, I can, and it’s purely due to seeing the wider picture and owning my worth and value in the spaces I strive to be in. Saying yes to everything for 10 years might keep you going for long, but the doubt and burnout won’t take you far, so I’d encourage everyone to protect your peace, and protect the bigger picture and be proud by it.
Reading the story of Vanessa’s unique approach to helping others is awe inspiring. When taken into consideration Vanessa started her calling from the age of nine, we can see that when we are truly called to live a certain way, nothing can stop us from forging through the obstacles to step into greatness.
If you would like to learn more about Vanessa you can visit:
