Ashley Collar, a 27-year-old from Manchester, is on the verge of becoming a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology, after proving doubters wrong throughout her academic journey. The former council estate resident has been called a real-life Elle Woods online, but says her glamorous appearance should not be mistaken for a lack of intelligence.
Challenging assumptions in academia
Ashley, who works as a sociology teaching assistant at the University of Manchester, says she regularly faces assumptions that she is 'dumb' because of her vibrant dresses, voluminous blow-dries and glamorous make-up. She takes pride in challenging that stereotype.
"I have always loved very feminine and 2000s styles. I love Legally Blonde and the colour pink, I don't think any of that has to end when you enter a professional setting," she said.
"I do normally have a bit of make-up on and my hair is often quite curly and big. I think as soon as I walk into an academic group there's an assumption that maybe I'm a bit dumb or less articulate than the average person."
She added: "In all honesty I challenge this and channel it. [Dressing like this], it's showing people that you can do both, like Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. I think it keeps me quite grounded as if I didn't dress in a way that authentically me, I feel as though I would be doing a disservice to myself and what I can bring."
A groundbreaking journey from Moss Side
Ashley was brought up as the youngest of 10 children in a working-class household on a council estate in Moss Side. Although her parents always valued education, she never imagined university would be within her reach.
After achieving an A* in A-level sociology, she pursued a sociology degree at the University of Manchester, becoming the first member of her family to attend university. She began her undergraduate studies in September 2017 and secured a first-class honours degree three years later.
She then obtained a distinction in her Masters in Sociological Research and is presently awaiting completion of her PhD. Despite these credentials, Ashley says people are often taken aback when they discover her educational background.
Overcoming speech therapy, ADHD and dyslexia
Ashley said: "I don't think I ever really felt represented or seen in the education system [when I was younger]. I didn't think I could string a sentence together until I was 10."
"I had to go to speech therapy from about six years old to age 10. In later life, I was then also diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. A lot of blood sweat and tears has gone into my PHD and I hope people are able to see this."
She recalled her childhood: "Growing up poor, I was never really able to express myself how I wanted to. I would be given hand-me-down clothes or cheap stuff to wear."
"I never was really able to express myself until I went to university and got my maintenance loan and was able to treat myself. I've always loved Legally Blonde and I think I posted a TikTok in 2024 showing off my nails at my university desk and it went viral."
Embraced as a compliment
Ashley says many people compared her to Elle Woods after the viral post, and she sees it as a compliment. "A lot of people were comparing me then to Elle Woods and I took it as a compliment. Now it seems after every post, people make that connection. I've embraced it and it is a massive compliment as I do relate to the story an awful lot."
Her parents initially worried about the financial burden of university, but she pursued her ambitions regardless. Away from academia, Ashley also says she faces uncomfortable reactions on dating apps when sharing her educational background.
"People are shocked when they find out how educated I am. I would say on dating apps especially, as soon as I share my educational background there is almost some kind of fetishisation," she said.
"Some men would make statements like, 'I wish I had a lecturer like you in uni', or 'I would be coming to every class if you were my lecturer'. These comments make me feel incredibly uncomfortable."
She added: "It's so disappointing to see that in 2026, this is still how they predominantly view women in quite a misogynistic way. I'm hoping that by continuing despite the comments and hate I get, that I'm inspiring other people to do it."
Inspiring others
Ashley, who now works as a lecturer, wants to continue in a public-facing role and encourage others to pursue higher education. "I'm fortunate enough that I have a permanent lecturing job at university, but I'm also working on a teacher qualification. I want to publish and I want to go into colleges and talk to students. My values lie in being public-facing as opposed to academic-facing and I hope to inspire others," she said.
"I think university can be a scary thing with the debt, but it really is a time in your life when you learn so much about yourself and the world around you. It really is a time when you can transition into a fully grounded person."
She also has a message for students: "I would encourage anyone to go to university if they have a passion for it. I would also say when you're at university, you should make the most of the opportunities which are there. I've seen some of these students who started in first year and the growth they have had in those three years and then watching them graduate, it's phenomenal."
