Keep Believing in Yourself
with FHM United Kingdom October 2026 cover star Monique Lester / @selene_1138
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Welcome to FHM! For readers meeting you for the first time, could you tell us a little about yourself and the journey that has shaped who you are today? My life has been one hell of a journey, and certainly not an easy one. I experienced intense bullying growing up, which affected me deeply. I rebelled, made choices I’m not proud of and was forced to grow up far too quickly.
While still very young, I became involved with a much older man and was exposed to a world far beyond what any teenager should have known. At the time, I believed I was in love and felt protected and financially secure, but it wasn’t a healthy lifestyle. When I became a mother at 18, everything changed. I realised that wasn’t the life I wanted for my son, and I made the incredibly difficult decision to walk away and build a future for us on my own. Starting over was hard. I was hurt, betrayed, and, for a period, lost my way again. But reaching my lowest point ultimately became my turning point. My love for my son gave me the strength to change the direction of my life, and I came through it more resilient, self-aware and determined than ever. Today, I’m a proud mother of two beautiful boys, a partner, a support worker and an internationally published model. Returning to modelling after having my second child allowed me to rediscover a part of myself I had loved since I first began modelling at 12. It has become a powerful expression of my confidence, femininity and everything I’ve overcome. I’m also preparing to launch my very own lingerie brand, which feels like such an exciting and meaningful next chapter. I couldn’t be happier or prouder to turn my passion for lingerie, modelling and empowering women into something of my own. It has taken so much vision, courage, and hard work to bring it to life, and I genuinely cannot wait to share it with the world. My past may have shaped me, but it doesn’t define me. I’m incredibly proud of the woman I’ve become and the life I’ve created. I have a loving family, careers that fulfil me, and so much still ahead of me. If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that going down the wrong path doesn’t mean you can’t turn your life around; you can emerge wiser, stronger, and more powerful than before.
If you could describe this chapter of your life in three words, what would they be, and why? Grateful, excited, and content. Grateful for everything I’ve overcome and for the beautiful family, opportunities, and life I have today. Excited for everything ahead, including this incredible FHM cover and the launch of my own lingerie brand. And content because, after spending so much of my life fighting to become the woman I wanted to be, I finally feel genuinely happy, fulfilled, and proud of where I am.
Your followers often see the highlights of your life online. What’s something about you that would genuinely surprise them? People might be surprised by how much of a homebody I am. Online, they see the glamorous shoots, lingerie, heels and magazine covers, but away from the camera, I’m happiest at home with my family. Usually in comfortable clothes, playing Heroes of the Storm or watching a movie and enjoying a quiet night. I’m also a disability support worker, so my everyday life is very grounded and centred around caring for others. Modelling allows me to express the glamorous, confident side of myself, but behind it all, I’m really just a devoted mum who values family, meaningful work and the simple things in life.
Describe your experience shooting the cover of FHM. What was the shoot like for you? This cover shoot was exciting, unpredictable, and completely unforgettable. I had been planning it for quite some time with an incredible photographer who always goes above and beyond for me, bringing so much creativity to every detail and transforming her beautiful studio to perfectly suit each concept. I put a huge amount of preparation into the shoot. I worked incredibly hard on my fitness, lost five kilos and carefully planned every outfit and set. The indoor portion went beautifully, but the beach location was another story! Weather is the one element you can never control, and I was determined to complete everything in one day rather than reorganise the entire shoot, including hair and makeup. When we arrived at the beach, it was absolutely freezing, fierce winds, intermittent rain and huge clouds rolling through. We got in, gave it everything and got out as quickly as we could! Despite the conditions, we absolutely smashed it, and the unpredictable weather even gifted us a rainbow, which became such a magical and funny added element. It was a challenging but incredible experience, and I’m so proud of what we created together. We made memories that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.
What did being chosen for an FHM UK cover mean to you personally and professionally? Being chosen for an FHM UK cover is a huge milestone in my modelling journey, and I’m incredibly grateful and excited to have been given this opportunity. I’ve worked so hard to reach this point, and I hope the dedication, preparation and passion I poured into the shoot can be seen in every image. Personally, it means everything to me. It’s a reminder of how far I’ve come, both as a woman and as a model, and it makes me incredibly proud. Professionally, it means even more it represents international recognition, strengthens my presence within the industry, and marks an exciting new level in my career. To see myself on the cover of such an iconic publication is honestly a dream come true, and it has made me even more motivated for everything still ahead.
What has been the biggest opportunity your career has given you so far, and how did it change your perspective? The greatest opportunity my career has given me isn’t one particular shoot or publication; it’s the platform, experience and self-belief to create something of my own. I believe everything happens for a reason. One journey leads to another; some doors open, others close, and sometimes you reach a point where you’re unsure which direction to take next. Modelling helped me find that direction. After years of working in lingerie, collaborating with brands and discovering how confident and empowered beautiful pieces can make a woman feel, I realised that my true passion is to launch my own lingerie brand. It feels like the perfect evolution of everything I’ve learned and genuinely love. I also know modelling was never going to look the same forever. I hope to have another child soon and complete my little family, so there will eventually be a pause but certainly not an ending. This career has taught me that life can have many different chapters and that stepping back from one dream can create space for another. Above all, my greatest achievement is knowing that I built this journey myself. Nothing was simply handed to me. Every opportunity came from persistence, sacrifice and believing in myself, even when the path wasn’t clear. That has completely changed my perspective: I now know I’m capable of creating my own opportunities rather than waiting for someone else to give them to me.
