Michelle Mones Story: Her Rise And Public Fall

From Bra Queen to Baroness in Hot Water: The Unravelling of Michelle Mone

Michelle Mone dedicated a quarter-century to forging a substantial commercial domain alongside a notable public image, significantly helped by United Kingdom news outlets. An exceptional self-promoter, people frequently hailed her among Great Britain's pre-eminent female entrepreneurs. Many viewed her as the spirited challenger who, by means of pure determination and an aptitude for generating news angles, successfully introduced her Ultimo undergarment idea into the market and onto the shelves of major high-street retailers. She even asserted a role in shaping Hollywood actress Julia Roberts's celebrated décolletage. This compelling story, consistently relayed to a receptive media, garnered her fame, fortune, and eventually a peerage.

However, the current situation shows Baroness Mone of Mayfair has lost her affiliation with the Conservative party in Parliament. She has taken a break from her duties in the upper chamber, and the National Crime Agency is examining an enterprise associated with her. This dramatic turn of events has prompted questions about the trajectory that led to her current predicament. A recent BBC Scotland production, presented in two segments, "The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone," delves into this question. The program commences its narrative in the year 1999. At that time, the 28-year-old entrepreneur successfully gained entry to the London department store Selfridges.

Glasgow Beginnings and Entrepreneurial Spark

Born in Glasgow's Dennistoun area, Michelle Allan (later Mone) described her upbringing as starting "into nothing". At fifteen years of age, she exited formal education lacking academic credentials but possessed a strong resolve to achieve personal success. Acquaintances from that period consistently remember her diligent approach to tasks, her vigor, and her effervescent personality. She often proclaimed that her journey was proof that anyone, regardless of their origins, could achieve success through hard work.

Her initial career steps included modelling and working as a "ring girl" during boxing events. These roles provided her with crucial experience in sales and promotions. This foundation proved invaluable when she later co-founded MJM International alongside her spouse at the time, Michael Mone. The pair remortgaged their home, incurring a £70,000 debt to develop the Ultimo design. It was this bold move that led to Mone's unannounced, pivotal visit to Selfridges.

The Ultimo Breakthrough and Media Ascent

Virginia Marcolin, the lingerie buyer for Selfridges at the time, remembers Mone as different from the individuals she typically engaged with. She perceived Mone as somewhat rustic and not exceedingly polished, yet genuinely herself, and noted the product’s remarkable novelty. Marcolin attributes the initial success to Mone's sheer tenacity. While Mone's innate promotional skills secured the Selfridges deal, MJM International lacked the funds to fulfil the order.

The company located a backer in Tom Hunter; in 1998, he had recently divested his athletic apparel firm, JJB Sports, for a sum of £280 million. Jack Irvine, previously a newspaper chief and later a prosperous public relations professional, facilitated this introduction. Irvine became instrumental in developing Mone's initial public image through news channels. Various news publications and television/radio stations eagerly pursued narratives concerning her, and she willingly obliged their interest. Irvine asserts that two primary motivations propelled her: a desire for immense affluence and a yearning for widespread celebrity.

Crafting the Mone Myth

Media coverage during this period consistently highlighted Mone's humble origins, her determined struggle for success, her recently acquired fortune, and the worldwide triumph of her undergarment design. Magnus Llewellin, currently overseeing the Times publications in Scotland, recalls a particularly notorious anecdote from that period. He recounts rumours that her undergarment featured in the motion picture Erin Brockovich, worn by Julia Roberts. However, Llewellin notes that checks revealed someone connected to the movie’s creation publicly stated that no Ultimo design was utilized during its filming.

News organizations, particularly those in Scotland, contributed to crafting the Michelle Mone legend. She possessed a remarkable gift for leveraging this. Llewellin explains that the narrative seemed almost too compelling to disprove: a young female contending in a commercial sphere largely controlled by men, forging her own path. He notes this made for a highly engaging account. This carefully constructed image propelled her to national recognition.

Business, Divorce, and Political Shifts

Following over two decades as partners and upwards of ten years as business associates, Michelle and Michael Mone experienced a highly visible parting. Their legal separation was finalized in the year 2011. Michelle Mone acquired Michael’s share of their enterprise. She subsequently represented the label herself, showcasing her own line of undergarments. Internally, the firm faced several labor disputes adjudicated by tribunals, one notably involving an employee discovering a surveillance apparatus within his workspace.

Notwithstanding these judicial confrontations, Mone maintained her visibility among the populace, frequently appearing on broadcast shows. Her talent for attracting attention paved the way for her subsequent venture into the political sphere. Initially a backer of the Labour party, she switched her allegiance to the Conservatives in 2010. After four years, she became a significant proponent for maintaining the union amidst the Scottish independence plebiscite, even declaring she would depart from Scotland if the "Yes" side prevailed.

