Kiki Women: Ranvir Singh
This week’s Kiki Woman, Ranvir Singh, is a British journalist and presenter with a media career most could only dream of.
After graduating from university, Ranvir wasn't sure what career path was right for her, but then the idea of working in television was floated and she felt as if she had been struck by lightning. We were lucky enough to sit down with Ranvir at 11 Cadogan Gardens Hotel to discuss her inspiring career so far, her style on and off television, and her love for bold jewellery.
You have reported on some remarkable stories. What's the one that stands out to you today?
The first thing that springs to mind is going into the White House to report on Theresa May meeting President Trump for the first time after his election- this would have been 2017. I remember walking through the white pillars going into the White House and just realising that there were much more experienced journalists around me who were also gasping and taking videos and I thought great, we are all having a moment here! If only my dad could have seen it, he would not have believed it, it would have knocked his socks off!
How does your personal style differ from your professional style?
So my professional style tends to be quite geometric and clean cut with clean necklines, because in news I don't really like wearing big patterns. I like quite bold statement colours, block colours, because in essence, the news can change. You could be thinking you're going to do a sort of reasonably happy show and then before you know it something has happened and you've got to break the bad news. So I'm always very aware. The thing is, your clothes, when you're in a professional setting, they can't distract and I don't like frills around the neck or too much detail because when people are watching [on television] I don't really want them going, oh what's that shirt doing? What's that colour doing? I want them to be listening to what we're talking about. Outside of work, I'm basically like your local dog walker. That's my general style: your local dog walker!
If you were getting up in the morning and you were going to work, what piece of jewellery would you pick up first?
I think that the only thing I would feel under dressed without is a pair of earrings. I love earrings. I love big ones. I've never really been a fan of tiny studs because I always feel like somehow my face needs more. Earrings are my thing.
Will you tell us how you got into the television industry?
I was at the Gurdwara, the Sikh temple in Preston where I grew up, and there was a girl who was older than me, part of the congregation that we'd known for many years. She just sort of casually said, 'what are you going to do after uni?' And I said, 'oh, I don't know,' she said 'what do you do?' I said, 'oh, English'. She paused. And she went, 'I've got a friend who did English and she works for the BBC'. And it was literally like I'd been struck by lightning. It was such a strange experience because immediately, from that moment onwards, every single thing has always clicked into place, everything. And so it's just that inspirational moment. It felt like a divine intervention.
Tell us about some of your favourite Kiki pieces that you picked out.
Yes, I love the jazz ring. I think if you were to ask anybody who knows me to pick a piece of jewellery that they think would be me, it would be that. The boldness of it is so beautiful. I'm not one for wearing loads of jewellery, so one bold thing that catches the eye gives a lot of impact.
Our Kiki Women series was created to champion trailblazing women at the height of their careers, and we are so grateful to Ranvir for chatting with us about hers .For more interviews with inspiring women, make sure to keep an eye on our website and socials.
Watch the full video interview on YouTube here.
