Interview with designer and entrepreneur Sonya Lennon in the Irish Examiner, May 21st 2016:  “My mother was a transatlantic air hostess which was very glam back then and I remember being inspired by the goodies she brought home in the form of clothes. I was cutting up curtains and sheets from way back when. I’ve always been determined and forthright. I was the eldest. I’ve one sister. I was probably an opinionated pain in the ass growing up. When I left school I did a foundation course in Communications in Coláiste Dhulaigh and I applied for the degree in Dún Laoghaire but didn’t get in. My parents said do something useful so I went to Paris to improve my French.

When I came back to Dublin, I wanted to work, not study. Dad was in the bank and, when I didn’t go on to do a degree, it was challenging for him, given that I’d had the benefit of a private education. I worked in a series of fabulous boutiques like Kamouflage and Firenze — part of that avant garde scene that was bringing things like Commes des Garcons to Ireland for the first time — and I honed my understanding of what clothes do on a body, as well as my ability to sell.

I’m more of a lark than an owl. I have no problem getting up at 6am when I have a heavy workload. I go to bed around 11pm. Ambitious isn’t the word I’d use for myself. It’s more about challenge, pushing, growing and learning than ambition for its own sake. For a long time I played it safe as a freelance fashion stylist, afraid to challenge myself.

The transition to being on television was not of my making.  I was offered the slot on the TV programme ‘Off the Rails‘ and was reluctant at first, because I’d spent 20 years building up a reputation and a career as a stylist and I was worried about shelving that. But then I realised you don’t get offered a prime time TV gig twice. I’m pretty good at leaving work behind when I’m with my family. The kids are 11 now and great company.