Sashena Ramparsad, better known as Sash, is 34 years old and currently resides on the beautiful shores of the Dolphin Coast in Ballito.
She grew up and lived most of her life in Phoenix, north of Durban. Ramparsad is a marketing manager for a regional shopping centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
However, she is also passionate about the representation of black and brown women and branched off into content creation.
The fashion, beauty and lifestyle digital content creator, who goes by the handle @sash_lives_life, has garnered a name for herself on social media platforms, Instagram and TikTok.
We spoke to her about her journey and achievements.
What inspires or motivates you when you wake up in the morning?
The ability to just take a deep breath in the morning is motivation enough to wake up and be grateful for another day. I have created a life that I love and that inspires me to wake up and get to it every morning.
What is your favourite part about being a fashion, lifestyle and beauty content creator?
While there are many perks to being a content creator, I am most grateful for the connection with like-minded individuals in the creative space.
I have been extremely blessed to work and build relationships with some beautiful brands over the years. I love that I get to be a part of this collaborative community online.
You have an amazing platform; how did you start out?
Thank you, I started my content journey back in 2017. At the time, I launched my blog which focused on female confidence through fashion and beauty. The website was a great way to engage and relate with my audience, this translated successfully when I decided to create content digitally.
I have a combined following of 30 000+ followers spanning over Instagram and TikTok. I am grateful to each person who has supported my journey and shown me love over the years.
What inspired you to create your platform?
As a brown petite woman who is under 155 centimetres, I wanted to create a safe space for women who lack confidence due to being physically petite. Sometimes our physical appearance limits our ability to look and feel good.
My platform is a direct reflection that dynamites do indeed come in small packages.
Over the years, I have always felt strongly about becoming an inspiration, creating content provided me with a platform to do just that.
What are some of the challenges you face as a female digital creator and how do you overcome these?
In the content creation and influencing space, Durban is always overlooked and not given the same opportunities as other cities.
We have huge talent and most of the Durban-based content creators are not recognised in the influencing space. Hopefully this changes soon.
Another challenge is how the content creation industry is being saturated in comparison to the early years of influencing. While there is room for new creativity, it’s important to always remain true and authentic to yourself.
Who do you look up to in your community or work space?
There are so many creative content creators that I look up to and follow. It would be difficult to name them all. The authenticity and dedication of some influencers are inspiring and motivates me that I can still do better.
Any pearls of wisdom for young aspiring content creators?
As a female digital creator, it’s been an interesting journey. If you are considering becoming a content creator, it’s as hard work as it is fun, this means giving up weekends and free time too.
You must have a solid passion, flair and love for it. Consistency and good quality content will always pay off.
It is good to analyse your platform and strategise what you want to achieve out of it, set goals for yourself and don’t let the misconception that only macro creators can be successful in this industry. Quality over quantity will always shine through.