Francesca Martinez: If you could edit your past, what would you change?

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Repeated verbatim in The Guardian's long-running Saturday Q&A; two publisher-hosted examples establish recurrence.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

Recorded Francesca Martinez said elsewhere, not written here

My all-girls’ high school. I hated it. Large groups of teenage girls aren’t known for their empathy and kindness. It was a shock to realise that people viewed me as uncool because of the way my body worked.

The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 14 March 2020 source ↗

Others on this question

View all 203 →

Bobbi Brown

I would do more weightlifting than aerobics. Strong is better than skinny.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 4 October 2025 source ↗

Anita Rani British broadcaster and journalist

I am who I am because of that messed-up childhood.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 July 2021 source ↗

Brandi Carlile

I’m not thrilled with my lack of commitment to feminism in my 20s.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 November 2025 source ↗

Emma Barnett British broadcaster and journalist

Not being able to have a baby for two and a half years. Lots of people say it made me a better person; I think it made me worse. You go to a very dark place with your friends because they are having kids, and you want to be happy for them but you’re not.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 February 2021 source ↗