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Scottish Sun
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
How trendsetting Brit Anna Wintour became fashion's ultimate force at Vogue – with NO ONE safe from her sharp tongue
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHE came, she saw the fashion world from behind her Chanel sunglasses, she conquered. After 37 years as the formidable force on US Vogue, Anna Wintour is stepping aside as Editor-in-Chief. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Anna Wintour has announced she's quitting her iconic role at American Vogue in a shock career move Credit: GC Images 6 Anna, pictured in 1996, has had her signature razor-sharp bob since the age of 14 Credit: Getty The move marks the end of an era, in which the UK-born power player ruled the fashion industry with a perfectly manicured fist. One flick of her hair or glance and your fate was sealed. Dame Anna, honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 in full Chanel couture, turned unknown models into stars, transformed 'trashy' celebs into tastemakers, and set trends the high street copied. Her signature razor-sharp bob — which she has had since the age of 14 — needs two daily blow-dries (morning and evening) and near-constant trims. Her attitude is equally polished — and feared. Nicknamed Nuclear Wintour for her icy reputation, she remains fashion's most enigmatic personality. The documentary The September Issue offered a rare peek inside Vogue's Manolo Blahnik-strewn corridors, capturing the chaos of assembling an 840-page edition of the magazine in 2007. Debuting in 2009 at Sundance and grossing around £7million, the film cemented Anna's status as the ultimate force in fashion. Surrounded by 'thin, rich and young' people Her frosty persona inspired The Devil Wears Prada's Miranda Priestly — Meryl Streep's pursed lips and cutting glares were taken straight from the Wintour playbook — and even The Incredibles' eccentric designer Edna Mode was modelled on her. But inside Vogue, Anna's power wasn't a scowl or stare. It was a yellow Post-it note stuck to the bottom of a printout, bearing the a seal of approval 'AWOK' — Anna Wintour OK — which could make or break careers. One star Anna truly legitimised was Kim Kardashian. When she boldly put Kim and then-fiance Kanye West on Vogue's cover in 2014, the fashion elite gasped. Anna Wintour finally sets record straight on Met Gala outfit rule rumor after years of speculation Her response? 'If we only put tasteful people on the cover, no one would talk about us.' Anna also championed other stars — giving Kendall Jenner strong Vogue backing and helping her break into high fashion. She championed Gisele Bundchen in the late 1990s and early 2000s, featuring her on many Vogue covers, and Kate Upton's debut on the front of the magazine in 2013 signalled a shift toward embracing curvier models in the industry. Infamously private, Anna Wintour's influence is impossible to ignore. The Devil Wears Prada even became a musical — proof of her cultural reach. At 75, she kept Vogue not just relevant, but reigning as fashion and culture's ultimate authority. From supermodel golden eras to today's social media trends, Anna transformed the title from a magazine into a global style empire. Every May, she breaks the internet with the Met Gala — her annual, star-studded spectacle where celebrities stun in jaw-dropping looks. What was once a low-key fundraiser transformed under her reign into fashion's most exclusive, over-the-top, meme-worthy night. 6 Anna Wintour cracks a rare smile while at work in 1989 Credit: Getty 6 Anna's frosty persona inspired The Devil Wears Prada's Miranda Priestly Credit: Alamy Starting in 2004, Anna harnessed showbiz glamour to skyrocket the event into global fame. Today, from TikTokers to A-listers, the guest list is fiercely selective — just 30 seconds of fame on a bright red carpet holds massive cultural weight. While Anna wields immense power over designer brands and celebrities, she has also had a huge impact on the high street. From her very first Vogue cover mixing budget jeans with couture, she has championed accessible fashion for all. Anna has been key in shaping runway trends that trickle down to high street retailers. In 2009, she launched Fashion's Night Out, turning shopping into a celebrity- studded, cocktail-fuelled event in New York and London, raising funds for causes such as the NYC AIDS Fund and September 11 Memorial until the event ended in 