Adeshola Akanji is living proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your story. As the founder of Ultimate Royal UK, she is building a powerful platform focused on inclusion, disability advocacy, and women’s leadership—driven by both lived experience and a deep commitment to change.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. As a Black woman living with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and multiple chronic health conditions, Adeshola has faced discrimination, homelessness, single parenthood, workplace bullying, and even a life-threatening ICU admission. But instead of being defined by those experiences, she chose to transform them into purpose.
In her 40s, she stepped into modelling and advocacy, challenging expectations around age, beauty, and leadership. Since then, she has received international recognition, including Model of the Year 2025 and multiple leadership and empowerment awards, while using her voice to push for greater visibility and inclusion.
Through her work, speaking engagements, and growing global presence, Adeshola continues to remind women—especially those from underrepresented communities—that their stories still matter and their potential is far from limited.
In this interview with Women on Topp, she opens up about resilience, reinvention, and turning life’s challenges into meaningful impact.
1. Your story is deeply powerful. Can you take us back to the moment you realised you wanted to transform your life and step into advocacy and modelling?
There wasn’t one single moment; it was a series of life experiences that slowly revealed a deeper purpose. Having navigated discrimination, homelessness, single parenthood, bullying, and a life-threatening ICU admission, I realised that surviving these experiences meant my voice carried meaning.
For many years I internalised my challenges, particularly living with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and chronic health conditions. But eventually I understood that my lived experience could become a source of empowerment for others.
Stepping into modelling in my 40s was part of reclaiming visibility. I wanted to challenge stereotypes about age, disability, and what leadership or beauty should look like. Advocacy followed naturally because I realised that representation alone is not enough; it must also create change.
Today my work ensures that women, especially those with disabilities or complex life experiences, know that their stories still have power.
“Sometimes the very experiences meant to silence us become the reason our voices matter most.”
2. You openly speak about living with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and chronic health conditions. How has embracing your neurodiversity shaped the way you see yourself today?
Embracing my neurodiversity transformed the way I understand my identity.
For many years, I viewed my differences through the lens of limitation because society often frames neurodivergence that way. But over time I recognised that my neurodiversity also brings strengths: creativity, resilience, empathy, and the ability to see systems and people through a deeper lens.
It shaped the advocacy work I do today through my organisation Ultimate Royal UK, where we support individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities while helping organisations understand accessibility and inclusion.
When I speak to audiences, particularly in healthcare and education spaces, I emphasise that neurodivergent individuals are not problems to be solved but perspectives to be valued.
“Neurodiversity is not a weakness to hide — it is a perspective that allows us to see the world differently.”
3. Your journey includes experiences of discrimination, homelessness, single parenthood, and a life-threatening ICU admission. What kept you going during those darkest moments?
What kept me going was a quiet but persistent belief that my life still had purpose, even when circumstances felt overwhelming.
Being a mother also played a significant role. When you are responsible for another life, giving up is simply not an option. I had to keep moving forward, even if progress felt slow.
Those difficult experiences also gave me a profound empathy for others facing adversity. They taught me that resilience is not about appearing strong every day; it is about continuing despite uncertainty.
Today those chapters of my life fuel my advocacy work and remind me why representation and inclusive leadership matter.
“Resilience is not about never falling — it is about continuing to rise, even when the path forward feels uncertain.”
4. You are the founder of Ultimate Royal UK. What inspired you to create this international empowerment and leadership brand?
Ultimate Royal UK was born from my desire to transform lived experience into meaningful impact.
After years of navigating systemic barriers, I realised that many women and individuals with disabilities lacked the support, advocacy, and visibility they needed to thrive. I wanted to create a platform that not only empowers individuals but also encourages organisations to rethink inclusion and accessibility.
Ultimate Royal UK now serves clients internationally through advocacy, mentoring, leadership talks, and disability inclusion consultancy.
At its core, the brand is about helping people recognise their inherent value and power, regardless of the challenges they face.
