Stylist launches Lessons That Matter for International Women’s Day

Simone Biles, Chloe Kelly and Claudia Jessie share the lessons they want to teach all girls.

Stylist today launches Lessons That Matter, a campaign to give girls the skills and emotional tools they need to navigate modern life.

Fronted by Olympian Simone Biles, Lioness Chloe Kelly and Bridgerton's Claudia Jessie, the new campaign is powered by findings from Think Stylist, the brand's B2B insight agency, and features stars from the worlds of sport, TV, film and comedy sharing the lessons they'd like schools to teach.

Each of the stars’ lessons will be featured in digital, print and social video, with full length versions of the lessons appearing on YouTube. Alongside Biles, Kelly and Jessie, lessons have been created by actress Romola Garai, content creator Nikki Lily and comedian Munya Chawawa.

The six free, curriculum aligned Key Stage 3 lesson plans for schools, co-created with teachers and Young Minds, a charity supporting the mental health of children and young people, are free to access on www.stylist.co.uk/lessonsplans.

Alix Walker, Stylist’s Head of Editorial, said:  “Stylist has always existed to help women - and helping to shape a more confident, resilient next generation is a vital part of that. Our Think Stylist insight showed that so many women are still living with the hangover of the lessons they were taught decades ago. So we asked trailblazing women to share the lesson they wish they’d been taught as girls - and the one they believe every young person deserves to learn today.

But we didn’t want this to just be a conversation. We wanted real-world impact. Working with a panel of award-winning teachers, we turned those lessons into Key Stage 3 lesson plans that teachers and parents can download for free. And to reach as many people as possible, we’re taking the project beyond our channels - bringing Lessons That Matter to the Outernet and tube stations across London.”

The special split-cover print issue of Stylist lands on 11 March, with content running across digital, social and editorial channels throughout March. The videos will also be shared at the Outernet in Tottenham Court Road from 17–31 March, creating a high impact public moment that invites reflection and sharing.

England footballer Chloe Kelly said: “To be one of Stylist’s cover stars for their International Women’s Day issue is really special. Visibility is powerful and when young girls see women breaking barriers and owning their space, I hope it helps them believe they can do it too. My wish this International Women’s Day is for the next generation to back themselves and dream big, because you never know where that belief can take you.”

Kiran Ramchandani, Interim Director of Policy and Communications at YoungMinds, said: “We’re proud to be partnering with Stylist on Lessons That Matter, a campaign designed to bring vital conversations into classrooms about the pressures shaping young people’s mental health today.

“By centring the lessons that truly matter for wellbeing, we hope this partnership will empower young people to value themselves beyond achievement or image and feel confident seeking support when they need it.”

Think Stylist, the insight agency behind the initiative, spoke to 1000+ women to find out what they needed to “unlearn” and what lessons they would have felt useful to have been taught at a younger age, with respondents favouring emotional development, creating self-sufficiency over academic skills.

The number one thing women would like girls to be taught today is around managing money e.g. investing and saving (80%), followed by, healthy relationships and emotional resilience, which ranked joint second at 72%, followed by independent thinking (68%). The full research is available at thinkstylist.co.uk.

The insight also revealed:

• 69% of women feel under supported and uneducated in financial literacy as girls, with 80% saying this is what schools should prioritise teaching girls now.

• 54% said they were taught about body image pressures as a young girl – lessons that have since created challenges in later life.

• 50% reported growing up feeling pressure to be agreeable

• 40% felt they were encouraged to make themselves smaller or quieter

Discover more about the campaign on Stylist's website.