2013. But Anna did not just dip into retail — she transformed the high-street experience. By blending celebrity appeal, charity and immersive theatre, she redefined how brands engage with shoppers. She was a fixture at Topshop's London Fashion Week shows and has long championed luxury-meets-store collaborations — think Balmain x H&M — bringing runway glamour to the masses and giving the UK high street a major boost. FASHION QUEEN In an interview with The Times last year, Anna tipped her hat to Gap for snapping up designer Zac Posen and gave props to Uniqlo for working with Givenchy's former artistic director Clare Waight Keller, who had designed Meghan Markle's wedding dress. The fashion queen said: 'These big mass companies have finally clocked the power of creativity. You wouldn't have seen that ten, 15, even 20 years ago.' Anna has two children — Charles, a psychiatrist born in 1985, and TV producer Katherine, known as Bee, who she had in 1987. Their father is child psychiatrist David Shaffer, who Anna was married to from 1984 to 2020. She is reportedly romantically linked to actor Bill Nighy, though they describe themselves as close friends. Still, in Wintour's world, loyalty can be as fleeting as fashion trends. 6 When Anna boldly put Kim and then-fiance Kanye West on Vogue's cover in 2014, the fashion elite gasped Credit: AP:Associated Press 6 Anna with fellow Brit fashion icon Naomi Campbell Credit: Getty Her decades-long friendship with the late Andre Leon Talley — once her trusted right-hand at Vogue — ended bitterly after he was pushed aside. In his 2020 memoir The Chiffon Trenches, Talley claimed she preferred to surround herself with 'thin, rich, and young' people. Ouch. Top designers haven't escaped her icy glare either. After various scandals, names such as John Galliano and Dolce & Gabbana were swiftly frozen out of Vogue's world — proving that even fashion royalty are not safe from her. Yet despite the many ups and downs, one thing is certainly true. Anna Wintour is a force, a legend and one hell of a woman whose influence stretches far beyond the pages of Vogue. She will now focus on her roles as Global Editorial Director and Chief Content Officer at the magazine's publisher Condé Nast. Whoever is picked to take over her old job better be able to fill her Manolo Blahnik pumps.
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
How trendsetting Brit Anna Wintour became fashion's ultimate force at Vogue – with NO ONE safe from her sharp tongue
SHE came, she saw the fashion world from behind her Chanel sunglasses, she conquered. After 37 years as the formidable force on US Vogue , Anna Wintour is stepping aside as Editor-in-Chief. 6 Anna Wintour has announced she's quitting her iconic role at American Vogue in a shock career move Credit: GC Images 6 Anna, pictured in 1996, has had her signature razor-sharp bob since the age of 14 Credit: Getty The move marks the end of an era, in which the UK-born power player ruled the fashion industry with a perfectly manicured fist. One flick of her hair or glance and your fate was sealed. Dame Anna, honoured by Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 in full Chanel couture, turned unknown models into stars, transformed 'trashy' celebs into tastemakers, and set trends the high street copied. Her signature razor-sharp bob — which she has had since the age of 14 — needs two daily blow-dries (morning and evening) and near-constant trims. READ MORE ON ANNA WINTOUR Her attitude is equally polished — and feared. Nicknamed Nuclear Wintour for her icy reputation, she remains fashion's most enigmatic personality. The documentary The September Issue offered a rare peek inside Vogue's Manolo Blahnik-strewn corridors, capturing the chaos of assembling an 840-page edition of the magazine in 2007. Debuting in 2009 at Sundance and grossing around £7million, the film cemented Anna's status as the ultimate force in fashion. Surrounded by 'thin, rich and young' people Her frosty persona inspired The Devil Wears Prada's Miranda Priestly — Meryl Streep's pursed lips and cutting glares were taken straight from the Wintour playbook — and even The Incredibles' eccentric designer Edna Mode was modelled on her. Most read in Fabulous But inside Vogue, Anna's power wasn't a scowl or stare. It was a yellow Post-it note stuck to the bottom of a printout, bearing the a seal of approval 'AWOK' — Anna Wintour OK — which could make or break careers. One star Anna truly legitimised was Kim Kardashian. When she boldly put Kim and then-fiance Kanye West on Vogue's cover in 2014, the fashion elite gasped. Anna Wintour finally sets record straight on Met Gala outfit rule rumor after years of speculation Her response? 