Five Questions with Fiona Murphy

5Questions

with Fiona Murphy

Fiona is the owner of Bettylicious, a beautiful online store featuring the best vintage styles around, including the most beautiful swimwear. After being diagnosed with ME/ CFS and losing her father, Fiona took her career and life in a different direction to afford herself a better work-life balance, and to channel her love of vintage clothing

How did you get your diagnosis?

Initially I got shingles in 2006, which gave me stroke-like numbness in my right arm and leg. Later on that year I received a diagnosis of ME/ CFS. I struggled to walk. After many consultations I was also diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2008. I had lumbar decompression surgery on my L4-L5 vertebrae in January 2009, which has caused ongoing issues with mobility.

Visit Bettylicious

What inspired you to start Bettylicious?

After my father’s passing, while I was struggling to work in my corporate position with my disability, I decided to become my own boss. Looking at the choices, I decided to buy a ready-made business, as it was the best option available for me. So, I bought Bettylicious.co.uk. It suits me perfectly and my love of Hollywood glamour and iconic film stars. Swimwear is particularly a passion as swimming is now one of the few sports I can do and vintage costumes are so beautiful and hard to say no to.

How do you switch off and relax?

The upside of owning an online business is the flexibility it affords me. If I am having a bad day or I am in pain, I can work from home, I can even work in my pyjamas. On the flip side relaxing and switching off is hard when you are a one-woman business. I do try. I have a little dog and I like to walk her around the field across the road from where I live, sometimes on my crutches. I also love trash TV, something I don’t have to think too hard about, so it’s just entertaining me. I try and unwind with lots of hot bubble baths. Plus I have an addiction to Vinted, shopping for vintage dresses.

What is the best thing about Bettylicious?

Since starting Bettylicious I have met many wonderful people. It’s such a great pleasure. My life is filled with vintage beauty and great friends and family, so Bettylicious really has changed my life. I know my Dad would be really proud of me. I do love to see my clothes and swimsuits modelled and loved by the people who buy them. I was so proud to see Tully Kearny modelling one of my swimsuits in an article in Rarity Life. I would like to meet her in person, she is very inspiring. I hope that articles like this will highlight the many invisible disabilities out there, and the number of people they actually affect.

What support do you have?

Day to day, I don’t have a lot of support in place to help, other than my family, but they live over an hour away. A big issue for me is cooking when I am struggling, having to stand at a stove, lift pans and everything that is involved can be hard. I find the delivery apps that are available today brilliant, they help take so much pressure off at times. I also have some lovely friends now here in Taunton who would help if needed. I have only lived here for a year, and I love it. I FaceTime my daughter every day, and having that relationship and contact with her is so important to me. But, on the flip side, I also want to offer support to other people like me and I am going to start to do YouTube tutorials in the near future to help other business owners, as many I have met can’t do a ‘standard’ job due to health conditions. It will be called Betty’s Business Basics. My top tip is if you are going to do anything in life do something you are passionate about and do your research into what will fit with you and your lifestyle and health. If you are passionate about something it will drive you forward.”

Images supplied by Fiona Murphy

Cambridge Rare Disease Network

Bringing The Rare Disease Community Together To Educate The Public At #Rarefest22

FREE to attend, RAREfest22 is an awardwinning festival that is as UNIQUE as the people it champions. On Friday 25th November the festival launches with an evening of music, dance and talks by the rare community. On Saturday 26th November the doors open for a daylong festival featuring interactive talks, activities, demos and exhibits, film and art showcasing innovative science, visionary technology and pioneering organisations improving lives and bringing hope to those living with rare conditions.

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