A 53-year-old mum-of-six took a leap of faith, leaving behind her life and family in the UK to enjoy sun and cocktails in Ayia Napa. She speaks out to explain why she did it after revealing she has been trolled over her bold decision
Most of us have daydreamed about what life would be like if we just chose to live for ourselves – leaving behind all the things that hold us back. Imagine swapping the grey skies and endless routines for a place with scorching sun, cocktails, and parties. For most, it stays just a thought. But for one mum of six, it became reality.
Amanda Moss, 53, took the leap to leave her 25-year marriage, her children, and a £120k salary behind in the UK – to work from the beach in Ayia Napa. Since May 2020, she’s been living her “life with truth,” having settled in Cyprus.
But it wasn’t a snap decision. Amanda knew deep down her former routine wasn’t the life she was meant to live. “I was miserable. I thought ‘is this my life?’” she said. “I was 48 and thought ‘f*ck this.’”
Now, Amanda runs her own magazine and PR business, making around £50k a year – less than half what she earned before, but with a far better work-life balance. “I was working from 5am as soon as I woke up,” she said. “A minimum of 12 hours a day. Now I probably work five hours a day but I have a much healthier work life balance.”
“I earn around £50k and I could earn more, but I just want to live my life.” Years of visiting Cyprus planted the seed. In 2008, she bought a holiday home there, a place where she’d often bring her kids while they were growing up. What started as a getaway eventually became her new permanent home.
“Every time I’d come back to Liverpool I’d be crying,” Amanda said. “My two eldest, Floyd and Honey, said ‘why don’t you move? You’re happiest there.’”
When Covid hit, her business collapsed and suddenly it was now or never. Amanda had been sleeping in a bedroom on her own since her youngest was born – and that child is now 11.
“I didn’t think I was living up to my full potential for the last 30 to 40 years and I’m making up for it,” she said. Her three daughters moved with her initially but returned to the UK after Amanda decided the education system there was better.
While Cyprus might not be the perfect fit for her kids, it’s exactly where Amanda needed to be. She’s flourished working five hours on the beach, but still finds time to let her hair down and go clubbing multiple times a week.
“I go clubbing three to four times a week. My daughter, Honey, 23, wants me to go to the club with her and she’s like ‘that’s my mum.’”
Since moving, Amanda has also lost four stone, changing her diet and finally eating for herself rather than “comfort” – which she was doing for years. “I got to a size 18 and 15st and I thought ‘this isn’t me,’” she said. “I hated being fat.” Taking control, she started going to the gym, made new friends, and started believing in herself.
Now she spends around £400 a month on Botox, nails, lashes, and her gym membership. “Everything I do for my aesthetics and beauty regime is for me,” she said. “I’m investing in myself. I feel good. It’s the whole self-love thing, because I’ve felt all my life I’m fat and ugly.”
The glamourous mum admits she is ” a little bit vain” but she believes she has now earnt it. She now experiments with cosmetic treatments such as botox.
Amanda starts her days at the gym, which is more for her mental health than anything else. She now uses her social media to speak about her life and her honest, open approach has earned her plenty of attention, and with the extra eyes on her life it has gained some love but also some hate.
“I’ve been trolled,” Amanda admitted. “People have said I’m irresponsible. My kids are supportive. I think I’ve taught my kids to live their life as they wish and not be told society’s expectations of what they should do. I just want them to experience life in all its glory.”
And while some people question her drastic life change, many people actually commend her – even looking up to her.
“People always say to me ‘you’re so inspirational to me, I wish I could do what you do.’ And I say you can, just book it. I haven’t done anything extraordinary, I just booked a flight.” she said
Looking ahead, Amanda is embracing life with more bold leaps and ambitions and even hopes to find a romantic spark in her now home country. “Life is a gift to take control of. My next thing I want to do is fall in love with a rich handsome guy – I’m sick of working.”
“I’m living my truth, and I think people envy that. I sound really up my own arse but I’m not.”
Amanda’s six children Saxon, 24, Honey, 23, Floyd, 21, Albany, 19, plus a 16-year-old and an 11-year-old daughter all remain in the UK but often fly out during school holidays to see her. And for anyone dreaming about changing their life and ready to make the change. Amanda has simple advice: “How many people have the balls to get on a plane and say ‘I don’t want this life anymore?’”
You can follow Amanda’s journey on Instagram and TikTok @amandalifestylepr.
She’s also set to release her new book next month -‘You’re going to die so do it anyway – live life louder after 50’ where she will be sharing her journey and inspiring others to take control of their own happiness, no matter their age.