'If we only put tasteful people on the cover, no one would talk about us.' Anna also championed other stars — giving Kendall Jenner strong Vogue backing and helping her break into high fashion. She championed Gisele Bundchen in the late 1990s and early 2000s, featuring her on many Vogue covers, and Kate Upton's debut on the front of the magazine in 2013 signalled a shift toward embracing curvier models in the industry. Infamously private, Anna Wintour's influence is impossible to ignore. The Devil Wears Prada even became a musical — proof of her cultural reach. At 75, she kept Vogue not just relevant, but reigning as fashion and culture's ultimate authority. From supermodel golden eras to today's social media trends, Anna transformed the title from a magazine into a global style empire. Every May, she breaks the internet with the Met Gala — her annual, star-studded spectacle where celebrities stun in jaw-dropping looks. What was once a low-key fundraiser transformed under her reign into fashion's most exclusive, over-the-top, meme-worthy night. 6 Anna Wintour cracks a rare smile while at work in 1989 Credit: Getty 6 Anna's frosty persona inspired The Devil Wears Prada's Miranda Priestly Credit: Alamy Starting in 2004, Anna harnessed showbiz glamour to skyrocket the event into global fame. Today, from TikTokers to A-listers, the guest list is fiercely selective — just 30 seconds of fame on a bright red carpet holds massive cultural weight. While Anna wields immense power over designer brands and celebrities, she has also had a huge impact on the high street. From her very first Vogue cover mixing budget jeans with couture, she has championed accessible fashion for all. Anna has been key in shaping runway trends that trickle down to high street retailers. In 2009, she launched Fashion's Night Out, turning shopping into a celebrity- studded, cocktail-fuelled event in New York and London , raising funds for causes such as the NYC AIDS Fund and September 11 Memorial until the event ended in 2013. But Anna did not just dip into retail — she transformed the high-street experience. By blending celebrity appeal, charity and immersive theatre , she redefined how brands engage with shoppers. She was a fixture at Topshop's London Fashion Week shows and has long championed luxury-meets-store collaborations — think Balmain x H&M — bringing runway glamour to the masses and giving the UK high street a major boost. FASHION QUEEN In an interview with The Times last year, Anna tipped her hat to Gap for snapping up designer Zac Posen and gave props to Uniqlo for working with Givenchy's former artistic director Clare Waight Keller, who had designed The fashion queen said: 'These big mass companies have finally clocked the power of creativity. You wouldn't have seen that ten, 15, even 20 years ago.' Anna has two children — Charles, a psychiatrist born in 1985, and TV producer Katherine, known as Bee, who she had in 1987. Their father is child psychiatrist David Shaffer, who Anna was married to from 1984 to 2020. She is reportedly romantically linked to actor Bill Nighy, though they describe themselves as close friends. Still, in Wintour's world, loyalty can be as fleeting as fashion trends. 6 When Anna boldly put Kim and then-fiance Kanye West on Vogue's cover in 2014, the fashion elite gasped Credit: AP:Associated Press 6 Anna with fellow Brit fashion icon Naomi Campbell Credit: Getty Her decades-long friendship with the late Andre Leon Talley — once her trusted right-hand at Vogue — ended bitterly after he was pushed aside. In his 2020 memoir The Chiffon Trenches, Talley claimed she preferred to surround herself with 'thin, rich, and young' people. Ouch. Top designers haven't escaped her icy glare either. After various scandals, names such as John Galliano and Dolce & Gabbana were swiftly frozen out of Vogue's world — proving that even fashion royalty are not safe from her. Yet despite the many ups and downs, one thing is certainly true. Anna Wintour is a force, a legend and one hell of a woman whose influence stretches far beyond the pages of Vogue. She will now focus on her roles as Global Editorial Director and Chief Content Officer at the magazine's publisher Condé Nast. Whoever is picked to take over her old job better be able to fill her Manolo Blahnik pumps.
