A Merseyside-based woman who has attempted to take her own life multiple times now empowers others through style coaching.
Claire Welch-Beasley, from the Wirral, has “fought a long battle with mental health problems” having been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder over a decade ago and ADHD this year. The 31-year-old has been on a “monumental journey of change” to get to where she is today - a place where she can help others.
The fashion lover’s mental health started declining in high school when she was bullied for being a “goth” who dressed alternatively. Having acne and glasses only added to the daily teasing where she would be called a “freak” and a “weirdo” amongst other things. As a result of her teenage years, Claire developed social anxiety and spent most of her time in her bedroom.
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She told the ECHO : “The bullying was unbearable. By the time I was 13, I had self-harmed and this led to several suicide attempts throughout my teenage years. When I left school, I was a shell and I sought refuge in abusive relationships with narcissists who took what was left of me.”
Claire’s most serious suicide attempt in 2012, when she was 21, led to her seeking help and being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. She sought therapy until she was 25 - when she says discovered the law of attraction and then Reiki as therapies which she said helped her greatly.
She said: “It was really a case of managing my pain and mental health problems but the real breakthrough was with the law of attraction. I began to ‘fake it’ by being positive about myself and the people around me and found that miraculously good things started to happen — I even began to feel happier within myself. Then I discovered reiki healing and that was the next step of my evolution.”
Despite feeling misunderstood and like an outcast for most of her life, style and image were always something she adored and found comfort in. No matter how bad the bullying got, Claire was adamant that “fitting in” was the last thing she wanted to do and she stood her ground despite the social pressures.
Wanting to share her love of fashion with others, Claire now helps women step into their power with her company, Wardrobe Warriors. The business, created in February 2020 and based in Woodside Business Park in Birkenhead, takes women “on a journey of self-discovery and helps them become more confident in the process”.
Claire added: “From the age of 8 I was creating my own alternative fashion clothing, ripping clothes to bits and creating new wild or gothic designs. I absolutely love design, creativity and style and in 2019 I pursued my dream by achieving a diploma in style coaching and achieving the highest score possible and that’s I came up with the Wardrobe Warriors concept.”
In addition to qualifying as a style coach, Claire also trained in Reiki and crystal therapy and applies this to her business. Claire, whose fashion icons include Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, said: “It’s been a long and hard journey but I’m so proud of who I am today and it’s an honour to help women in the same way I’ve helped heal myself."
She added: “I know the struggles of not knowing your identity or who you are. I know how it feels to not ‘fit in’. I also know the pain and suffering that comes with living life with a mental illness. I have found a way to survive and I feel fulfilled by sharing my experiences and letting other people know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I feel proud of myself for finding a way and it feels good to know that I can be that helping hand for other people to start to shine their own light.”
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