I started my business at 23 & bought an £190k Aston Martin outright months later – even my 10-year-old was a millionaire
SHE may have not been ”the smartest” in her own words – but willing to take the risk is what made Aussie PR mega mind Roxy Jacenko a successful businesswoman.
The 44-year-old is a powerhouse entrepreneur and the founder of many ventures, including what’s probably the most well-known PR agency in Australia, Sweaty Betty PR, as well as Ministry of Talent.
On top of that, the mum-of-two she has built her own personal brand into a household name, despite having gone through many ups and downs throughout her life.
Aged just 23, Roxy, who at the time had no expertise or background on public relations, was working for Diesel and making 25,000 AUD (£12,400) a year when she was approached by the clothing brand Von Dutch.
Although she was a bit sceptical at first, young Roxy handed in her notice the next day and took on the American fashion name as one of her first clients.
”I was like ‘You know what, I’m either gonna f***ing sink – or I’m gonna swim’.
”I was so obsessed with making my parents proud because I was such a s**t student and a naughty girl that I was like ‘Okay, I have to make this work’.
”So it was not even an option for it not to work,” said Roxy, adding that she made sure she was ”cheaper than everyone in the marketplace” and attended every event possible.
”I was hungry.”
Fast-forward a few months later, taking the plunge paid off – as Roxy was able to fund her first-ever luxury car, an £190k Aston Martin, outright.
”Being able to actually buy and build my own wealth was to me the biggest thing,” said the successful business mogul who’d also forked out for a Birkin bag and a Balmain jacket worth thousands not long after.
Roxy, who recently admitted she never washes her own hair, also started a business with her now 13-year-old daughter Pixie in 2021.
The business venture, called Pixie Fidgets, reportedly turned over £105,000 in its first month.
Just like her mum, Pixie soon became a millionaire at a very young age, being just ten at the time, thanks to launching Pixie’s Bows.
The teenager, who was able to retired aged just 11 but returned to work just a year later, has already taken on several brand deals and is promoting phone accessories to her 191k followers on social media.
Although the teen may enjoy the lavish lifestyle, the 44-year-old Aussie mum has faced huge backlash for ”pimping out” her young daughter.
At one point, Roxy came across digitally altered, indecent images of the back then four-year-old circulating online – a vile act she’s since called ”paedophilia”.
Speaking to Fairfax Media, the horrified mother described the pictures as “cruel” and “creepy”.
How to start your own business
Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis revealed his tips for budding entrepreneurs:
- One of the biggest barriers aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners face is a lack of confidence. You must believe in your idea — even more than that, be the one boring your friends to death about it.
- Never be afraid to make decisions. Once you have an idea, it’s the confidence to make decisions that is crucial to starting and maintaining a business.
- If you don’t take calculated risks, you’re standing still. If a decision turns out to be wrong, identify it quickly and deal with it if you can. Failing that, find someone else who can.
- It’s OK not to get it right the first time. My experience of making bad decisions is what helped develop my confidence, making me who I am today.
- Never underestimate the power of social media, and remember the internet has levelled the playing field for small businesses.
- Don’t forget to dream. A machine can’t do that!
“It’s sick, it’s utter paedophilia.”
The mum-of-two claimed that three people, two working for big Australian fashion houses, were behind the “lewd” photoshopping where the little tot’s head was superimposed to look like she was standing in a prostitute window in Amsterdam, having ”no clothes” and also of her reading a book with two men on the front having sex.
Opening up about the incident and criticism on the No Filter podcast, the parent – whose estimated net worth is thought to be over a staggering £10million – said: ”It wasn’t about sexual gratification – it was basically saying that you are pimping her out.
”That was very bad – I don’t ever want to subject her to that.
”But also remember – she’s got a business. Her hair bow business is a massive business right now.”
One of the key aspects that’s helped to shoot Roxy into the huge success was not having a partnership – as she admitted that it’s either her way or the high way.
”It’s very hard and that’s just not my thing. I’m very much a ‘Stand alone, get it done, take the risks’ [type of person].”
Roxy, who’s first job was working at the McDonald’s drive-through aged 14, explained that for her ”it wasn’t about fame”.
”I wanted the stories to be about ‘Oh wow, she did this’, not ‘Oh, she went there’ – that was the whole aim.
”That is why I did the Celebrity Apprentice, that is why I’ve done the books – because it shows that you actually started and finished something, and you achieved it.”
The 44-year-old mum-of-two, whose son Hunter is ten, also wants to instil the same mindset and hardworking ethic into the young interns she looks after.
”I want to take you from an internet to a senior publicist.
”I am not mean – we have a job to do. We are put on this earth for a short time and for a good time – do your f***ing best.
”I want you to come to me and be f***ing deadly.
”You have to be tough – cause the world is f***ing cruel.”