“Ultimate Royal UK was created to remind people that their challenges do not diminish their worth or their potential.”
5. Winning Model of the Year 2025 and receiving multiple international awards is a remarkable achievement. What do these recognitions mean to you personally and professionally?
Awards are humbling because they reflect not only personal effort but also the support and collaboration of many people along the journey.
Being named Model of the Year 2025 by Influencer Magazine was particularly meaningful because it recognised a model who entered the industry later in life while advocating for disability inclusion.
I have also been honoured with recognitions such as the Women of Heart Award, the Beauty and Brains Award, and Hoinser Magazine’s Woman of the Year and Best International Leader awards.
These acknowledgements remind me that advocacy can exist alongside creativity, leadership, and visibility.
However, the greatest reward remains the messages I receive from individuals who say that my journey helped them feel seen or inspired them to pursue their own goals.
“Awards are meaningful, but the greatest recognition is knowing your story helped someone else believe in their own.”
6. You’ve held titles like Classic Miss British Beauty and Ms London City 2025. How have you used these platforms to advance disability and inclusion advocacy?
Pageant platforms can be powerful tools for advocacy when used intentionally.
As Classic Miss British Beauty and the inaugural Ms London City 2025, I have used these roles to raise awareness about disability inclusion, neurodiversity, and the importance of representation.
Through speaking engagements, media features, and public appearances, I advocate for a broader understanding of leadership and beauty that includes women with disabilities and diverse lived experiences.
Representation in these spaces sends an important message: that leadership and visibility are not limited by age, health conditions, or societal expectations.
“Representation matters because when people see themselves reflected in leadership, possibility begins to grow.”
7. Your work has been featured in international publications and you’ve spoken at organisations like Queen Mary University of London and NHS institutions. What message do you most want audiences to take away from your talks?
The core message I share is that inclusion begins with listening to lived experience.
When organisations genuinely hear the voices of individuals who live with disabilities or neurodivergence, they begin to understand how policies, environments, and attitudes can either empower or exclude.
My talks often focus on reshaping narratives around disability and leadership, encouraging audiences to recognise the value of diverse perspectives.
Ultimately, I want people to leave my sessions with a renewed commitment to building environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
“True inclusion begins when lived experiences are not just heard, but valued and acted upon.”
8. Many women fear starting over later in life. What advice would you give to women who want to reinvent themselves but feel it might be too late?
It is never too late to redefine your story.
Society often places timelines on success, but life rarely follows those schedules. My journey into modelling, advocacy, and entrepreneurship began in my 40s, long after many people believe opportunities have passed.
The key is recognising that your experiences, even the painful ones, can become the foundation for something meaningful.
Reinvention does not require perfection. It simply requires courage to take the first step.
“Your story is not over simply because life took a different path than you expected.”
9. What does inclusive leadership mean to you, and how can organisations genuinely practice it?
Inclusive leadership means creating environments where people feel safe, respected, and valued for who they are.
It goes beyond policies or statements. It requires listening to lived experiences, implementing accessible practices, and ensuring that diverse voices are represented in decision-making spaces.
Organisations can begin by engaging with individuals who understand these realities, investing in education, and being willing to challenge existing systems.
True inclusion is not performative; it is intentional and ongoing.
“Inclusive leadership is not about appearances — it is about creating spaces where every voice truly matters.”
10. Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for your advocacy work and the future of Ultimate Royal UK?
My vision for Ultimate Royal UK is to continue expanding its global impact by supporting individuals and organisations in building inclusive, empowering environments.
I want to develop more leadership programmes, mentorship opportunities, and accessibility consultations that help bridge the gap between lived experience and institutional understanding.
Through media, speaking, and advocacy, I hope to continue amplifying voices that are often overlooked.
Ultimately, my goal is simple: to ensure that people living with disabilities, neurodivergence, and complex life experiences know that their stories matter and their potential is limitless.
“Your challenges do not define your limits — they often reveal the depth of your strength.”
