Begin Again with Davina McCall Penny Lancaster: The Menopause Nearly Broke Me, Why I Chose To Speak Out!
Oct 2, 2025
Penny Lancaster, a model and TV personality turned menopause campaigner, shares her harrowing journey through childhood trauma and the modeling industry. She reveals how a brutal assault at 12 and another at 17 impacted her life, leading her to become a voice for women's health. Discussing her experiences with perimenopause and the common misdiagnosis of depression, Penny emphasizes the importance of speaking out. She also explores her unexpected career shift to becoming a Special Constable at 50, showcasing her resilience and desire to protect others.
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Childhood Attack And Its Aftermath
- Penny recounts being followed and attacked on her way to school at age 12 and how the event stayed with her mentally.
- She ran to the headmaster, police were involved, but the suspected attacker later escaped identification and justice.
Modeling's Mixed Emotional Toll
- The modelling industry alternated between stripping people down and building them up, creating constant insecurity.
- Penny used the opportunity and focused on positives while acknowledging the industry's harshness.
Assault By A Client At 17
- Penny describes being drugged and sexually assaulted by a client at 17 and burying the experience for years.
- She later realised it was a crime and spoke to police while working on a police TV show, but initially kept it secret to avoid hurting her parents.
