Stacey Solomon penned an emotional letter to her younger self after her haircare brand REHAB. was named as the UK’s second fastest growing company in 2024.
The mother-of-five, 35, who welcomed eldest son Zachary when she was just 17, offered words of encouragement after being written off for being a teen mum and claims from others she was not ‘intelligent or talented enough’ to succeed.
Stacey took to her Instagram and shared snaps from a glam photoshoot for the brand and as she posed proudly with her award from FEBE Growth 100.
When it comes to beauty brands REHAB. is the UK’s fastest, selling over a million products since it launched, when Stacey first came on board REHAB. sold out of 18-months’ worth of stock in just six hours.
Stacey, who invested and became Co-Founder alongside Vicky Ellis & Anastasia Tozer in October 2023, penned: ‘A letter to teenage me. One day you’ll be a teenage mum and there will be people who tell you that you’re on a road to failure, that you’re not smart enough, that you aren’t strong enough,’
‘You don’t speak well enough, you aren’t talented enough… But then one day you will own the 2nd fastest growing company in the UK. With two boss women who started off with a dream & a garage to work out of’.
‘Today got my beautiful babies ready for school, then headed off to shoot a campaign with a brand I LOVE ) and then drove straight to the awards ceremony to celebrate our company becoming the Second fastest growing company in the country’.
Stacey Solomon has penned an emotional letter to her younger self after her haircare brand REHAB. was named as the UK’s second fastest growing company in 2024
The mother-of-five, who welcomed eldest son Zachary when she was just 17, offered words of encouragement to self (Stacey pictured aged 19)
She continued: ‘A day like this I could have never even dreamed of growing up. And so many people told me it wouldn’t be possible. Never let anyone set your limits for you. Those people couldn’t have been more wrong’.
Since, the brand has sold out of every product its launched, expanded into body care, and sold out of its most recent product launch, they over 10,000 people on the wait list for this product alone.
Stacey fell pregnant with Zachary, now 16, when she was a performing arts student at Havering College in Essex, and her childhood sweetheart was 23.
She said at the time: ‘I didn’t plan to get pregnant. I didn’t dream of having kids so young, but my parents were really good about it.
‘But it happened and Zach is the most important thing in my life. Any free time I do have I’m allowed to go round and see him.’
The Dagenham-native told viewers of the reality TV show: ‘Single motherhood is tough, but I’m determined to be the one that provides for my son.’
But his friends and family rallied around car worker Dean after she refused to reveal him as the dad or admit he is involved in their son’s life.
Dean’s mum Tracy said: ‘The way Stacey has spoken about Zach you would think his father doesn’t care but that is completely untrue.
Stacey took to her Instagram and shared snaps from a glam photoshoot for the brand and as she posed proudly with her award from FEBE Growth 100
As well as becoming the UK’s fastest growing beauty brand, selling over a million products since it launched, when Stacey first came on board REHAB. sold out
Stacey, who invested and became Co-Founder alongside Vicky Ellis & Anastasia Tozer in October 2023, penned: ‘A letter to teenage me. One day you’ll be a teenage mum and there will be people who tell you that you’re on a road to failure’
Stacey pictured with eldest son Zachary, now 16, who she welcomed as a teen
‘I’m really angry she didn’t acknowledge Dean is still a big part of Zach’s life. He didn’t abandon his son.’
Tracy added that she helped to look after Zach while Stacey flew to Dubai to perform in front of mentor Dannii Minogue and her sister, Kylie.
Stacey is also mum to Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, with husband Joe Swash as well as Zachary and Leighton, 12, from two previous relationships., and Joe also has a son Harry, 16, with his ex-partner.
It comes after Stacey insisted that she and her husband teach their six children the importance of earning their own money.
Stacey, who is worth an estimated £5million, has revealed their children earn their pocket money through chores at the family home Pickle Cottage, and in the future they will have to find their own way in life.
‘We don’t have some sort of inherited wealth that we can pass down for generations. It’s really important for them to know that this is our career and we will support our family in whichever way we can, but eventually they are their own person,’ the Loose Women star told The Mirror.
Stacey is also mum to Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, with husband Joe Swash as well as Zachary and Leighton, 12, from two previous relationships., and Joe also has a son Harry, 16,
Stacey, who shot to fame as a teenage mum on The X Factor, added that it was her photographer dad who instilled the importance of financial independence in her.
‘My dad didn’t treat us any differently, as soon as we got jobs, we had to contribute. I was excited to earn my own money and be financially independent. I want my children to be excited for that too,’ she said.
‘It’s a wider picture of their self-worth and their happiness in general. I want them to feel accomplished and have things.
‘It’s very difficult to go through life without needing anything or wanting anything. I don’t want to leave them in that position.’