News18
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Adnan Sami HITS Back At Pakistan Trolls: ‘You Didn't Celebrate Me, India Did'
Last Updated: Adnan Sami calls backlash over Indian citizenship 'ex-lover syndrome,' saying critics haven't moved on. Says his issue was with Pakistan's govt, not people. Renowned singer-composer Adnan Sami may have embraced Indian citizenship nearly a decade ago, but his decision continues to attract a barrage of online criticism, especially from across the border. Despite having moved to India in 2001 and being granted Indian citizenship in 2016, the UK-born artist—who once held Pakistani and Canadian citizenship—says he's still being reminded of where he 'originally came from." In a recent conversation with Bollywood Bubble, the Tera Chehra hitmaker opened up about the lingering hate he receives on social media, especially from Pakistan. Comparing it to an emotionally unresolved breakup, Adnan said, 'It's like an ex-lover. When an ex-lover sees you moving on and getting involved with somebody else, they'll always come up with reasons to hate you. But the reason why they actually do that is because they still haven't gotten over you. It's love, and love manifests in many absurd ways." He described the backlash as a 'classic case of sour grapes," explaining that the resentment stems from a place of jealousy rather than rationality, 'It is ridiculous for anyone from anywhere to presume that they know what the reasons were behind it. There were solid reasons." While migration across borders is a common phenomenon globally, Sami believes the criticism aimed at him is unique to the India-Pakistan rivalry, 'At the end of the day, you can argue and say, 'People are migrating all over the world all the time. Why don't they have issues with them?' First of all, because of the geopolitical nature between India and Pakistan, there is a rivalry between the two for whatever reason. But more than that, it is the ex-lover syndrome." Addressing the frequently blurred lines between the people and the political leadership of Pakistan, Adnan drew a distinction, 'That's just the tip of the iceberg. However, let me make it very clear, my audience and people over there have always been very loving. And they still are, and I love them very much even today. I'm very grateful to them for all the love that they've given me." He reiterated that his long-standing frustration was with the Pakistani government, not its citizens, 'My issues have always been with the Pakistani government." Despite being a globally known artist with a catalogue of hits to his name, Adnan revealed that the Pakistani government never recognised his contributions, 'They never acknowledged my work or honoured me in any way. That's just the tip of the iceberg." For Adnan, the greatest reward has always been emotional rather than institutional, 'For an artiste, the biggest nourishment is love. So, from whichever corner of the world they get that love, they will be very grateful for it. My music is for everybody. I have not put any boundaries on my music. You want to listen to it? Most welcome. You don't want to? Thanks for trying." First Published: June 20, 2025, 22:06 IST
Scottish Sun
18-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I swapped dull job & dead relationship in UK for Brit holiday hotspot where cocktails are £2.50…then met love of my life
Alexandra Wilson says she was surprised by one element of her new life which is staggeringly better than the UK FRESH START I swapped dull job & dead relationship in UK for Brit holiday hotspot where cocktails are £2.50…then met love of my life TUCKING into homemade tacos while basking in the warm evening sunlight, Alexandra Wilson smiles as her toddler and baby daughter giggle together on the grass. It's a world away from her life eight years ago, when she worked as a debt collector for a power company in Hull while nursing a broken heart. Advertisement 11 Alexandra Wilson quit life in the UK after a failed relationship and decided to move to Mexico on a whim Credit: Supplied 11 Alexandra had been holidaying in the country when she decided to make it her home Credit: Supplied 11 Alexandra's old house in Hull, which she sold to move to Mexico Credit: Supplied 11 Within a few years of moving there she met a new partner and now has two children and a stepdaughter Credit: Supplied Fresh from the break-up of a long-term relationship, Alexandra took a spontaneous holiday to Mexico in October 2017 - and after falling in love with the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coastline, she packed in her job, sold her house and moved there. Advertisement Alexandra, 38, now lives in the beach town of Playa del Carmen with new partner Daniel, 27, a drinks company consultant, and their two children aged four and nine months. She says moving to the other side of the world, where cocktails cost just £2.50 and local beers are a quid, is the 'best thing I ever did'. 