The Woman that didn’t want to be on Video
I don’t recall when she actually danced herself into my life on Instagram last year. As there have been a lot of followers that have done so since my world changed. But few have left a mark. She happens to be one of them.
I suppose I was envious of all her energy, in the beginning. After all, she has so much. While I had been alluded by it back then. But we chatted. And chatted once again, soon to become friends.
It became clear, this was really her. Just happy to be dancing while wearing amazing outfits. She was modeling in her own way. Good for her I thought, as everyone deserves happiness.
Now months later, she most likely thought, ‘it’s about damn time, Rick;’ when I finally inquired about her being interviewed. Yet her response made me laugh and smile, as if she were dancing.
“Along as I don’t have to talk or do a video,” she responded. Now with that irony upfront, lets…
Meet: Rachel Hargreaves
The Woman that didn’t want to be on Video
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire (where Robbie Williams is from, and he actually went to my high school but left before I started)
I had a very good childhood with my mum & dad. I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Any brothers and sisters?
I’ve got no brothers or sisters but was very close to my parents and grandparents.
What was growing up for Rachel like? Lots of friends? What did you like to do as a child?
We lived in a bungalow until I was 11. Then we moved to another area in a bigger four-bedroom, detached house. I didn’t like that area. It was boring and I had no friends there as they lived miles away.
My mum bred Guinea Pigs, and my dad kept birds. We had a Cocker Spaniel called Lyndsey, and a Schnauzer called Sheena.
When I was young, I did ballet & tap dancing. Also swimming for a while. They were my favorite subjects, along with Art.
I was quite shy and unconfident all through my school days. I did make friends easily, but I hated speaking in front of people at school. I still really don’t like it now. So, that made me not like high school. I couldn’t wait to leave.
When I was a teenager, I used to make dances with friends. I spent my spare time doing art!
Just like I still do now!
Did you attend college? Where? Degree (s)? Any college extracurricular activities? Any special honors like the Dean’s List etc?
Yes, I went to college straight from school at age 16-18. It was the best! I loved it. I did a GNVQ Level 3 in art & design. It covered all areas of art, including fashion, photography, graphics, textiles, 3D design, life drawing, art history, etc. It was much better than school. We were now grown-ups (sort of) & much more independent. I made new friends. We had the time of our lives! We started going to nightclubs and danced all night!
After college, I went to university from age 18-21. I did not enjoy this. I was home sick & I used to go home most weekends. I really didn’t want to stay there, but I stuck it out for my Mum & Nana. They wanted me to be the 1st in the family to get a degree. My dad would have let me leave.
I went to do a degree in fashion design. Because it was a four-year course, I changed after the 1st year to a three-year course. Which was surface pattern & textiles. I completed the degree in 2001 & came straight home!
Family Life
Are you married? Any children
I met my husband when I was 19. That was part of the reason I didn’t want to be away at university. He was in the army. So, we were at opposite ends of England through the week. Then we’d meet at home, in the middle of England, on weekends if he could.
Daniel was on three operational tours of Afghanistan & Iraq. On the last tour of Iraq in 2006, it was VERY dangerous. We decided to get married before he went. He’d actually left the army then but was called up, so we weren’t expecting that. I was 26 and Daniel 25 when got married. He was so lucky to come home alive & not injured.
We met in a nightclub and carried on clubbing until I was 30. I had our son.
I have a small but close family. My Mum is the only one left. My dad passed away in 2020 & all of my Grandparents have gone.
Favorite Movies/TV
My favorite films are horror films. I’m very interested in paranormal films (ghosts/afterlife). I think there is truth in them & I find all other films boring! I don’t have a favorite one really.
My favorite TV programs are British soaps.
My favorite music is dance music. But there are so many types of dance music so not all of it. It’s too long to explain here.
Employment
I’ve always done care work since leaving university. I’ve worked in a few shops, but I didn’t like that. I much prefer being out & about, looking after people.
I cared for my dad when he was ill. I didn’t work for a while & now I look after my Mum too.
I also do some machine embroidery onto clothes, blankets, towels as a sideline.
You’ve got three Instagram pages rachels.fashion, sew.dance.in.style and rachels.sew.dance.backup with approximately 15,000 followers in total. How do you differentiate the material you put on each? And how difficult is it to continue to create material for each?
You’ve missed a 4th Instagram page!
My dogs @sooty.panda.and.k9.keepsakes. I hardly put anything on there now because I can’t keep up with them all. But it’s good to look back on from when they were younger. That has 3000 followers.
My main page has everything on that I do. My back up account, I set up more recently. I thought it was safer to have everything on there separately, in case anything happens to my main account. I hear of accounts being blocked and they can’t get back on. Or sometimes we get restricted for using it too much.
Then my fashion/colabs page is just for my fashion. No dancing or sewing. I thought, maybe fashion brands would like to see that, rather than dances and sewing mixed up with it.
I don’t find it difficult to create content. Idea’s pop into my head all of the time.
Let’s talk your fashion page…
Have you or are you currently a professional model?
I’m not a professional model. Although I did do some modeling at college. My Mum used to take me to modeling classes when I was 17.
