From 'lunchtime idea' to 3.7m blog followers

Louise Pentland has millions of followers across social media

A writer with 3.7 million Instagram followers said she had the idea to start a blog on her lunchbreak while working as the "world's worst receptionist".

Louise Pentland posts and broadcasts about motherhood, beauty and lifestyle, and has written five books.

The 39-year-old from Northampton also has 2.2 million YouTube subscribers and 1.9 million followers on Facebook.

She said since starting her first blog in 2009, "it has got out of hand but in a really good way".

Louise Pentland often writes about motherhood and raising her two daughters

She said the thought of writing was "a lunchtime idea" while in another job.

"I was the world's worst receptionist. Admin just isn't my strong suit, nor is organisation.

"So, it was actually the wrong job for me, but I needed a job."

She said that in her lunch breaks she would read blogs.

"I am an avid book reader and magazine reader, but [blogs] felt a lot more personal because you could get to know the writer."

Ms Pentland decided to write her own blog because it was "something to do in the evenings".

"But it escalated... to all my other social media, books and all sorts," she added.

'Focusing on positives'

Thirty years ago, when Ms Pentland was seven, her mother died from cancer.

Shortly after this she suffered abuse, which lasted until she was about 15.

At that time she was "pretty broken" but was supported by counselling and therapy.

"I can't stress enough how helpful and brilliant that was," she said.

After that, the writer said she began to adopt a more positive attitude to life.

Louise Pentland has appeared on BBC Radio 1, ITV and several magazines

She has now started a monthly slot on BBC Radio Northampton looking at positivity and mental health.

Ms Pentland said when she started writing she began "looking at what I was glad of in the day rather than what was upsetting me in the day".

"When you start doing it for a prolonged period of time, it really starts to kick in and before you know it you really are focusing on the positives and once you do that you have built up a bit of strength and resilience to progress further," she said.