What have you learned about building your personal brand and turning your online presence into real opportunities? The most important lesson I’ve learned is that authenticity builds a stronger personal brand than simply following every new trend. In a digital world where so much content can begin to look the same, I’ve stayed committed to my own style, femininity and creative direction. I would rather set my own trends and remain recognisably myself than change to fit what everyone else is doing. Instagram has been one of the most valuable platforms for my modelling career, but also one of the most challenging particularly as a lingerie model. Lingerie content can face restrictions even when it reveals no more than a bikini, so I’ve experienced content removals, account restrictions, and even account loss. Although it has been frustrating, it has also taught me how to adapt, understand the boundaries, and protect what I’ve built by maintaining backup accounts and plans. Most importantly, I’ve learned not to allow one platform or its algorithm to define my value. I may not have an agency planning every outfit, reel, or career move behind the scenes, but that independence is part of what makes my brand genuinely mine. By remaining consistent, resilient and authentic, I’ve turned my online presence into magazine covers, brand collaborations, meaningful industry relationships and now my own lingerie business. Those opportunities have shown me that you don’t need to become someone else to succeed; you need to understand what makes you distinctive and have the confidence to keep showing up as that person.
Is there a dream collaboration, brand, or magazine cover that’s still on your vision board? It’s funny you ask, because FHM UK and Vogue were once two of the biggest covers on my vision board and with both now becoming part of my journey, I feel incredibly fulfilled by what I’ve achieved. I’ve been fortunate enough to grace quite a few magazine covers, so I’m almost starting to run out of dream publications! Perhaps ELLE could be next there always has to be something left to reach for. Right now, though, my biggest dream is shifting from appearing on covers to building my own lingerie brand. After years of modelling for other brands and publications, it’s incredibly exciting to step onto the business and creative side of the industry. I suppose I’m not completely crossing to the other side I’m placing myself on both sides. I can continue being the woman in front of the camera while also becoming the woman behind the vision, creating something that represents my own style and helps other women feel beautiful and confident.
When you’re away from the cameras and social media, what does your ideal day look like? My life away from the cameras is actually very normal although usually still quite busy! My ideal day begins with breakfast and getting the boys ready for school and daycare, followed by the gym, where I completely ruin myself with a hard workout. Afterward, I’ll come home, shower and have lunch. If the workout has really finished me off, I might even treat myself to a little nana nap! Otherwise, I love playing computer games with my partner, watching a movie together, or heading out for a relaxed lunch. Then it’s back to mum life in the evening bath time, household chores, preparing dinner and getting everyone settled for bed. It may not sound particularly glamorous, but those ordinary family moments, with a little time to relax in between, are honestly what make me happiest.
What’s your favourite food, and what would your perfect meal look like? My favourite food is definitely spaghetti bolognese, something comforting, hearty, and homemade. My perfect meal would be a generous bowl of spaghetti bolognese, followed by warm apple crumble for dessert. Nothing overly fancy, just two absolute classics that make me happy every time.
What is your favourite song right now, and what makes it special to you? My favourite song right now is I Got You by Bebe Rexha. There’s something so deep, genuine and emotionally honest about it, the message of standing by someone and letting them know they aren’t alone really connects with me. The music video is beautiful as well, and Bebe looks absolutely stunning. It’s one of those songs I can listen to repeatedly and still feel something every time.
Who or what inspires you to keep growing, and what is one lesson they’ve taught you that you carry with you? I would say that I inspire myself and I mean that with humility. When I look back at everything I’ve survived, overcome, and built without giving up, it reminds me that I’m capable of continuing to grow. The woman I am today is someone my younger self would be incredibly proud of. There is also one person who has been a very meaningful source of encouragement throughout my journey: Farrah from Elegance by Farout Photography. During moments when I’ve felt uncertain, discouraged, or close to giving up, she has picked me back up and reminded me of my ability and potential. What makes her encouragement so special is that it has always felt sincere; sometimes the truth you most need to hear comes from someone who can see your strength when you temporarily can’t. The lesson I carry with me is to keep believing in myself, particularly on the difficult days. A moment of doubt doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path; sometimes you simply need to remember how far you’ve already come.
What do you hope people take away from following you and seeing your journey? I hope people take away the message that everyone’s journey is different and every person’s beauty is completely unique. Someone else choosing one path doesn’t mean you have to follow it; you’re allowed to create a life, identity, and definition of success that feel right for you.
The sky truly is the limit, but building the life you want requires investment: your time, energy, belief and sometimes your finances. Growth rarely happens overnight; it’s something you continually work toward and build piece by piece. Most importantly, I want people to realise that they are in control of their own journey. Your past doesn’t determine your future, and you shouldn’t measure your progress against somebody else’s. Believe in what makes you different, keep moving forward, and be proud of how far you’ve come.
Looking five years ahead, where do you see yourself, and what would you love to have accomplished by then? Five years feels like the perfect amount of time to turn my vision into reality. I see myself leading a successful, thriving lingerie brand that empowers women around the world, not only by helping them feel beautiful and confident, but also by inspiring them to discover their own passions, ambitions, and sense of purpose. I would also love to have completed my little family, continued creating a beautiful life with the people I love and reached a place where I can look back knowing that I turned everything I experienced into something meaningful.
There’s a quote I’ve always carried with me: “Something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for.” To me, that describes a truly fulfilling life. My brand would give me something purposeful to build, my family gives me people to love, and my dreams will always give me something to hope and strive for. In five years, I don’t simply want to have built a successful business, I want to have created something that brings passion and happiness into my own life while helping other women recognise their beauty, confidence and potential too.
