A Dukinfield mum, registered nurse, and entrepreneur is using her own lived experience to help women and children prioritise their mental wellbeing through creativity and self-care.
Lola Olajide, founder of Ruthy Michaels, launched her Tameside-based wellness brand after a deeply personal turning point during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
Years ago, while studying as a single mum in a new country, Lola found herself stretched beyond her limits. Feeling overwhelmed, she walked into a chemist looking for sleeping tablets.
“The chemist asked me one simple question: ‘What is on your mind?’” Lola said. “That question stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t need tablets; I needed simple tools to help me pause, breathe, and reconnect with myself. Those tools became Ruthy Michaels.”
Today, the business offers more than 20 products, including colouring books, grief journals, affirmation books, and guided journals designed to encourage women and mums to prioritise themselves, even if only for a few quiet minutes.
Lola sells her products through her website and is actively growing her customer base across the UK while continuing her work as a registered nurse.
One area of the collection she is especially proud of is a range of affirmation colouring books created specifically for Black children.
“It’s something I built in direct response to the lack of representation my own children experienced growing up.”
The themes behind Ruthy Michaels – mental health, local enterprise, creativity, and representation – are ones Lola believes many readers across Tameside will connect with.
For more information, visit www.ruthymichaels.com.