Alison Clarke, ACA Models & Miss NI: Podcast Interview

 
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Alison Clarke is the founder of ACA Models: Northern Ireland's longest-running modelling and promotion agency. 

After growing up on a farm in County Tyrone, Alison gave up her University offers to study Maths and instead took a job with Ulster Bank. 

Alongside working full-time at the Waring Street Bank (now The Merchant Hotel) she entered and won Miss Northern Ireland in 1982 and was a runner-up in the Miss UK competition.  

Ultimately, this experience was the catalyst that led to working in PR & Marketing for eight years before opening up her own agency in 1990. 

Alison has been her own boss ever since. 

In today's episode we talk about:

  • Life in Strabane as a child

  • What working in a bank was like before computers

  • How it takes time to build a business

  • Why Miss NI is important for Northern Ireland

  • And the greatest challenges/successes she's experienced along the way

Enjoy!

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Say hello at:

Email: matthew@bestofbelfast.org
WhatsApp: +447873636003
Website: https://bestofbelfast.org

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Quarantine Phone Calls

During the lockdown, we’re working hard to publish an episode every day featuring someone interesting from Northern Ireland.

To suggest a guest please shoot an email to matthew@bestofbelfast.org

How To Listen

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Thanks again to Alison Clarke for taking the time to share her story with us.

See you next time.

— Matt

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Matthew Thompson