#137 Alison Clarke: ACA Models & Miss NI

<p>Alison Clarke is the founder of ACA Models: Northern Ireland's longest-running modelling and promotion agency.</p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p>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. </p> <p> </p> <p>Ultimately, this experience was the catalyst that led to working in PR & Marketing for eight years before opening up her own agency in 1990.</p> <p> </p> <p>Alison has been her own boss ever since.</p> <p> </p> <p>In today's episode we talk about:</p> <ul> <li>Life in Strabane as a child</li> <li>What working in a bank was like before computers</li> <li>How it takes time to build a business</li> <li>Why Miss NI is important for Northern Ireland</li> <li>And the greatest challenges/successes she's experienced along the way</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Enjoy!</p> <p> </p> <p>//</p> <p>To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Alison (including a photo) please visit <a href= "https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/alison-clarke-aca-models">https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/alison-clarke-aca-models</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.</p> <p> </p> <p>To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit <a href= "https://bestofbelfast.org/">https://bestofbelfast.org/</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Cheers!</p> <p> </p> <p>— Matt </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>