Untamed: the confidence to live on your terms

By Bethanie Lunn, of Untamed.

As women, we’re often told to be more — more successful, more accommodating, more nurturing, more available, more of what everyone else needs us to be. We spend years juggling responsibilities, proving ourselves, shaping our lives around the expectations of others…only to be told we’re then either too much or not enough.

But what if true success isn’t about becoming more?

What if it’s about stripping back — letting go of everything we’re not, everything that holds us back—so we can finally be who we were meant to be?

That’s what I’ve learned. That’s what Untamed is all about.

And this International Women’s Day, I want to share how I got here.

Strength in adversity

I grew up on a council estate — nicknamed The Bronx because of the crime and chaos that surrounded us. Knife crime wasn’t a news story; it was your neighbour’s last argument.

We were poor — I remember my mum crying because she couldn’t afford to feed my sister and I. Of course, she always found a way but, in the middle of that hardship, I saw something else: women standing together. Strength, resilience, connection, and survival.

I didn’t know it at the time, but that’s where Untamed began.

I learned that confidence isn’t about having it easy. It’s about standing tall when life throws everything at you. It’s about supporting others and lifting each other – collaborating and connecting, not competing and comparing.

Breaking free from the rules

For all the fire I have inside me, I wasn’t always confident.

As a child, I was painfully shy. Sometimes, when people spoke to me, I physically couldn’t respond. My throat would close up. My eyes would well up. I’d stand there, a quivering wreck.

Then, at 11 years old, something shifted. I froze in front of a boy I had a crush on, unable to say a single word. His look of confusion — and then embarrassment —hit me hard. That was the moment I decided: never again. I don’t want to ever feel like that again.

I created my own mantra: “I don’t get embarrassed. It’s impossible.” And over time, I didn’t. I learned to take up space, to speak up, to own my voice.

And now? I teach other women how to do the same.

Because, for too long, we’ve been taught to shrink ourselves, to dim our voices, to soften our power. But what happens when we stop following the rules and start making our own?

We become untamed.

The moment I realised I was built for more

When I was nine years old, someone gave me a bag of sample-sized foundations — the kind you get for free at beauty counters.

I decided to sell them door-to-door for 10p each.

A woman challenged me: “Why should I pay for something that’s free?”

I looked her in the eye and said: “I’ll give you the free one, but you’ll love it so much, you’ll wish you had bought more. And if you don’t buy now, you’ll have nothing. This is a one-time opportunity.”

She bought 20.

I walked away, a little girl who had just learned something powerful: you don’t have to wait for permission. You just have to go for it.

That’s how I built my first PR company from my back bedroom at 23 years old. I left a stable job to do it. People asked: “Are you sure? Are you ready? What if you fail?”

I didn’t have all the answers. But I trusted myself. And I made it work.

Now, I want more women to feel that same fire, that same belief in themselves. I want you to know who you are, even when the world tries to tell you otherwise, and stand by that – live and work by your values and NEVER apologise for it.

From my story to yours: welcome to Untamed Academy

Everything I’ve learned — resilience, confidence, breaking free from the rules — has led to this moment. To Untamed Academy.

Because I see you. The woman who’s done everything ‘right’ and is still searching for more. The leader who’s been told to soften her edges. The business owner who knows she’s capable of more — but feels stuck and needs support. The woman fearing success more than failure – you know you’re capable but you still get ‘imposter syndrome’ and where do you even start when there’s simply too much information and also never enough?!

This is for you if you’re ready to:

• Stop second-guessing yourself

• Prioritise yourself and your business – without guilt

• Make bold moves and step fully into your potential

• Focus on the tactics and opportunities that really move the needle

Untamed Academy isn’t just another programme. It’s a space where executive women and female founders come to take back control — through curated events (move over, networking!), a powerhouse online community, specialist consultants and real-world training and mentoring.

It’s where you stop waiting and start owning your power.

Because confidence doesn’t come from waiting for permission. It comes from taking it.

Ready to become Untamed? Here’s your exclusive offer

You’ve read the story — now it’s time to write your own.

For International Women’s Day, we’re offering an exclusive £100 discount on Untamed Academy’s next programme. Because investing in yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Join Untamed Academy and get:

• Access to expert-led training, mentoring & events

• A powerhouse community of like-minded women

• The clarity & confidence to take bold action

Claim your £100 discount when you sign up by the end of April 2025. Use code UNTAMED100 at checkout.

Join now at thisisuntamed.co.uk

Join the waitlist at: thisisuntamed.co.uk Instagram: @bethanielunn | @_thisisuntamed_