If at first you don’t succeed… try, try, try again, goes the mantra. But perhaps it’s one that Megan McKenna is taking a little too literally.
The Only Way Is Essex star turned influencer and entrepreneur is racking up a business track record that insiders are calling nothing short of disastrous.
And now, I can reveal whispers are growing louder that a third company is heading for a similar fate as her first two.
Despite a reported personal fortune of around £2million, Megan’s ventures have been anything but a success story. In fact, they paint a picture of mounting debts, missed deadlines and frustrated creditors.
Her latest headache? A ‘performing arts’ company that is currently in the red, while creditors are owed £75,000.
The firm hasn’t filed accounts since March 2024, and its confirmation statement – which confirms a company’s details are up to date – is also overdue by more than a year.
Unsurprisingly, the situation has attracted the attention of Companies House, which recently moved to have the company struck off the register altogether.
The last set of accounts from three years ago reveal net assets of £16,606, but at least one of the creditors, isn’t happy.
For someone who once parlayed reality TV fame into multiple business ventures, it’s a surprising and, to some, baffling turn of events. Particularly given this isn’t her first brush with corporate problems.
The TOWIE star turned influencer and entrepreneur is racking up a business track record that insiders are calling nothing short of disastrous. Her 2018 restaurant venture, MCK Grill, only lasted 14 months
Her latest headache? A ‘performing arts’ company that is currently in the red, with debts totalling £75,000 (pictured in 2023)
Back in 2018, her Essex-based restaurant venture, MCK Grill, shut its doors just 14 months after a glitzy, celebrity-packed launch.
The aftermath revealed eye-watering debts of more than £336,000, including a hefty sum owed to her own mother. Not exactly the fairytale business story fans might have expected.
Then came her fashion business, which folded in 2021 owing nearly £50,000, with a large chunk reportedly linked to a bank loan. Another venture, another collapse, another list of unpaid creditors.
And now, history appears to be repeating itself.
Perhaps most intriguing of all is what some observers see as an attempt to keep things under wraps.
In March 2025, the latest company quietly changed its name from the far more recognisable ‘M McKenna Ltd’ to the decidedly bland ‘Number 1671 Ltd’.
Of course, Megan’s personal life tells a very different story.
These days, she’s worlds away from her fiery reality TV persona. Now a mother to her young son, Landon, and married to a professional footballer, she splits her time between London and Berlin.
She’s also cultivated a softer public image online, amassing a loyal following thanks to her cooking videos, many of which rack up millions of views. To her fans, she’s now more relatable and down to earth.
But behind the carefully curated posts, questions remain about her business acumen and whether this latest venture will become the third to crumble under financial pressure.
Holly and Joely show their wins and constipated woes
Holly Brooke and Joely Sanderson aren’t trying to be perfect – and that’s exactly why they’re cutting through. The founders of gut health brand We Are Regular are part of a new wave of influencers reshaping the space.
Having left what they tell me was a ‘glossy world’ in media, Holly and Joely launched their brand – which sells supplements focused on constipation and bloating. But their real disruption lies in how they show up online.
‘We want to show wins and woes,’ Joely tells me. ‘People celebrate your highs but [sympathise] with your lows.’ That approach marks a clear departure from traditional influencer culture, where pristine feeds and curated ‘perfect’ lifestyles dominate. Instead of selling perfection, they share the reality of their busy lives, imperfect routines and unfiltered conversations about bloating and constipation.
The founders of gut health brand We Are Regular, Holly Brooke (R) and Joely Sanderson (L), are part of a new wave of influencers reshaping the space
‘We’re not presenting as a brand that’s trying to sell you something every five seconds,’ she added. ‘We don’t get ten hours of sleep and we don’t pretend we do.’
‘I’ve just been chronically constipated my entire life,’ Brooke says, a candour rarely seen in wellness marketing. The result is a kind of influence where credibility comes from telling the truth.
Bea Elton stands up for animal rights
Bea Elton, the force behind the viral cleaning empire @CleanWithBea, has swapped scrubbing tips for serious campaigning, and the internet is on her side. With a combined following of 6.1 million across her platforms, Bea knows how to get attention and now she’s using it to push for change.
On Thursday, she launched a petition calling for the creation of a Public Animal Abuse Register, alongside an automatic lifetime ban on owning animals for anyone in the UK convicted of neglect or cruelty. In less than 48 hours, the petition smashed through the 100,000 signatures needed for Parliament to consider it for debate.
At the time of writing, that number has surged to an eye-watering 187,000, and it’s still climbing. For a creator best known for satisfying cleaning transformations and household hacks, it marks a powerful shift into activism. But if the numbers are anything to go by, Bea’s audience isn’t just watching, they’re ready to rally behind her.
For a creator best known for satisfying cleaning transformations and household hacks, Bea Elton’s petition marks a powerful shift into activism
UP
Brigette Pheloung, known as Acquired Style, has landed a fully sponsored bachelorette party
Acquired Style is having a serious moment. The New York-based TikTok star, real name Brigette Pheloung, 29, has just raised the influencer bar to new heights after landing a fully sponsored bachelorette party. We’re talking private jet, yacht and a St Barts villa, all courtesy of beauty tech company Swan Beauty. Not bad for a long weekend. It’s the kind of brand deal most creators can only dream of, and you can bet plenty are taking notes. With that level of pull, Brigette’s officially entered a new league and brands will be queueing up. As for the wedding? Already shaping up to be the social event of the summer. I wouldn’t rule out a Vogue photoshoot either.
DOWN
Last week, Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo announced they were bringing back their podcast after some time off to have their baby. But their announcement video confused me. It saw Sophie lying in a hospital bed on life support with Jamie leaning over her, dressed up as elderly versions of themselves.
Supposed to be funny, it was met with some warranted backlash with many asking why they thought it was a good idea. ‘This is beyond twisted,’ one comment read.
Called it! Just weeks ago, I tipped influencer Perrie Sian as the next It Girl and she’s proving me right. The social media star, who already boasts millions of followers, is taking things offline with a brand-new tour this September. Three nights, real-life audiences and no doubt plenty of ‘sold out’ signs incoming. It’s a savvy move that pushes her beyond the screen and into full-blown star territory. Tickets go on sale Thursday at 10am and if you want in, you’ll need to be quick.
Social media star Perrie Sian, who already boasts millions of followers, is taking things offline with a brand-new tour this September
Luxury has officially reached… your bathroom sink. Yes, the humble toothbrush just got a high-fashion upgrade. Kylie Jenner was recently spotted in a GRWM-style reel using a £105 SURI Electric Toothbrush alongside daughter Stormi Webster and suddenly, dental care feels very chic. The sleek, sustainable brush is fast becoming the must-have accessory for the eco-conscious elite. And Kylie’s not alone, Harry Styles and David Beckham are reportedly fans too. Who knew brushing your teeth could be this on trend?
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