'People thought it was just a 'holiday thing', that I was being silly and leaving my career and mortgage was a fantasy which would wear off,' Alexandra admits. 'Others couldn't fathom why I'd want to move to a country 10 hours away where I didn't even speak the language. 'People tried to talk me out of it. But I stood my ground. Advertisement 'I felt held back in the United Kingdom. I was working to simply pay the bills. There was no challenge in my future, just the same old, same old. 'My bills ate up all my salary. A supermarket shop was a big night out for me. 'It was daunting but I knew I'd hate myself if I didn't try it. The worst thing that could happen was I'd fail and have to come back to Britain.' Mexico is a popular British holiday destination, with around 1.3million UK tourists heading there last year. First look at Royal Caribbean's new private island in Mexico with world's longest lazy river Loyal to Royal But since 2020 there has been a staggering 481 per cent increase in the number of Brits leaving the UK and moving to Mexico, especially the Riviera Maya, with its Caribbean beaches, tropical weather, relaxed lifestyle and rich history. Advertisement In 2020, census figures revealed there were 2,582 UK-born people living in Mexico. Now 15,000 British citizens live there as long-term residents and with dual nationality. The number of digital nomads relocating there is also on the rise, lured by the Mexican Temporary Resident Visa, which allows them to live and work remotely in the country for six months to four years. Adventure 11 Alexandra when she was living in the UK Credit: Supplied 11 Now the mum-of-two enjoys beach living with her new family Credit: Supplied 11 Alexandra met partner Daniel through work five years ago Credit: Supplied Advertisement 11 The couple have two daughters and Alexandra is stepmother to Daniel's daughter from a previous relationship Credit: Supplied After her break-up in mid-2017, Alexandra decided to treat herself to a solo holiday - and chose Mexico as 'somewhere different'. 'I thought it would be a real adventure,' she recalls. 'Then I made the snap decision on holiday to move here. I knew if I didn't try it at 30 I never would, and I would have regrets. 'I'd bought a semi detached three-bedroom terraced house two years earlier in 2015, and was turning 30. Advertisement 'I hadn't considered moving overseas and had established roots in Yorkshire. But I was miserable in Britain.' Alexandra secured a six month travel visa, which is the equivalent of a digital nomad visa. She flew back to Playa Del Carmen in July 2018, and found work selling time shares at a five-star resort. I made the snap decision on holiday to move here. I knew if I didn't try it at 30 I never would, and I would have regrets Alexandra Wilson 'As soon as I got a job I applied for sponsored residency, and that meant I could work at the resort while the paperwork was being processed,' she says. A studio flat in the hotel's grounds was included as part of her work contract. Advertisement 'Working with Mexican staff was amazing, it was a great way to make new friends and it forced me to learn Spanish fast,' Alexandra says. 'I picked it up within six weeks.' Within a year Alexandra moved into a two-bedroom apartment with a friend, sharing the £500-a-month rent. She says: 'The apartment included a pool, gym, tennis courts and a basketball court - all for £250 a month. 'It was a world away from Yorkshire.' Cheap living 11 Alexandra's outdoor dining area at the apartment she shares with Daniel Credit: Supplied Advertisement 11 The proud mum says she took a gamble moving to Mexico, which paid off Credit: Supplied 11 The couple live a 15 minute walk to the beach Credit: Supplied Alexandra met Daniel - already dad to a now-10-year-old daughter - through work five years ago and they "hit it off immediately". They quickly moved in together into David's two-bedroom villa in a family neighbourhood, where mortgage costs are just £250 a month. They welcomed their first daughter in April 2021 and their second followed in September last year. Advertisement Their home, which is a 15 minute walk to the local sandy beach, features a generous garden with an outdoor kitchen area for evening meals and cooking in summer. Alexandra says: 'It's wonderful for the children. Family and friends often drop by for day-long BBQs. 'Whenever you walk down the street everyone says hello, the parks are great for kids and everyone is friendly. 