My name is Elle Beau, and I am an anti-MLM blogger. For those not in the know, MLM stands for multi-level marketing, also known as network marketing or direct selling. I prefer to call them trussed-up pyramid schemes personally.

I was once a Younique presenter, to my shame. However, every cloud has a silver lining - from my time "on the inside", I was able to see the lies, deceit and general corruption that surrounds these companies. I was able to see the "fake it til you make it" mentality in its full throes, and the tactics used to exploit the vulnerable. Of course, not everyone's experience of MLMs is the same, but after a time of serious contemplation over what happened, I decided enough was enough - it was time to reveal the fuckery.

I began a blog where I decided to document the step-by-step process of how I got wrapped up in these companies. The blog took off, so I started a Facebook and Twitter page to keep in touch with my followers. I became an unofficial agony aunt, where former MLMers messaged me wanting to share their experiences, and talk over what's happened. That's when I became to realise just what an important issue this is. They target the low-income, the stay-at-home-mums, the students, the lonely - its all so wrong.

As the blog progressed, I realised just how much small details I have missed out (for the purpose of driving my story forwards) - I want to therefore turn my story into a novella. Paperback would be nice, but I doubt there is a publisher who'd want to work with such a tetchy subject. If that's the case, then ebook is my alternative aim.

Towards the end of 2017, I collectively formed a blogger coalition with fellow anti-MLMers Bot Watch, Red Corvette, Emma the Naked Typist, and Crownless Princesses. Check out our global resource page, the Anti-MLM Coalition.

We will still continue to work on our own blogs (me with all things #Poonique), but you will also see me contribute to our new resource website too.

I have a chronic illness (Myalgic Encephalopathy or “ME”) that makes sitting down to write very difficult, but writing is what I love, and I want to be able to continue to write my story in novel format, and continue doing guest posts and anti-MLM articles with my blog. Let's hope I can continue to fight the good fight!