How Nigella ran so we could walk

 Perhaps best known as the ‘sensual cook’, Nigella Lawson has risen from scandal, inspired millions, and truly made her mark as a feminist icon.

Nigella, as we know her today, emerged in 1999 with cooking show ‘Nigella Bites’ on Channel 4.

Since then, she’s hosted a daytime chat show on ITV (which totally flopped, by the way!), featured in the US on her own show, ‘Nigella Feasts’, leading to her massively successful ‘Nigella Express’ on BBC2 in 2007.

Worldwide, she has sold more than eight million cookbooks (two of which can be found in my own kitchen!), and her own kitchen range has a value of £7 million.

Nigella found her fame as a mother of two, self-taught home cook. Taking inspiration from Anna Del Conte, Nigella’s cooking mixes comfort food with art and Italian flair.

While Nigella, daughter of Nigel Lawson (former Conservative Chancellor), evidently had a head start in life through family wealth, Nigella has worked hard for her success.

In 2008, Nigella reported that she had a personal fortune of £15 million, a year in which many people struggled to make ends meet. Her husband of the time, Charles Saatchi was worth an estimated £100 million.

However, Nigella made a statement that neither of her children would inherit any of her money, stating that "I am determined that my children should have no financial security. It ruins people not having to earn money."

Despite leading a life of evident privilege, Nigella has had to overcome significant challenges in her personal life. The cook lost three people close to her to cancer: her mum, younger sister, and first husband.

Nigella has been supporting Lavender Trust, a charity that works with young women with breast cancer since 2002.

She has also dealt with a very public divorce, having every action documented by the public eye, as well as facing drug and animal rights scandals.

Lawson declined an OBE from the Queen in 2001, claiming that she hasn’t done anything worthy, and simply does what she loves.

Reclaiming the role of ‘home cook’, Nigella embraced the message that women are entitled to eat- as well as prepare food for their family. Her recipes focus on decadence and enjoying food rather than the usual message targeted at women of slimming down and watching their figure.