Image Credit - Sunday Post

Peerage and Scrutiny

In 2015, David Cameron, the Prime Minister, appointed her as his administration's special envoy for enterprise. Her remit involved reviewing support for business start-ups in deprived areas. Weeks later, an announcement revealed her impending elevation to the peerage as a Conservative member, styled Baroness Mone of Mayfair. This appointment, however, drew criticism. David Mundell, Secretary of State for Scotland at the time, later stated that Cameron breached "proper process" by not consulting the Scotland Office, a standard practice for Scottish peerages. Mundell also noted unhappiness among Scottish business figures who did not      consider Mone a "substantial businesswoman".

At that point, she had divested her shares in the enterprise she established. However, her new responsibilities invited more intense examination of her commercial history. Magnus Llewellin highlights that MJM International's annual revenue never exceeded £10.1 million. The company experienced a deficit exceeding £500,000 in the year 2012; he states that the firm was facing significant difficulties by that juncture. Donald Anderson, an entrepreneur who manages the Gap Group, addressed a letter to the head of government when Mone received her new role. In his correspondence, he contended that Miss Mone did not qualify as a prosperous entrepreneur, characterizing her instead as a minor commercial operator whose public recognition greatly surpassed her tangible accomplishments.

New Ventures and a Billionaire Partner

Anderson currently opines that if her sole accomplishment was generating personal attention, that hardly constitutes a valid basis for an appointment to the House of Lords. He suggests that such reasoning could lead to the upper chamber of Parliament being populated by social media personalities within the coming decade. Mone declared in 2016 that she had commenced a new partnership with Doug Barrowman, a business magnate of billionaire status. The pair established their residence on the Isle of Man.

They collaborated within the rapidly expanding digital currency field. In 2018, they launched a cryptocurrency called Equi, aiming to raise $80 million for investment in startup companies. Mone described herself as "one of the biggest experts in Cryptocurrency and Blockchain". However, the public sale reportedly raised only £540,000 after an initial £5.4 million in a "pre-sale offering," and the project ultimately "flopped". MMI Global Limited was incorporated in late 2016. Mone held a 49% stake and Barrowman's Isle of Man firm, Knox Limited, owned 51%.

The PPE Medpro Controversy Erupts

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 saw government officials in the United Kingdom urgently look for companies capable of providing Personal Protective Equipment (often abbreviated as PPE). They even created an expedited pathway to favor certain providers, a system later ruled unlawful by the High Court in January 2022. An enterprise named PPE Medpro, incorporated in May 2020, appeared on this prioritized list. This development attracted the notice of activists. They worried that individuals linked to the Conservative Party managed companies on this special register.

Information came to light indicating that associates of Doug Barrowman directed PPE Medpro. Anthony Page, who had business links to both Mone and Barrowman, was the sole owner and controller of PPE Medpro at its incorporation. On the same day PPE Medpro was formed, Page resigned as company secretary for MGM Media, Mone's company for managing her branding and media engagements. Mone, holding a peerage with the Conservatives, consistently refuted any participation in the enterprise, the transaction, or any ensuing financial gains. Lawyers for both Mone and Barrowman consistently and emphatically denied their involvement with PPE Medpro when questioned by The Guardian throughout 2020.

Unravelling Denials and an NCA Investigation

However, the Guardian newspaper revealed a link to officials within the government. David Conn, from the newspaper, explains that they submitted their own information access request. Through this, they obtained electronic messages she had dispatched to Lord Agnew and Michael Gove. In these communications, she proposed to furnish PPE via what she termed 'my team in Hong Kong,' and mentioned it had progressed through the special access channel. Conn adds they also acquired some WhatsApp communications from Michelle Mone concerning the PPE arrangements. In one, she stated she was aboard an aircraft preparing for departure, which they surmised was her and Barrowman's personal airplane. These revelations contradicted her previous denials.

The National Crime Agency, also known as the NCA, initiated a formal inquiry concerning PPE Medpro in May 2021. Authorities conducted searches at multiple residences belonging to the couple. After dedicating two years to his inquiries, David Conn obtained a confidential paper. This document indicated Barrowman had garnered a minimum of £65 million from these transactions. £29 million of that sum was transferred to a financial trust; Mone and her three grown offspring were listed as recipients of this trust. During this entire period, Mone maintained an unusual silence.

Admissions and Public Backlash

This silence broke near the close of 2023. At this point, she and Barrowman, who were now husband and wife, distributed a documentary financed by PPE Medpro. In this film, she acknowledged acting as an intermediary, or a "conduit," connecting the enterprise and government officials. The pair also consented to an appearance on the BBC television show "Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg." During the broadcast, Mone conceded a future possibility of her gaining from the trust. She asserted their complete innocence of any misconduct.

When questioned regarding misleading news outlets, she responded by stating that such an action does not constitute a criminal offense. She elaborated that telling journalists she had no connection, with the aim of safeguarding her relatives, should be understood, she emphasized, as not being against the law. Laura Kuenssberg remarks that this particular statement is something she will always recall. Kuenssberg adds that upon hearing Mone say it, she immediately recognized its significance and news-making potential. This admission marked a turning point in the public perception of her involvement.

Image Credit - Sunday Post

Current Status and Ongoing Investigations

Michelle Mone no longer holds the Conservative party's endorsement in Parliament. She has temporarily stepped away from her responsibilities in the upper parliamentary chamber, taking a leave of absence in December 2022. A leave of absence allows a peer to maintain their right to sit in the House despite not attending. They cannot participate in sittings, vote, or claim allowances. Her spokesperson stated this was "in order to clear her name of the allegations that have been unjustly levelled against her." Parliamentary records indicate she had not spoken in the Lords since March 2020 and last voted in April 2022. She has not engaged in any additional interactions with news organizations since the Kuenssberg interview.

The NCA continues its examination of PPE Medpro as of May 2025. Furthermore, the government initiated legal action against the enterprise, seeking £122 million plus additional expenses. The lawsuit alleges that the protective garments delivered by the firm failed to meet the contractual requirements and were unusable by the NHS. PPE Medpro has stated it will "rigorously" defend this claim. In February 2025, the chair of the UK Covid Inquiry, Baroness Hallett, ruled that evidence related to PPE Medpro would be heard in a private, closed session in March 2025. This decision cited the risk of prejudice to potential criminal proceedings, coming after the NCA applied for a restriction order.

The "VIP Lane" and PPE Procurement Scrutiny

The "VIP lane" for PPE procurement, through which PPE Medpro secured its contracts, has faced intense criticism. Established in March/April 2020, it fast-tracked offers from suppliers referred by MPs, Peers, ministers, and senior officials. The National Audit Office (NAO) reported that of 394 contracts awarded through the Parallel Supply Chain and UK Make routes, 115 (totalling £3.8 billion) went to 51 VIP lane suppliers. The High Court subsequently ruled the operation of the expedited pathway unlawful, breaching the obligation of equal treatment. Reports suggest that politically connected firms were significantly more likely to win contracts. A substantial amount of the PPE procured proved unusable, with billions of pounds worth of PPE expected to be disposed of, including by burning. Transparency International UK highlighted "systemic political bias" in the awarding of these contracts.

Mone's Response and Public Perception

The noblewoman turned down the invitation for an interview for the documentary "The Rise and Fall of Michelle Mone." Reacting to the broadcast, a formal communication indicated that the couple supplied comprehensive and thorough declarations to the NCA. They had collaborated with the inquiry from start to finish. The communication also mentioned authorities had never detained them, and no formal accusations had been leveled against them. Additionally, the declaration supported PPE Medpro’s provision of protective gear to the Department of Health and Social Care (also known as DHSC). The text further explained that Baroness Mone, together with the entire Mone/Barrowman family unit, received benefits from trusts. They were never the direct recipients of earnings from PPE Medpro. It asserted the DHSC possessed full knowledge of their connection from the very beginning. It acknowledged that deceiving the media had been an error.

Michelle Mone Public Persona

Following the documentary’s airing, Mone’s public relations agency issued a communication. It stated her profound dissatisfaction with the BBC’s choice to show the program. According to her, it presented skewed and partial narratives of her personal history and professional journey. Michelle Mone’s persona in the public sphere resembled a personally crafted fantastical narrative. Numerous individuals across commerce, governance, and particularly news organizations, accepted this narrative. Magnus Llewellin perceives an evident lesson within this account. He suggests this situation reveals something about contemporary Great Britain: a continuing fondness for enchanting stories and a desire to believe in narratives of ascent from poverty to prosperity.

However, Llewellin notes, venturing into the realm of governmental affairs can introduce greater complexities. He characterizes the situation as an illustrative story teaching about overindulgence, excessive pride, and the downfall that often follows. Laura Kuenssberg observes that for Michelle Mone, capturing popular notice and understanding how to secure it, was a skill she clearly possessed in abundance throughout her time in commerce. Kuenssberg concludes, however, that circumstances took a negative turn for Mone, and one cannot simply extinguish that kind of public focus once it exists. The narrative of a self-made entrepreneur has been overshadowed by serious questions of transparency, accountability, and the use of public funds during a national crisis. Ongoing investigations and legal proceedings are still writing the final chapters of this invented legend.