My Big Break

Two girls from Brent explain how they scored brilliant jobs and hang out with rap stars and go to celebrity parties.

Name: Davina Mashru
Age: 25
Job: Freelance stylist working with Mario, The Game, Jay Sean, Juggy D, Shystie, So Solid Crew

What was your big break?

"While I was studying, I put the word around that I really wanted to work as a stylist for an Asian magazine. A friend of a friend knew someone who was starting a magazine called Maya, by the publishers of CineBlitz. It was the first place my work appeared. It's all about networking."

Describe an average day.

"I'm either on a shoot, or preparing for one. That means getting the clothes, researching a theme, and making calls to sort out the studio, photographer, models, and hair and make-up. On shoots, I'm at the studio at 8.30am, and don't leave until 10pm."

Do you meet famous people?

"I've worked with some big stars, and I've also met people who I look up to professionally, such as the stylist Katie Grand, who was a big inspiration for me when I was at university."

What's the hardest thing about your job?

"Dealing with difficult personalities. We all have our own taste when it comes to clothes, so everyone thinks they know about styling. But I'm paid to make other people look good."

Is it glamorous?

"Sometimes. I get lots of free clothes, shoes and trainers. I've been to LA, New York, Barcelona, Italy and Iceland. Iceland was amazing – we drove to the middle of nowhere in a big jeep, and there was nothing but caves, mountains and icicles bigger then me. We were shooting a model on a frozen river. It's all a long way from Brent."

Could you do this job if you had a child?

"No way! I had friends who had babies when they were young, and they didn't do anything except babysit all day and go to parties at night. This isn't a nine-to-five job. You hardly have time for yourself, let alone anyone else."

What did you get from school?

"I went to Kingsley High School in Harrow. I learned how to manage my time, meet deadlines and do research."

Where do you want to be in ten years time?

"I'd like to be a fashion director, styling major shows for big names. Then, when I'm ready, I'd like a family."

How can someone get a job like yours?

"Learn all about fashion and develop your own style. Contact your favourite stylists and ask for work experience."

Name: Natasha Mann
Age: 23
Job: Freelance music publicist for MC Fumin, Estelle and Bronz N Black

What was your big break?

"I was 22, working as a teaching assistant at John Kelly Technology College in Brent. I was trying to get into TV, but a friend forwarded me an email saying that a company was looking for a work experience person to do music PR. I applied and ended up staying there for three months, then they gave me a job."

Describe an average day.

"It varies. I might be meeting a new artist, getting to know them, working out what kind of press coverage we can get for them. Or I might spend the day on the phone, speaking to journalists, finding out what they think about the track. I could also be on a press trip, travelling with the artist."

What's the most glamorous part of your job?

"I was quite chuffed to be at Glamour magazine's awards. I looked round and I was sitting next to Kim Cattrall from Sex and the City. Usher, Jonathan Ross and Charlotte Church were all there and I was going, 'Oooooh!' I felt like I was in celebrityville."

And the least glamorous part?

"Doing mass mailouts, photocopying, stuffing envelopes and franking. But even my boss does it, so it's not so bad."

Have you any tips?

"When you're young, it's important to keep your options open and not limit yourself. If you don't get any GCSEs, then you're definitely restricting yourself. I've never wanted to conform to any stereotype. Because I come from a mixed race, working-class background, ignorant people would just assume that you were not going to do well in school — that you'd get pregnant while you were still young, and you'd never achieve as much as a middle-class white boy. I never wanted to give anyone the satisfaction of being able to say that about me."