MOLLY-MAE Hague is an inspiration – “intimidating” fast fashion protestors need to leave her alone, said Ashley James as she backs star.
The former Made in Chelsea star, 34, said she attended the PrettyLittleThing catwalk event to “support aspirational women” – but was shouted abuse by protestors when she arrived.
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Around 20 people gathered outside the The Londoner Hotel, Leicester Square, holding signs and shouting through megaphones.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Ashley said: “When I walked in, I was looked dead in the eye saying if you come to this event then you don’t support women.
“I don’t know Molly-Mae, I’ve never met Molly-Mae, she is literally a classic example of a young girl that gets so much hatred and trolling.
“Some of the comments that she makes are exactly the same comments that so many other people have made and no one gets hate like her.
“To the people protesting I am here to support arguably the most successful reality star in the country, lots of people get the same platform, myself included. I’ve come from reality TV, the same as her.
“I think it is so incredible and aspirational what she has done. I’m here to support a girl I don’t know doing well.
“It’s a real shame – when you’re told you’re not supporting women, when you’re here to support women.”
The new mum said that this was one of her first events that she’d been to since welcoming baby boy Alfie in January 2021 and admitted she was alarmed by the protests.
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“It’s also very intimidating, this is one of the first events I’ve done since becoming a mum, it’s such a weird thing to say, I’m so sensitive to a lot of things and then I come in and face this,” Ashley said.
“I am here to support people doing good things. If they want to protest they should go to the head office and protest.”
Discussing fast fashion, Ashley pointed out that it’s not fair to shame fast-fashion shoppers as everyone has different circumstances.
Recalling her own experiences, Ashley said: “Up until very recently I lived in my overdraft and I think it’s a very privileged thing to say don’t buy fast fashion.
“For me, I had like one party outfit that I used to wear, that was my going out dress through uni and after uni.
“I didn’t have enough money.
“I do feel it’s a privilege in saying buy better clothes.
“I’m in my 30s now and I’m getting to the point where I can afford to make my choice but also I don’t buy clothes all the time and I feel like different people have different views.
“Like children’s clothing can be so expensive. It’s deeper than that.
“Molly-Mae is a young girl, she’s 22 and you hear it all the time ‘be kind’ and think about what you say to people.”
A Love Island star was amongst protesters who mobbed Molly-Mae’s event.
That included Brett Staniland – a PHD student and model from Derbyshire who starred on last year’s Love Island.
He held up a sign that read: “There’s nothing pretty about wage theft.”
A source said: “I was so shocked to see Brett here – he went on a show sponsored by fast fashion.
“But he was there holding a sign saying ‘Pretty Little Thief’ and shouting about how ‘shameful’ it was we were all in attendance.
“He was shaking his head as people filed into the event.”
Ahead of the event Molly spoke to The Sun and revealed what goes on behind the scenes of her role of creative director at PrettyLittleThing.
The 22-year-old has been in the job since August last year and it’s thought her deal with PLT is worth a cool seven figures.
Love Island star Molly claimed she works 13 hour days.
She said: “One day I’ll come in at 9am and won’t leave until 10pm – it doesn’t stop.
“I wasn’t surprised by the amount of hard work that goes into being creative director because I think I’d gradually taken the role on.”
Molly also insisted that her position at the company isn’t as big as some may think.
She continued: “I think people get it twisted and I think I’m in charge of the whole brand, and I’ve come in and I’m going to flip it upside down. But that’s just not the case.
“I give my creative input where I can and I give my ideas. I’ve been a consumer since the age of 14 so I know what I want to see from this brand. I’ve gone from being a PLT customer to an influencer to a brand ambassador and now the creative director.
“I’ve taken that gradual move. I know what the brand needs to give the customers and how we can improve it.”
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