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Aisleyne: Surviving Guns, Gangs and Glamour
Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace is the ultimate Big Brother survivor, and here she reveals a shocking life story that surpasses any reality-show plot line. Her childhood journey began in a crazy punk household, where Siouxsie Sioux and Boy George were regular visitors. It shattered for the first time with the nightmare of seeing her half-naked dad dragged bleeding from the bathroom by police after a suicide attempt, and it ended when she saw her mother start a strict new life as a devout Jehovah's Witness. Hospitalized after an extreme bullying incident at school, Aisleyne left home at 16, having been cut off by her mother and let down by her father. Alone in London, Aisleyne's lifeline was a place in a hostel, where she shared the roof over her head with the frightened women and predatory men of the city's gang culture. While some of her friends were lost to drugs, knives, and gun crime, Aisleyne vowed to pick herself up and get out of there. Aisleyne threw herself into a new career as a promotions girl and glamour model. Slowly making a name for herself, Aisleyne's big break came when she was selected to compete on Big Brother in 2006, and she was voted the most popular female housemate that year. Three years on, Aisleyne is living proof that it is possible to escape the streets and make good. She’s become a successful businesswoman, fashion designer, and established media celebrity. This is her remarkable story.
- GenresNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
2 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 7, 2019
Love this woman!
Want the next book! Hurry up girl.
Absolute page turner from an inspirational, relatable woman. It kept me wanting to read on.
Want the next book! Hurry up girl.
Absolute page turner from an inspirational, relatable woman. It kept me wanting to read on.
August 28, 2011
If you were reading the autobiography of a Big Brother contestant, you'd probably expect their time in the house to make up a lot, if not most of the story. Not so for Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace: her actual time in the house is dealt with in about six pages of this book's 340-odd total. The reason for this is because Big Brother is just a tiny part of her story; a catalyst through which she became famous but far from the most eventful part of her life.
The book covers a lot of grim subjects, but there's a lightness of touch to the telling of it that keeps it well out of the "misery memoir" stable; Aisleyne frequently speaks to us from the present while describing the past, pointing out what she learned from the experience or how she might approach something differently now. A huge part of the reason this book works so well is that it doesn't dwell on the sad parts or campaign for your sympathy. It's simply that Aisleyne has a story worth telling and isn't about to scrimp on the details.
It's well worth reading, especially if you're a fan of BB's self-described "ghetto princess" (incidentally, the book reveals what inspired her to call herself that), but even if you're just more generally interested in human nature, I'd recommend it as being worthy of your time.
The book covers a lot of grim subjects, but there's a lightness of touch to the telling of it that keeps it well out of the "misery memoir" stable; Aisleyne frequently speaks to us from the present while describing the past, pointing out what she learned from the experience or how she might approach something differently now. A huge part of the reason this book works so well is that it doesn't dwell on the sad parts or campaign for your sympathy. It's simply that Aisleyne has a story worth telling and isn't about to scrimp on the details.
It's well worth reading, especially if you're a fan of BB's self-described "ghetto princess" (incidentally, the book reveals what inspired her to call herself that), but even if you're just more generally interested in human nature, I'd recommend it as being worthy of your time.
August 4, 2015
Such a great autobiography!
Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace is probably most recognisable for being one of the most iconic and remembered Big Brother UK housemates. But being a TV favourite is just a small fraction of what makes Aisleyne who she is and "Surviving Guns, Gangs and Glamour" - her autobiography - tells us the full story about Aisleyne's troubled life.
If you think this book is going to be a happy read in which Aisleyne describes a perfect childhood, a perfect teenage experience, a perfect moment that made her a celebrity, and a perfect outcome of being a celebrity then you are wrong. Aisleyne has never made it a secret that she was brought up around violence and gangs, and a lot of this book highlights that. In actual fact, the thing that made her a household name is only mentioned briefly in one chapter!
I don't really want to say much else about this book other than you MUST read it if you're a fan of hers, or even if you're just a Big Brother fan because this book shows the true, real Aisleyne and in my opinion she is somebody that everybody should know about. You'll be shocked at a lot of the stuff that Aisleyne has been through, but once you've read it you'll realise just why Aisleyne is the strong, vocal ghetto princess she is.
4/5
Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace is probably most recognisable for being one of the most iconic and remembered Big Brother UK housemates. But being a TV favourite is just a small fraction of what makes Aisleyne who she is and "Surviving Guns, Gangs and Glamour" - her autobiography - tells us the full story about Aisleyne's troubled life.
If you think this book is going to be a happy read in which Aisleyne describes a perfect childhood, a perfect teenage experience, a perfect moment that made her a celebrity, and a perfect outcome of being a celebrity then you are wrong. Aisleyne has never made it a secret that she was brought up around violence and gangs, and a lot of this book highlights that. In actual fact, the thing that made her a household name is only mentioned briefly in one chapter!
I don't really want to say much else about this book other than you MUST read it if you're a fan of hers, or even if you're just a Big Brother fan because this book shows the true, real Aisleyne and in my opinion she is somebody that everybody should know about. You'll be shocked at a lot of the stuff that Aisleyne has been through, but once you've read it you'll realise just why Aisleyne is the strong, vocal ghetto princess she is.
4/5
May 14, 2012
I didn't find this book interesting because I'm a fan of Big Brother, as a matter of fact I have never even watched the show. I wanted to read Aisleyne's story because I felt that it would not be what I was expecting, and that she has a story to tell. I was right, she has one amazing life story.
If you think Aisleyne has had it easy think again. My heart ached for her while someone she desperately loves continues to push her away. You would think this person would be proud of the confident, independent woman she has become. You would think that the bond they had would have been unbreakable, but instead it's very heartbreaking.
Aisleyne's story had me from page one, I didn't put it down until I had read the last page! Her story is proof that sometimes despite the odds some people are just meant to be stars. I hope all of her dreams continue to come true.
If you think Aisleyne has had it easy think again. My heart ached for her while someone she desperately loves continues to push her away. You would think this person would be proud of the confident, independent woman she has become. You would think that the bond they had would have been unbreakable, but instead it's very heartbreaking.
Aisleyne's story had me from page one, I didn't put it down until I had read the last page! Her story is proof that sometimes despite the odds some people are just meant to be stars. I hope all of her dreams continue to come true.
June 20, 2016
This is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. It's not your usual one either. It is raw, gritty & at times very hard to read. I cried during multiple parts. This book will haunt you. I couldn't put it down & it was hard to fall asleep. The amount of horrific violence she has endured in her life is unreal. It's a whole other side of Aiselyne that you didn't see on Big Brother UK. I will admit, I used to be a major fan of her but over the years I have heard a lot about her & I don't care for her at all but this book is incredible. I just think she needs to remember everything she has gone through & humble herself. She doesn't talk a whole lot about Big Brother UK. There's a chapter dedicated to it but that's it. But with this kind of book it was more than ok. She had way more to write about. You will be floored when you read this! I would recommend this to anyone!
April 30, 2015
Loving this - shocking and emgaging. I had no ides she led such a fascinating life before BB.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews