Challenging the Crown, the 
A community conversation helping firstborn/parentified daughters understand the story behind their strength — and begin putting down some of the weight that came with it.
Past events
Shepherd Bush - 03/08/2026
Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush, West London · 3 August 2026
Challenging the Crown: The Conversation
The evening brought together women aged 25–72 — daughters, mothers, sisters and professionals who recognised themselves, in one way or another, as the strong one.
All 40 seats sold out a week in advance, showing clear demand for culturally informed spaces where firstborn/parentified daughters can explore emotional wellbeing, family roles and the experiences that shaped who they have become.
The night combined a live panel discussion and audience Q&A with guided reflection, visualisation, and a grounding breathwork exercise.
The panel
- Issa — Educator, founder of Issa Safe Space and author of Challenging the Crown.
- Temi — Founder, The First Born Daughter Society, bringing the shared stories of a growing community of firstborn daughters.
- Quiana — Founder, Five Foot Giant, contributing a perspective rooted in self-development and self-care.
- Lynette — CBT & interpersonal psychotherapist, bringing a clinical perspective on psychology, the nervous system and development.
In their words
“I am not alone. So many other women have this shared experience. It was so nice to be in a safe and comfortable space where we could hear each other's experiences.”
“The evening was lovely. It brought a group of SiStars together with shared lived experience. It was a magical evening. I hope we can do this again.”
“Beautiful. Relevant. Necessary.”
Photo & video gallery
Instagram Reel
The Bush Theatre
Laughter and release
Conversations that continued
Connections at the bar
The panel in full flow
The room, full
Listening deeply
Writing it down
Joy in the aftermath
The women who held it
Future events
Brixton - Autumn 2026
Brixton · Autumn 2026
Bringing the conversation to Brixton
The first Challenging the Crown: The Conversation showed us these conversations are needed — and that women want more of them. Issa Safe Space is taking the conversation beyond West London, and Brixton feels like a natural next home for it.
Event theme
What happens when you start putting the weight down?
West London helped us understand how we became the strong one.
South London asks the next question:
What happens when the strong one starts choosing differently?
This conversation explores the guilt, resistance, relationships and identity shifts that can come when a woman begins changing roles she may have occupied for years.
Not simply:
Why am I like this?
But: What happens when I decide I don't want to keep living like this?
The panel
Issa, Panelist and Author. Educator, Founder of Issa Safe Space and author of Challenging the Crown.
• Temi, Panelist. Founder of The First Born Daughter Society. Temi speaks from community: the patterns, stories and shared language of hundreds of firstborn daughters.
• Lynette, Panelist. CBT & Interpersonal Psychotherapist. Lynette speaks from the clinical side: psychology, the nervous system, and what development actually involves.
• Quiana, Host & Panelist. Founder of Five Foot Giant. Quiana contributes to the conversation as an advocate for self development and self-care.
Together we create a panel that is empowering Black firstborn/parentified daughters with the education and understanding of 'what' happend, 'why' it happened and 'how' to finally start choosing themselves.
Dates and tickets will be announced to the mailing list first.
Buy tickets
North London - 2027
North London · 2027
North London
Details coming soon. Join the mailing list to be the first to know when the Conversation comes to North London.
East London - 2027
East London · 2027
East London
Details coming soon. Join the mailing list to be the first to know when the Conversation comes to East London.