Episode Summary: "Ruth Crilly" on Glad We Had This Chat with Caroline Hirons

Release Date: November 25, 2024

In this engaging and candid episode of Glad We Had This Chat with Caroline Hirons, Caroline welcomes Ruth Crilly—a veteran model, Sunday Times bestselling author, and influential beauty blogger. The conversation spans Ruth’s transition from modeling to writing, her experiences in the beauty industry, personal anecdotes, and skincare routines. Filled with humor, honesty, and insightful discussions, this episode offers listeners a deep dive into Ruth's multifaceted career and life.

1. Introduction and Background

Timestamp: [00:59] - [02:21]

Caroline introduces Ruth Crilly, highlighting her journey from the modeling world to becoming a standout voice in the beauty community. Ruth is praised for her relatable and inspiring content, which has garnered a loyal following.

Notable Quote:

• Caroline Hirons: “My guest this week began her journey in the modeling world where she first developed her passion for beauty and individuality… Please welcome to the pod, my mate Ruth Crilley.”
  [01:15]

2. Lighthearted Banter and Personal Preferences

Timestamp: [02:21] - [16:03]

The episode begins with playful banter between Caroline and Ruth, discussing their favorite movies and TV shows. They humorously debate Ruth’s preference for darker comedies like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Dexter over Caroline’s love for more uplifting films like Love Actually.

Notable Quotes:

• Ruth Crilly: “Love actually would be way up here in terms of Hallmark movies.”
  [02:21]
• Caroline Hirons: “How dare you like Love Actually, you.”
  [02:25]
• Ruth Crilly: “I prefer Till the Cows Come Home.”
  [02:27]

The conversation shifts to discussing Ruth’s and Caroline’s favorite TV shows, highlighting their contrasting tastes and humor.

3. Ruth Crilly’s Career Transition

Timestamp: [16:03] - [26:30]

Caroline congratulates Ruth on her bestseller, How Not to Be a Supermodel. They delve into Ruth’s transition from modeling to writing and blogging. Ruth shares her struggles with literary agents who wanted her to pivot to more commercial topics like lipstick, despite her passion for fiction and memoir writing.

Notable Quotes:

• Ruth Crilly: “I have zero common sense. I’d say pretty street smart.”
  [09:39]
• Ruth Crilly: “They all said, we want you to write something that harnesses your audience. Why can't you write about literature your audience will relate to.”
  [12:09]

Ruth discusses her academic pursuits, including a master's in creative writing, and how her blogging platform helped her secure a book deal. Caroline highlights the challenges Ruth faced in keeping her content authentic while meeting market demands.

Notable Quote:

• Ruth Crilly: “It's not your typical memoir. It reads a little bit like fiction. You could take me out of it and put in anyone else and it would not matter who it happened to me.”
  [13:28]

4. Personal Anecdotes and Relationships

Timestamp: [26:30] - [39:30]

The conversation takes a personal turn as Ruth shares a harrowing experience from her book, recounting a troubling holiday with a wealthy photographer named Rich. Ruth describes how Rich deceived her about the presence of friends during the trip to Morocco, leading to an uncomfortable and unsafe situation. This story underscores the complexities and dangers Ruth navigated during her modeling career.

Notable Quotes:

• Ruth Crilly: “I had loads of pin pricks all over me because I went bareback horse riding… When he crawled into the bed with me… I just planked.”
  [19:43]
• Caroline Hirons: “How did you get out of that?”
  [23:23]

Ruth also humorously discusses her interactions with Rich, including their dynamic as parents and their collaborative work in photography. They touch upon maintaining their relationship while raising two children and managing careers.

Notable Quote:

• Ruth Crilly: “We always joke that it's a bit like being, you know, managers at the Ritz… How did we get here?”
  [26:32]

5. Skincare Routines and Beauty Insights

Timestamp: [39:30] - [52:00]

As beauty experts, Caroline and Ruth delve into their skincare routines. Ruth shares her current regimen, emphasizing the importance of gentle exfoliants and retinoids. She discusses her transition from glycolic peels to more sustainable and skin-friendly products, aligning with Caroline’s philosophy on skincare.

