Alison Clarke is the founder of ACA Models: Northern Ireland's longest-running modelling and promotion agency.

 

After growing up on a farm in County Tyrone, Alison gave up her University offers to study Maths and instead took a job with Ulster Bank.

 

Alongside working full-time at the Waring Street Bank (now The Merchant Hotel) she entered and won Miss Northern Ireland in 1982 and was a runner-up in the Miss UK competition. 

 

Ultimately, this experience was the catalyst that led to working in PR & Marketing for eight years before opening up her own agency in 1990.

 

Alison has been her own boss ever since.

 

In today's episode we talk about:

• Life in Strabane as a child
• What working in a bank was like before computers
• How it takes time to build a business
• Why Miss NI is important for Northern Ireland
• And the greatest challenges/successes she's experienced along the way

 

Enjoy!

 

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To see a 'treasure trove' of all things related to Alison (including a photo) please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/stories/alison-clarke-aca-models

 

Best Of Belfast is Northern Ireland's #1 Interview Podcast. We've shared 100+ hour-long conversations with incredible people from Northern Ireland.

 

To find out more, or join 'The Producers Club' please visit https://bestofbelfast.org/

 

Cheers!

 

— Matt