'It's such a change from Britain where people are more closed off.' Alexandra - who now works as a private relocation specialist, helping source property and employment for people moving to the region -says monthly bills are dramatically cheaper than back home. Advertisement 'Our gas and propane are bought in bottles, and we pay £20 every two months compared to my gas and electric bill in Britain which was £150 a month,' she explains. Whenever you walk down the street everyone says hello, the parks are great for kids and everyone is friendly. It's such a change from Britain where people are more closed off Alexandra Wilson The family pays a tenner every second month for electricity and their water bill is £15 a quarter. 'We buy in drinking water - it costs £1.50 for a 20L bottle which pops onto a stand like those in offices,' she says. Wi-Fi is £20 a month and a mobile phone costs £15 for the same period. Instead of council tax, property owners pay property tax - or 'Impuesto Predial' - annually. Advertisement Alexandra and David pay around £200 a year compared to an average Band D council tax of more than £2,000 a year in Britain. 'Living in Mexico made me realise just how much of the money I earned used to go on bills,' Alexandra says. 'I don't understand why gas, electricity, water and council tax are so expensive in the United Kingdom. 'Life here has opened my eyes.' The family spend £60 a week - £240 a month - on groceries and Alexandra now prepares fresh homemade meals daily. Advertisement Milk costs £1 a litre, fresh bread is a quid, a dozen eggs cost £1.89, and meat and cheese is bought by the kilo - with beef a third of the price in Mexico compared to the UK. 'I have not had a ready meal for eight years,' Alexandra says. 'The last time I bought one was when I was in Britain. 'Living here has shown me just how easy it is to cook everything from scratch.' Top notch healthcare Playa del Carmen is famous for its Fifth Avenue, a street lined with shops, restaurants and bars. Advertisement When the couple go out a bottle of local wine is £3.50, and a large margarita is £2.50. They prefer to dine at local neighbourhood cafes and restaurants, tucking into Yucatan specialities like tamales, made with corn masa dough and pozole - a traditional stew using a salsa Roja. 'Dinner is typically around £8, but if we want a three-course posh meal it's £30 including wine,' Alexandra says. Alexandra shops for clothes in the resort's large American-style shopping centres, and her local Walmart supermarket. She also claims healthcare in Playa del Carmen - where every Mexican citizen is entitled to cost-free access to healthcare and medication - is better than in Britain. Advertisement 'There are two types of hospitals, one is the public facility and the other is a workers' public hospital,' she explains. Dinner is typically around £8, but if we want a three-course posh meal it's £30 including wine Alexandra Wilson 'Once you are a citizen you have access to the workers hospital.' Alexandra had both her daughters in the public hospital and said the staff were excellent. 'No one else was allowed in the birthing room with me, but the nurses were so supportive,' she recalls. 'Having my first daughter was scary - I know some people go back to Britain to give birth. Advertisement 'I didn't because the quality of care here is excellent. You can also pay insurance and use a private hospital.' Instead of signing up to a local GP surgery, all pharmacies have a doctor attached. Alexandra and her family often simply pop in to see the pharmacist doctor, and pay just £1.80 for the consultation and medication. 'When friends say they have to wait three weeks just for a phone consultation with the GP back home I am shocked,' she says. 'It's just ridiculous.' Alexandra's four-year-old attends a private Mexican kindergarten, costing the couple £150 a month - a fraction of the cost of UK nurseries. Advertisement 'My eldest is bilingual and there is always someone to babysit our youngest - neighbours, and my husband's family are local,' she says. Getting around is also cheap; Alexandra says a one-way ticket anywhere on local transport costs 39p, while a monthly pass is £19.30, and taxis are just over £2 a mile. Meanwhile a tank of fuel is a third cheaper than Britain, at 95p a litre. 'Living in Playa Del Carmen is literally a world away from Hull and Britain,' Alexandra says. Living in Playa Del Carmen is literally a world away from Hull and Britain Alexandra Wilson 'I know many people think it's too hard, but I just did it and haven't looked back. Advertisement 'You can make up your mind one week and be working here a month or two later. It is that simple. 'I never thought this would be my future. Now I can't imagine a life back in the UK. 'Moving here not only healed my broken heart, but it gave me a future I could only dream of. 'I have hope again, I can save, and most importantly I have two amazing children and a partner. 'I took a leap of faith and now I'm living the dream.'
