#137 Alison Clarke: ACA Models & Miss NI

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!   // To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Alison (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/alison-clarke-aca-models   Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.   To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/   Cheers!   — Matt