The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone: From Lingerie Mogul to PPE Scandal

Michelle Mone built her business empire and public image over 25 years. Known for her talent in self-promotion, she was often called one of the UK's top businesswomen. She created the Ultimo bra with her then-husband in 1996 and pushed it into major stores. She even claimed her bra was worn by Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich—a story that helped her gain fame and wealth.

But Mone’s rise to fame has been followed by a fall. She has been stripped of the Conservative whip, is on leave from the House of Lords, and a business linked to her is under investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Michelle was born in Glasgow and grew up with little. She left school at 15 but was determined to succeed. She worked as a model, "ring girl" at boxing matches, and then started MJM International with her husband. They borrowed £70,000 to develop the Ultimo bra, which led her to Selfridges. There, her persistence won her a deal, and a new investor, Tom Hunter, helped fund the business. Her PR advisor, Jack Irvine, played a key role in getting media attention for her and her product.

Mone's fame grew, often focusing on her humble beginnings and her success. She became famous for her determination, claiming that her bra was featured in Erin Brockovich—a claim later proven false.

After divorcing her husband in 2011, Mone continued to push the brand, modeling her own lingerie. There were legal troubles in the company, but she remained in the public eye. She switched from being a Labour supporter to joining the Conservative Party in 2010. In 2015, she was made Baroness Mone of Mayfair.

By then, her business had faced troubles. Her company, MJM International, never made much money and was losing more than half a million pounds in 2012. Despite this, her fame continued, and she was appointed the "entrepreneurship tsar" by Prime Minister David Cameron.

In 2016, Mone started a relationship with billionaire Doug Barrowman. Together, they moved to the Isle of Man and worked in the crypto-currency sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mone’s connection to a company called PPE Medpro raised concerns. PPE Medpro was given priority to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) through a VIP lane, and later investigations linked the company to Barrowman and Mone.

Reports showed that Barrowman made £65 million from the deals, some of which went into a trust benefiting Mone and her children. Mone denied involvement, but messages surfaced showing her had been in touch with government ministers.

Mone’s public image has taken a hit, with the government now suing PPE Medpro. She lost the Conservative whip and has not appeared publicly since the scandal grew. Mone and Barrowman say they’ve cooperated with investigations.

Michelle Mone's rise was a self-made fairy tale, but her fall is a reminder of the dangers of fame, ambition, and self-promotion.