Latest People: YouTube sensation Zoella’s rising star; Lewes Bakery The Hearth wins local accolade

Zoella creates a youtube vlogging storm
Brighton-based Zoe Sugg, AKA ‘Zoella’, is an internet sensation who has redefined what it means to be a vlogger. Zoe’s blog started out in 2009 in her bedroom as a hobby intended to inject some creativity into her free time, posting make-up reviews, hair tutorials and articles on Fashion Week. Graduating to YouTube within a year, Zoella has never shied away from offering fans personal glimpses into her life along the way, with regular slots with boyfriend Alfie and posts about her anxiety. “Having a place to talk about my anxiety has really helped me,” she admits. “I like to push myself and do things outside my comfort zone.”

Sharing personal problems as well as practical insights, Zoe is accessible, chatty… and wildly popular. By December 2013 she’d managed to hit the 3m follower mark. Today, her success has made her the most popular beauty vlogger in the UK. She has 8.5m subscribers – more than One Direction and Coldplay put together – and in October, she was named the top-ranking Brit in the Times’ Top 20 Under 30 YouTube stars.

She’s now a celebrity in her own right, gracing the cover of magazines and launching her own bath and beauty range, plus was recently nominated for the Game Changer Award at Cosmopolitan Magazine’s ‘Ultimate Women of the Year Awards’, held on 3 December at One Mayfair, London. “I still have to pinch myself sometimes,” giggles Zoe.

Local Restaurant & Bakehouse Wins Producer of The Year Award
Lewes bakery and restaurant, The Hearth, was awarded the Local Producer of the Year Award at The County Town Dinner & Fatstock Celebration, held at Lewes Town Hall on 26 November 2014.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to win this award – a real feather in the cap for the whole team at the Hearth,” said Michael Hanson, Master Baker & Owner. He added; “We endeavour to work in partnership with other local companies and suppliers, and are currently working with Harveys Brewery in producing a range of Heritage Mince Pies using their Christmas Ale. They’ve just won a Mince Pie Challenge, with judging from, amongst others, Great British Bake Off’s, Kate Henry. A testament to our baking… and Harveys brewing!”

For more information on the Mince Pie Challenge, visit tinyurl.com/MINCE-PIE-CHALLENGE-results