“Working behind the cocktail bar was a different kind of escapism, a creative outlet with a newfound respect for alcohol. I didn't drink as I was also working day shifts in a coffee shop and, later, the fire service, and needed my wits about me to pull off my 60-hour working weeks.”

British food writer, journalist and activist

Jack Monroe is a British food writer, journalist and activist known for work on poverty issues, especially hunger relief. She first came to wider attention when a post from her blog A Girl Called Jack went viral. She has written seven cookbooks built around austerity recipes and meals designed for a tight budget. Her writing has also appeared in The Echo, The Huffington Post, and The Guardian, alongside her campaigning voice on poverty and food insecurity.