Notable Quotes:

• Ruth Crilly: “I just want my skin to feel strong, healthy, and sort of resilient.”
  [35:03]
• Caroline Hirons: “If you were going on a desert island and you can only take one skincare product, what's it going to be like?”
  [50:00]

Ruth also highlights her favorite skincare products, including Philip Kingsley’s scalp treatments, and shares her thoughts on minimizing unnecessary skincare steps while maintaining skin health.

Notable Quote:

• Ruth Crilly: “I am the biggest convert [to LED masks]. I love them. I love the relaxation… Having this underlying anxiety that the LED lights are somehow, you know, it's really relaxing, basically.”
  [36:24]

6. Reflections on Blogging and Content Creation

Timestamp: [32:28] - [43:46]

Ruth reflects on the early days of blogging alongside Caroline and other beauty influencers. They reminisce about the tight-knit blogging community and the collaborative efforts to promote beauty initiatives. Ruth acknowledges how these experiences shaped her career and fostered long-lasting professional relationships.

Notable Quotes:

• Ruth Crilly: “I can't remember a time when I didn't know you.”
  [32:24]
• Caroline Hirons: “We met through that [blogging initiative].”
  [32:33]

Ruth discusses the evolution of her content creation strategies, including her ventures into YouTube and social media. They humorously explore the challenges of maintaining authenticity while expanding their online presence.

7. Humorous Interactions and Tangents

Timestamp: [43:46] - [52:49]

The latter part of the podcast is filled with amusing exchanges between Caroline and Ruth. They engage in light-hearted discussions about favorite makeup products, hypothetical scenarios, and entertaining anecdotes. Ruth’s playful demeanor and quick wit create a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.

Notable Quotes:

• Caroline Hirons: “You can only wear one item of makeup for the rest of your life. What's it going to be like?”
  [44:35]
• Ruth Crilly: “It's called M A U L I. Sacred Union.”
  [38:07]

Their banter includes playful teasing about makeup routines, product preferences, and personal quirks, providing listeners with both laughs and relatable content.

8. Conclusion and Future Endeavors

Timestamp: [52:49] - [53:15]

As the episode wraps up, Ruth promotes her book, How Not to Be a Supermodel, available in ebook and audiobook formats, with the paperback scheduled for release the following year. Caroline encourages listeners to connect with Ruth on Instagram and Substack, maintaining the community’s engagement.

Notable Quote:

• Ruth Crilly: “They can find me at wreathcrilley, on Instagram and on Substack… Or Model Recommends.”
  [53:06]

Caroline teases an upcoming episode where listeners can submit their questions, ensuring continued interaction and value for the audience.

Key Takeaways

• Career Transformation: Ruth Crilly’s journey from modeling to successful author and beauty influencer highlights the challenges and triumphs of reinventing one’s career.

• Authenticity in Content: Both Caroline and Ruth emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself while navigating the beauty industry and content creation landscapes.

• Skincare Philosophy: The discussion reinforces Caroline Hirons’ and Ruth Crilly’s commitment to effective, gentle skincare routines that prioritize skin health over trends.

• Humor and Relatability: The episode’s light-hearted moments and candid conversations make it both entertaining and insightful, offering listeners a genuine glimpse into Ruth’s life and career.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Caroline Hirons: “We have this conversation every time.”
  [04:05]

• Ruth Crilly: “I have zero common sense. I’d say pretty street smart.”
  [09:39]

• Caroline Hirons: “How did you get out of that?”
  [23:23]

• Ruth Crilly: “It's not your typical memoir. It reads a little bit like fiction…”
  [13:28]

• Caroline Hirons: “If you were going on a desert island and you can only take one skincare product…”
  [50:00]

• Ruth Crilly: “I am the biggest convert [to LED masks]. I love them.”
  [36:24]

This episode of Glad We Had This Chat with Caroline Hirons with Ruth Crilly offers a blend of professional insights, personal stories, and humorous exchanges, making it a must-listen for beauty enthusiasts and those interested in personal career journeys. Ruth’s authenticity and Caroline’s expertise create a dynamic conversation that is both informative and entertaining.