The Irish Sun
18-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
I swapped dull job & dead relationship in UK for Brit holiday hotspot where cocktails are £2.50…then met love of my life
TUCKING into homemade tacos while basking in the warm evening sunlight, Alexandra Wilson smiles as her toddler and baby daughter giggle together on the grass. It's a world away from her life eight years ago, when she worked as a debt collector for a power company in Hull while nursing a broken heart. 11 Alexandra Wilson quit life in the UK after a failed relationship and decided to move to Mexico on a whim Credit: Supplied 11 Alexandra had been holidaying in the country when she decided to make it her home Credit: Supplied 11 Alexandra's old house in Hull, which she sold to move to Mexico Credit: Supplied 11 Within a few years of moving there she met a new partner and now has two children and a stepdaughter Credit: Supplied Fresh from the break-up of a long-term relationship, Alexandra took a spontaneous holiday to Mexico in October 2017 - and after falling in love with the Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coastline, she packed in her job, sold her house and moved there. Alexandra, 38, now lives in the beach town of Playa del Carmen with new partner Daniel, 27, a drinks company consultant, and their two children aged four and nine months. She says moving to the other side of the world, where cocktails cost just £2.50 and local beers are a quid, is the 'best thing I ever did'. 'People thought it was just a 'holiday thing', that I was being silly and leaving my career and mortgage was a fantasy which would wear off,' Alexandra admits. 'Others couldn't fathom why I'd want to move to a country 10 hours away where I didn't even speak the language. 'People tried to talk me out of it. But I stood my ground. 'I felt held back in the United Kingdom. I was working to simply pay the bills. There was no challenge in my future, just the same old, same old. 'My bills ate up all my salary. A supermarket shop was a big night out for me. 'It was daunting but I knew I'd hate myself if I didn't try it. The worst thing that could happen was I'd fail and have to come back to Britain.' Mexico is a popular British holiday destination, with around 1.3million UK tourists heading there last year. First look at Royal Caribbean's new private island in Mexico with world's longest lazy river Loyal to Royal But since 2020 there has been a staggering 481 per cent increase in the number of Brits leaving the UK and moving to Mexico, especially the Riviera Maya, with its Caribbean beaches, tropical weather, relaxed lifestyle and rich history. In 2020, census figures revealed there were 2,582 UK-born people living in Mexico. Now 15,000 British citizens live there as long-term residents and with dual nationality. The number of Adventure 11 Alexandra when she was living in the UK Credit: Supplied 11 Now the mum-of-two enjoys beach living with her new family Credit: Supplied 11 Alexandra met partner Daniel through work five years ago Credit: Supplied 11 The couple have two daughters and Alexandra is stepmother to Daniel's daughter from a previous relationship Credit: Supplied After her break-up in mid-2017, Alexandra decided to treat herself to a solo holiday - and chose Mexico as 'somewhere different'. 'I thought it would be a real adventure,' she recalls. 'Then I made the snap decision on holiday to move here. I knew if I didn't try it at 30 I never would, and I would have regrets. 'I'd bought a semi detached three-bedroom terraced house two years earlier in 2015, and was turning 30. 'I hadn't considered moving overseas and had established roots in Yorkshire. But I was miserable in Britain.' Alexandra secured a six month travel visa, which is the equivalent of a digital nomad visa. She flew back to Playa Del Carmen in July 2018, and found work selling time shares at a five-star resort. I made the snap decision on holiday to move here. I knew if I didn't try it at 30 I never would, and I would have regrets Alexandra Wilson 'As soon as I got a job I applied for sponsored residency, and that meant I could work at the resort while the paperwork was being processed,' she says. A studio flat in the hotel's grounds was included as part of her work contract. 'Working with Mexican staff was amazing, it was a great way to make new friends and it forced me to learn Spanish fast,' Alexandra says. 'I picked it up within six weeks.' Within a year Alexandra moved into a two-bedroom apartment with a friend, sharing the £500-a-month rent. She says: 'The apartment included a pool, gym, tennis courts and a basketball court - all for £250 a month. 'It was a world away from Yorkshire.' Cheap living 11 Alexandra's outdoor dining area at the apartment she shares with Daniel Credit: Supplied 11 The proud mum says she took a gamble moving to Mexico, which paid off Credit: Supplied 11 The couple live a 15 minute walk to the beach Credit: Supplied Alexandra met Daniel - already dad to a now-10-year-old daughter - through work five years ago and they "hit it off immediately". They quickly moved in together into David's two-bedroom villa in a family neighbourhood, where mortgage costs are just £250 a month. They welcomed their first daughter in April 2021 and their second followed in September last year. Their home, which is a 15 minute walk to the local sandy beach, features a generous garden with an outdoor kitchen area for evening meals and cooking in summer. Alexandra says: 'It's wonderful for the children. Family and friends often drop by for day-long BBQs. 