I’ve only been doing this properly since January this year 2024.
What advice would you give others following in your footsteps?
My advice to others is to work at your page every day. Find new followers, get rid of follows that aren’t following you. Join in on daily engagement groups. Learn about trending music, hashtags, tagging, build up friendships with followers etc. Then, you can feel confident enough to reach out to brands as you know what your followers will like.
I’m only just learning all of this still. It takes years.
The main thing I’d say is go for it & not be worried about what people might think of you. That was my concern at first.
Be a leader, not a follower I was always told!
Your Sew and Dance page…
Do you design your own outfits?
I don’t make all of my own outfits. I’ve made a few in the past few years if I fancy it. But it’s ALOT cheaper and easier to buy the clothes these days! Plus, I’ve been getting lots for free these days with my fashion collabs.
How do you choose the material you use?
I made myself three jumpsuits last summer because I couldn’t find any like one, I had and wanted to replace. I had to get similar fabric and went on a day trip to Wales on Mother’s Day with my Mum. There is a big fabric shop there who sells everything!
Can you tell us about the patterns you use and how difficult is it?
All my clothes I make are guess work from an item of clothing that I already have. I don’t use patterns, I cut around things I’ve got and do lots of sewing, trying on then altering.
I find it more difficult than my Mum does. I prefer the machine embroidery.
How long have you been doing this?
I started to sew at school. I can remember making a bag there but the first time I made clothes was 1998 at college.
Nearly every post has you dancing. Where do you get your energy? Do you do this as a form of working out as well?
I don’t know where I have my energy from. I just do! I’ve always been the same. I’ve never been one for napping in the day. I hardly sleep well at night!
The dancing started two years ago as a hobby. To post my learning to shuffle journey on here, along with my sewing. I thought it was a way to keep my page active.
I used to do it every other day. But now, I have started to go to a gym to do weights. I go to work now part time, So I don’t have as much time. I probably do two hours a week dancing on 2 separate days. I get a few videos done on each occasion. It might look as though I’m always doing it, but I’m not.
How important is physical fitness?
Fitness is very important now, at this age. I don’t want to get middle age spread
How often do you work out?
Three times a week for an hour, I train at the gym. And twice a day I go dog walking.
What does your family think about your social media strategy?
My family – what they think …
My Son absolutely hates it and wishes I’d give it up. He has stick about it at school on various occasions. I have to keep blocking school kids.
Viewer Feedback
I’m sure you get plenty of feedback from followers on your pages. What’s your most favorable comment left by a follower or viewer on any of your pages? And the most critical comment you took offense to? And what would you like to tell that person if they’re reading along now?
Before I started to do the fashion collabs, I had a lady follower saying I should do modeling. Which started me researching into it on here…how people were doing it.
The worst comment was from a neighbor who was on my IG. We had a bit of a fall out because of it, and she has now unfollowed me. There were three negative comments I had to delete. It shocked me. Because I don’t usually get them and didn’t understand why she would comment negativity on my page. So, I had to say something to her.
I can’t remember the first two comments. But the last one was ‘you really do have too much time on your hands.’ I do not and there isn’t enough time in the day. But I make time for this because I am enjoying doing my fashion collaborations and would like to do more.
It would be nice to make a career from it. I had to tell her that brands are looking at my account. Her answer was that she couldn’t care less about my fashion collabs as her dad is ill in hospital????!!!
About Me
You’ve known this was coming. We’ve been friends for over a year. We have exchanged messages occasionally. What is it about me and my platform that had you follow me? And what is it that you like most about me and the platform that keeps you following?
The reason I took notice in your posts on engagement groups was your cancer journey.
I know all about this and went through it with my dad. But unfortunately, he wasn’t a survivor like you.
It’s great how you have been open about it on here.
Also, you have been supportive to my page and anyone who supports me, I do the same for them. I always return interaction and appreciate people who do that for me, too, like you!
First and foremost, I’d like to thank all of you for your support. I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise.
I heard it in a movie that “if you build it, they will come.” Hidden in that movie script, Field of Dreams, were many life lessons that may have slipped you by. Including one that’s never mentioned. Persistence. Ray never gave up and got his field.
That same trait I seen in Rachel from day one. She continues her love of dance, fashion, family life and a drive to become a top-of-the-line influencer. To her I say, ‘keep building it, it will get bigger.’
Yet at the end of our interview, she offered me these parting words. “It’s been an honor to do the interview for you. So many miles apart, over the other side of the world!” And I’m not sure what to say.
For the first time, since my cancer diagnosis and treatment, I wonder why I survived cancer. Why was it me and not someone else? Someone like her father. I hung on by the grace of many of you. I also fought for someone to return to my life who may never come back. I’m sure her father had similar hopes and supporters too. So why me?
But I know, deep inside it’s to tell my story for others to grow strength. And to tell Rachel’s story and every story in between so they can bring someone a smile too. I pray this did just that, so I will have earned my keep.
Thank you, Rachel for allowing me to write this. And continued strength to your entire family including your mother. I so earnestly hope you reach the 10,000 followers you seek, per account, and those brands coming knocking loader. Stay blessed my friend it’s been my honor.
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