WHO IS...? CAT SIMS

who is?

CAT SIMS

CONTENT CREATOR AND AUTHOR

Tell us about your book It’s called The First Time You Smiled (or was it just wind?) and it’s a baby record book with attitude. When I had my babies I couldn’t find a baby record book that didn’t make me feel bad! They were all so perfect, pink and blue, totally not inclusive, twee and well, boring.

What do you hope parents will get out of it? I hope it’s funny, helpful and allows parents to record all the things that you’ll want to remember - like the first time your kids cut their own hair - as well as the usual milestones.

How important is journaling to you? Incredibly important! I’m kind of a hot mess! I struggle with anxiety and I’ve got ADHD and I’m an alcoholic in recovery so I journal every single morning to help keep my head straight.

How did you become a content creator? I started a blog after having my first baby. She was nine months old, I was in the depths of post-natal depression, my husband was touring and had been for five months and I was lost. It was the hardest time of my life and I wanted to talk about it so badly but felt I didn’t have anyone to talk to. So, I wrote it down. That first blog blew up and it all went from there. There weren’t many people talking openly and honestly about parenting at that time so I think a lot of people related to it. Since then, I’ve worked hard to hone my craft, I wrote a lot of comedy sketches, blogs and create content that I hope makes people feel like they are not the only one. some ski seasons before training as a teacher. I taught secondary English at inner city London schools and then left to work in music. I toured with artists like The Saturdays and Ray Davies from The Kinks. Then I fell pregnant and was unceremoniously dumped from the music industry. So I went to work for a charity where I organised massive fundraising rock events at the Royal Albert Hall. After that the blog started to pick up, I founded an influencer marketing agency in 2015 called Hustle & Fox with Gayle Haddock and eventually decided to go into content creation full time.

What do you think about the world of influencing? There are, and always will be, influencers who are problematic just like in any industry and I think audiences are starting to understand how it works and able to see red flags. I love the industry. The paid content, for me, is necessary to allow me to do the part of the job that I love the most which is creating content that makes people feel good. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to earn a living this way but I NEVER take it for granted.

You’ve spoken a lot about sobriety, how has it changed your life? My life is unrecognisable now that I’m clean and sober - as is my marriage, my relationship with my kids, my work life, my mental health. Sobriety has been the hardest and the best thing I’ve ever done. A lot of people wouldn’t have known that I had a drink/drug problem; I wasn’t drinking in the morning or hiding booze around the house. I hadn’t lost a job or ended up in prison but I knew I was drinking too much and it was affecting my anxiety hugely. I really want to smash the stigma attached to the word alcoholic because it’s seen as such a shameful dirty thing and I think that stops a lot of people asking for help.

Three words to describe yourself. I asked my family this. Jimmy said: Funny, ditsy, sexy. Billie said: Funny, kind, helpful. Bo said: Mummy is funny. Mine would be: chaotic, kind, tired!

Tell us one thing people don’t know about you. I was a child actress and appeared on Emmerdale until I got fired at five!

Where’s your dream date night in London? I’m a movie buff and my favourite cinema is Everyman on Baker Street. There’s also a wonderful fish restaurant in Mayfair (I can’t remember the name!) but after the movie I want to eat there.

Where’s your favourite place to go with the kids in London? We are big fans of the Natural History Museum so that’s always a favourite. The Southbank is amazing for the kids. We also love the water fountains at King’s Cross when it’s warm and the riverside at Dukes Meadows in Chiswick.

The last book you read? Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Signature dish? Fish. I’m not an enthusiastic cook but I have a gift for cooking. Gosh.

What would you take to a desert island? My Kindle so that I can read, factor 50 sunscreen, a journal and pen and my phone and AirPods so that I can listen to music, watch movies and keep in touch with people. There’s obviously phone service on this island.

What’s your proudest moment? Bringing my kids into the world and watching them grow and learn.

What’s next for Cat Sims? Well, I’m hoping to get a second book out soon but honestly, I’m just going to continue working hard and being kind.

@notsosmugnow

The First Time You Smiled (or was it just wind?) from Amazon, Waterstones and all good book retailers.