A rising star and the mentor who lit the spark

When Sam Jones walked into consultant training in early 2024, she had no idea that the woman assigned to guide her—Andi Denyer-Willis—would go on to shape not just her career, but her confidence, her purpose, and the future of her Slimming World journey.

Andi was Sam’s first ever Team Developer: the friendly face who steadied her nerves, celebrated her early wins, and championed her potential long before Sam could see it herself.

Sam would later describe Andi’s influence as “life-changing.”

A little over a year later, their paths would cross again in the most extraordinary of ways.

At the 2025 Slimming World Oscars in Birmingham, Andi arrived still recovering from a significant operation—determined, fragile, and ready to accept her well-earned Gold award. Sam, meanwhile, only attended because she happened to win a surprise prize draw for tickets and accommodation.

“I thought, why not see what all the fuss is about?” Sam laughed. “I was relaxed—I knew I wasn’t up for anything.”

But as the final award of the night—the newly renamed Margaret Miles-Bramwell Rising Star Award—was announced, something extraordinary happened.

As Managing Director Lisa Salmon described the winner as a consultant who “only became a Consultant in February 2024,” Sam, ever the former police officer, remained blissfully unaware. Even as cameras gathered around her, she assumed the winner must be a colleague.

Then came the words that changed everything:

“With her first group in Bedhampton…”

“My heart jumped,” Sam said. “I knew. That was me.”

She turned instinctively to Andi—her mentor, now secretly filming the entire moment.

Andi could barely hold back tears.

What followed was, in Sam’s words, “an out-of-body experience”—the red carpet, the roaring applause, the towering glass trophy. And in the audience, Andi cried enough, Sam jokes, “for both of us.”

Sam’s acceptance speech was raw, heartfelt, and rooted in gratitude. After years of failed IVF, Slimming World had helped her transform her life and health—changes she believes made motherhood possible. Today, she is mum to beautiful twin daughters she never thought she’d have.

Andi had been there from the very beginning.

As if the Oscars weren’t extraordinary enough, Sam’s remarkable year reached another high point on Saturday, December 6, when she was selected as one of only 10 Slimming World consultants, Team Developers, District Managers and staff nationwide invited to a prestigious Thank You Dinner at The Dorchester in London.

Held to celebrate outstanding contributions across the organisation, the event left Sam stunned.

“I was so honoured,” she said. “Most of the weekend I felt like I had imposter syndrome. But being there reminded me how far I’ve come—and how grateful I am to everyone who helped me get here.”

Andi, naturally, was one of the very first people she messaged afterward.

From mentor and trainee…

to colleagues…

to award-winning consultants cheering each other on…

Sam and Andi’s story is a shining example of what Slimming World does best: builds confidence, transforms lives, and creates connections that truly matter.

With a refreshed Food Optimising plan, the brand-new Slimming World book, and a choice of award-winning, supportive consultants…

Sam or Andi are exactly the women to help you discover all that Slimming World has to offer.

Because when belief meets guidance—and when a spark meets someone who knows exactly how to fan it - a rising star doesn’t just rise. It shines.

And in this story, the mentor who lit the spark is standing proudly beside her, watching it glow brighter every day.

Andi runs groups on a Tuesday evening at 6pm and 7.30pm at Havant College, New Road and Friday morning at 7.30am, 9am and 10.30am at St Nicholas Church, Belmont Grove, Bedhampton.

Sam runs groups on a Thursday evening at 4pm, 5.30pm and 7pm at St Michael’s and All Angels Church, Dunsbury Way, Leigh Park and Saturday morning at 7.30am, 9am and 10.30am at St Nicholas Church, Belmont Grove, Bedhampton.