'Whenever you walk down the street everyone says hello, the parks are great for kids and everyone is friendly. 'It's such a change from Britain where people are more closed off.' Alexandra - who now works as a private relocation specialist, helping source property and employment for people moving to the region -says monthly bills are dramatically cheaper than back home. 'Our gas and propane are bought in bottles, and we pay £20 every two months compared to my gas and electric bill in Britain which was £150 a month,' she explains. Whenever you walk down the street everyone says hello, the parks are great for kids and everyone is friendly. It's such a change from Britain where people are more closed off Alexandra Wilson The family pays a tenner every second month for electricity and their water bill is £15 a quarter. 'We buy in drinking water - it costs £1.50 for a 20L bottle which pops onto a stand like those in offices,' she says. Wi-Fi is £20 a month and a mobile phone costs £15 for the same period. Instead of council tax, property owners pay property tax - or 'Impuesto Predial' - annually. Alexandra and David pay around £200 a year compared to an average Band D council tax of more than £2,000 a year in Britain. 'Living in Mexico made me realise just how much of the money I earned used to go on bills,' Alexandra says. 'I don't understand why gas, electricity, water and council tax are so expensive in the United Kingdom. 'Life here has opened my eyes.' The family spend £60 a week - £240 a month - on groceries and Alexandra now prepares fresh homemade meals daily. Milk costs £1 a litre, fresh bread is a quid, a dozen eggs cost £1.89, and meat and cheese is bought by the kilo - with beef a third of the price in Mexico compared to the UK. 'I have not had a ready meal for eight years,' Alexandra says. 'The last time I bought one was when I was in Britain. 'Living here has shown me just how easy it is to cook everything from scratch.' Top notch healthcare Playa del Carmen is famous for its Fifth Avenue, a street lined with shops, restaurants and bars. When the couple go out a bottle of local wine is £3.50, and a large margarita is £2.50. They prefer to dine at local neighbourhood cafes and restaurants, tucking into Yucatan specialities like tamales, made with corn masa dough and pozole - a traditional stew using a salsa Roja. 'Dinner is typically around £8, but if we want a three-course posh meal it's £30 including wine,' Alexandra says. Alexandra shops for clothes in the resort's large American-style shopping centres, and her local Walmart supermarket. She also claims healthcare in Playa del Carmen - where every Mexican citizen is entitled to cost-free access to healthcare and medication - is better than in Britain. 'There are two types of hospitals, one is the public facility and the other is a workers' public hospital,' she explains. Dinner is typically around £8, but if we want a three-course posh meal it's £30 including wine Alexandra Wilson 'Once you are a citizen you have access to the workers hospital.' Alexandra had both her daughters in the public hospital and said the staff were excellent. 'No one else was allowed in the birthing room with me, but the nurses were so supportive,' she recalls. 'Having my first daughter was scary - I know some people go back to Britain to give birth. 'I didn't because the quality of care here is excellent. You can also pay insurance and use a private hospital.' Instead of signing up to a local GP surgery, all pharmacies have a doctor attached. Alexandra and her family often simply pop in to see the pharmacist doctor, and pay just £1.80 for the consultation and medication. 'When friends say they have to wait three weeks just for a phone consultation with the GP back home I am shocked,' she says. 'It's just ridiculous.' Alexandra's four-year-old attends a private Mexican kindergarten, costing the couple £150 a month - a fraction of the cost of UK nurseries. 'My eldest is bilingual and there is always someone to babysit our youngest - neighbours, and my husband's family are local,' she says. Getting around is also cheap; Alexandra says a one-way ticket anywhere on local transport costs 39p, while a monthly pass is £19.30, and taxis are just over £2 a mile. Meanwhile a tank of fuel is a third cheaper than Britain, at 95p a litre. 'Living in Playa Del Carmen is literally a world away from Hull and Britain,' Alexandra says. Living in Playa Del Carmen is literally a world away from Hull and Britain Alexandra Wilson 'I know many people think it's too hard, but I just did it and haven't looked back. 'You can make up your mind one week and be working here a month or two later. It is that simple. 'I never thought this would be my future. Now I can't imagine a life back in the UK. 'Moving here not only healed my broken heart, but it gave me a future I could only dream of. 'I have hope again, I can save, and most importantly I have two amazing children and a partner. 'I took a leap of faith and now I'm living the dream.'
