Newport-based Rachael Walkingshaw-Mcguiness, 30, has been named ‘Rising Star of the Year’ at the UK’s annual Direct Selling Awards.

The national awards, hosted by the Direct Selling Association (DSA), the UK trade body for direct-to-consumer retail, recognise the best individuals in the UK’s £1 billion direct selling industry, which has become one of retail’s biggest success stories during the pandemic.

The DSA reported an average 45% year-on-year increase in retail sales across its membership in 2021 – one of the strongest annual growth periods on record since the heyday of 1970s Tupperware parties. An estimated 631,000 people in the UK now work in direct selling, with the average amount earned being £481 per month.

The Direct Selling Rising Star Award celebrates the best newcomer to the direct selling industry and was presented at a ceremony on Friday (25th March) hosted by the Direct Selling Association (DSA).

Rachael established her direct selling business with The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan after leaving her office-based job to find a way of earning that would allow her to prioritise her young family. She has now built a social media following of almost 20,000, and has around 150 clients, mainly fitting her work around her daughter Poppy’s time at nursery.

Rachael Walkingshaw-Mcguiness, Consultant for The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, said: “Winning the DSA Rising Star Award feels so surreal. To be recognised by the whole industry has been quite mind blowing and has really made me realise how far the team has come in such a short period of time. The award has given us a huge amount of validation in the efforts we have made, and we are beyond proud to represent a brand we truly love. It was a true ‘pinch me’ moment.”

Susannah Schofield OBE, Director General of the Direct Selling Association, comments: “Racheal has created a hugely successful direct selling business in a short period of time and is a great example of how to run a successful business which can fit around other areas of life. I’m delighted to offer my congratulations.”

The award judges included Jerry McDonald, former UK President of AVON, and Paul Dobson, a member of the Ethics Committees of both Seldia (the European Federation of Direct Selling Associations) and WFDSA (the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations).