Ebony Joseph left Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and moved to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia in 2025 after becoming disillusioned with life in the United Kingdom
A woman became so disillusioned with life in the United Kingdom she quit the country for a new life abroad.
Ebony Joseph, 30, swapped Southend-on-Sea, Essex, for the north of the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia on April 30, 2025, after struggling with her mental health and growing increasingly fed up with life in Britain.
The pastry chef felt trapped in a relentless cycle of working purely to keep up with bills, having long since abandoned any hope of ever getting on the property ladder. But, following a holiday to Saint Lucia a year before, during which she fell head over heels for the island’s relaxed way of life, stunning scenery and exciting business prospects, Ebony took a bold leap of faith and started afresh abroad.
Now, more than a year later, she says her energy levels have soared, she’s happier than she’s ever been, and she’s working towards launching her very own tour company and interactive travel guide.
Ebony says a night out for dinner in the UK could easily set her back £100, yet in Saint Lucia she can eat out for as little as £5. The young woman, who was granted full St Lucian citizenship in September 2025 through her father’s family roots, said: “I was earning decent money in the UK but no matter how much I earned, it felt like I was never getting any further forward.
“I couldn’t see a future where I could afford my own property and I felt like I was just going to work to survive and pay bills. My mental health wasn’t great and I was feeling really low. I realised nobody was going to change my life for me.
“I told my mum I needed to do something different. It was a scary decision, but I knew I had to take the chance. I am so glad I did it because it means I quit Essex for Saint Lucia. I eat out for £5 a night in a tropical paradise.”
Ebony first set foot onSaint Lucia as a tourist, where she struck up a friendship with a local contact named Sisi, who later helped her find her footing when she made the permanent move.
With just £2,000 in savings to her name, Ebony upped sticks and crossed the Atlantic, leaning on the generosity of friends and islanders while she got herself established.
She said: “If I hadn’t had somewhere to stay when I arrived, I would’ve been in trouble. I survived on what I had and sold a few cakes here and there. People helped me out and I made some really good connections.”
Though she studied cookery at school, Ebony had spent several years working in administration for a construction firm in England before opting to pursue her passion for food professionally.
In May 2026, she secured a position as a pastry chef at a hotel after wowing an executive chef with one of her cheesecakes and her impressive CV.
She said: “I ended up making a cheesecake for an executive chef. He tried it, looked at my CV and offered me a job. Facebook is a huge way of finding work out here and that’s how a lot of opportunities come up.”
Despite the financial hurdles that came with relocating, Ebony insists the lifestyle she enjoys in Saint Lucia far outweighs any monetary sacrifices. She believes the island’s outdoor lifestyle and deep connection with nature have made a tremendous difference to her overall wellbeing.
She said: “In England, if I was feeling low, I’d stay indoors. Now, if I’m having a bad day, I can go for a swim or spend time at the beach. As soon as the sun comes out, I want to be up and doing something. I’ve got so much more energy.
“There is so much free stuff to do here. You can have a cookout by the river, spend time at the beach and really appreciate what you have in life.
“You aren’t spending on things to do as much because Saint Lucia is beautiful, and you and a friend could go out for a meal in the UK where it costs you £100 but in Saint Lucia you can go for a big meal and pay well under £20 for the two of you.”
Ebony also reveals she much prefers the culture in Saint Lucia, where she feels people place far greater importance on community, wellbeing and personal development.
She added: “There is more to life than working nine to five and partying every weekend. I wanted to surround myself with positive people and build something for myself. My friends and family say I look happier and healthier. I’ve lost weight and I feel better in myself too.”
Reflecting on her journey, Ebony says relocating abroad was one of the boldest decisions she has ever made — yet one she will never regret.
She said: “Life is full of risks and sometimes you don’t know what the outcome will be. I thought I had a 50-50 chance, but if it didn’t work out, I’d just be back where I started.
“I didn’t want to look back on my life and wonder ‘what if?’
“My advice is simple – do what’s best for you. The only person who can change your life is you. Take the risk, because if you don’t, you’ll never know what could have happened.”
