FEATURE
Think you know her from the television
series? There’s more to Angela than the
editing team allowed us to see! She laughs
as she tells me, “It was an incredible
experience and pretty interesting to get
six personalities together and tell us, 'OK,
you’re all friends now!'
So, Angela…not the sort of people you’d
normally surround yourself with? “Definitely
not people I would call ‘girlfriends’ as such…
my real girlfriends were a bit shocked.
However, it was a fantastic bus iness
opportunity to take my brand nationwide and
get exposure. I know the editing made us
come across a bit negative at times; however
that’s reality TV. You know, most of it’s not
real, it’s about creating drama. It would’ve
been boring if we’d been having cups of tea
with no juicy conversation!”
So, who is the REAL Angela Stone? “Well,
I’ve been in business a long time now, and
upon reflection I’m amazed how I’ve come
through my journey from being a model, to
having a Model Agency, and now a Fashion
Stylist helping people be the best they can
be. I also teach and mentor women to
operate their own successful businesses.
It’s not all about appearance though, is
it? “It’s interesting because I have always
dressed people from the inside out. I truly
believe that what you wear reflects how you
feel about yourself, but more importantly,
how you want others to perceive you.
Clothing is very powerful; you can spend
a lifetime trying to undo a very bad first
impression, or create an amazing first
impression. When people look great,
there’s a positive energy about them.”
“I take a holistic approach to fashion really.
Clothes are just on the outside of us, and it’s
almost secondary to what I do. It’s technical,
I understand the fundamentals of colour, size
and shape, you can’t just put any shape or
style on a person. I’ve had literally hundreds
of women, and a few men, saying dress me,
take me shopping, change my life!”
I see you speak at colleges around NZ?
“Yes, this is one of my passions, passing
on my knowledge and talking to teenagers
about my own journey. Recently at St
Margaret’s in Christchurch, they wanted
to know what I do and how I got onto the
Real Housewives series. So, I told them that
you can achieve anything you want, you just
need to create a plan. Then you need to be
driven and focused and never lose sight of
what you want.”
I read a testimonial on your website from
a Depression Advocate - you were obviously
an immense benefit to her. “I’m getting
more clients everyday who have major
things happening in their lives, looking
for direction. I’m currently working with
doctors and extraordinary people in the
medical world who are creating an app
to help people who are supporting those
with mental health issues."
Angela pauses, “My mother took her
life, which completely turned my life
upside down. When presented with such
extraordinary experiences in your life,
I really feel a need to reach out and help
other people. I always knew my mother
was affected with mental health, but I never
once ever thought she would take her life.”
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“It was so hard as her supporter, and as
her daughter, but I was also her mother in
a lot of ways. What I recognised from that
experience was that I felt very alone with
little support out there for me. So, when
these amazing people came to me and said,
“Angela, we know your story….will you help
other people who are also supporters?”, I
jumped at the chance and to make some
magic happen! So, you know, out of
adversity comes really good things!”
Angela and I take some time ‘off the record’
discussing similarities in our lives. Her caring
and openness towards me (and others) is
astounding. The depth of her experience is
evident, as is her commitment to making
other supporters’ journeys a little easier.
Angela continues, “You never judge a book
by its cover, you never know what’s going
on behind someone’s heart. You never
know what’s happening for supporters like
you and me. It’s really hard to deal with
and if we can help people with this app, it
will be wonderful.”
“You can create an extraordinary life through
adversity and I think this is one of the things
that I am so passionate about. It doesn’t
matter what has happened in your life
beforehand….you can go out and live a great
life….you must move forward. I really am
on a mission and have dedicated my life to
the work I do with clients and schools around
the country."
“Never give up, don’t wait for it to happen,
get out there and create your extraordinary
life. If you want more out of your life, BE
more to others and go for gold!”
Angela’s second book ‘Being Real’ is full of tools and motivation to gain self-confidence,
self-worth and self-determination. Check it out at angelastone.co.nz