Gok Wan, TV personality, shares his difficult past and passion for fashion. Topics discussed include: his childhood, turning to fashion, struggles with anorexia, daily text messages, influence of a family business, lessons from the restaurant industry, power of clothing and identity, managing self-criticism and anxiety, and the power of writing letters.
Gok Wan shares his journey of embracing his differences and finding strength through vulnerability.
Growing up in a family business shaped Gok Wan's work ethic and taught him valuable lessons about customer service and entertaining people.
Clothing played a significant role in Gok Wan's journey, allowing him to reinvent himself and recognize the power of fashion in expressing oneself and making a statement.
Deep dives
Growing up with challenges and finding strength in vulnerability
The podcast explores the challenges of growing up as a teenager, dealing with issues like body image, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The guest, Gok One, openly shares his story about feeling alienated and using humor as a coping mechanism. Through his vulnerability, he found strength and learned to embrace his differences.
Lessons learned from a family business
Gok One reflects on growing up in a family business, witnessing his parents' hard work and dedication. He talks about the impact it had on his work ethic and fears, as well as the valuable lessons he learned about customer service and entertaining people.
The power of clothing and self-presentation
Gok One shares how clothing played a significant role in his journey, from using fashion to reinvent himself as a teenager to realizing the power of clothing in making people feel confident and comfortable. He highlights how fashion is more than just clothing, but a way to express oneself and make a statement.
Overcoming the battle with body image
Gok One opens up about his struggles with body image, from being overweight to battling anorexia. He discusses the impact of society's perception of beauty and the pressure to conform. While he acknowledges his ongoing journey towards self-acceptance, he recognizes the need to manage his relationship with his body and not let it define him.
Work addiction and the fear of it ending
Gok One candidly discusses his addiction to work and how it fills a void in his life. He addresses the fear of it ending and the constant drive to prove himself in the industry. Despite recognizing the negative aspects of work addiction, he finds joy and fulfillment in constantly creating and achieving.
Gok Wan is a hard worker - and it’s his eye for detail and relentless drive that has endeared him to millions of TV viewers. But it’s also responsible for some of the more difficult times of his life, including extreme waves of anorexia. In this searingly honest chat with Fearne, Gok talks about his childhood, how fashion turned his life around, and the many paths he’s taken to his happy place. Thanks to Garnier for supporting this podcast through their Commit to Care initiative. For more information on their work, just search Garnier Commit to Care.