The Girl Boss series aims to highlight the achievements of women just like you and me who are doing amazing things. Hopefully their stories will inspire you as much as they inspire me. This week we chat to Kajal Maharaj, actress, model, entrepreneur and co-founder of Beauty & MUA squad SA.
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The Girl Boss series aims to highlight the achievements of women just like you and me who are doing amazing things. Hopefully their stories will inspire you as much as they inspire me. This week we chat to professional model Julia Peterson.
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1. Who is your female role model/woman who inspired you and that you look up to?
My mom is the most selfless woman I’ve ever met in my life. She’s my biggest critic and most definitely my biggest supporter. She’s always pushing me to go beyond my limits. The older I get the more I realize she’s my best friend who will always have my back.
2. Do you find that there is a lot of girl on girl hate in the modelling industry?
I haven’t really experienced girl on girl hate in the modelling industry. The friendships I’ve made with some of the girls started when I first joined the industry at 16 years old. It’s more of a sisterhood where we celebrate each other and develop more meaningful relationships outside the industry . This modelling world can be tough so it’s great that we can all relate and support and encourage one another.
3. What does beauty mean to you?
Beauty to me is how you make other people feel about themselves. It’s about uplifting and empowering another woman instead of tearing each other down. There are so many beautiful people in this world but what stands out for me is character, humility and having a heart full of gold.
4. Do you identify as a feminist? Why or why not?
I’m passionate about women empowerment. Supporting and uplifting women to be their best selves. This world is cruel enough. Just as our faces differ so do our challenges, so I feel it’s important that we stand with one another and authentically and fiercely love one another. Imagine if we did that, what a beautiful world we would live in.
5. Tell us about your journey into modelling?
Growing up I was insecure about being tall and skinny. I was very shy so my mom enrolled me into modelling classes at 16. After successfully completing the courses I was chosen to be a professional model with Models International and since then doors have opened and I understand now how my insecurities back then and my uniqueness propelled me into my God-Given destiny today. It’s being a beautiful journey so far.
6. What was your favourite campaign that you've shot so far?
My favorite campaign would definitely be the Playtex Perfect Fit Campaign because it uses it’s platform to empower women and they celebrate the beauty of all women no matter what shape and size they are. Being apart of the journey with them so far has been so liberating and empowering.
7. What advice do you have for girls that want to get into the modelling industry?
My advice is to stay true to who you are and what you stand for. The modelling industry can make or break you so it’s important to know who you are and stand for something, because if you stand for nothing you will fall for anything. A lot of girls look at other people on social media and want to compete and copy, but my advice is to stay in your lane. God has an amazing purpose and plan that only you can fulfill.
8. Tell us about your Miss SA journey - what do you wish you knew then?
Being a finalist for Miss South Africa is one of my favorite achievements. It opened so many doors and I’ve made beautiful friendships during the journey. I wish I wasn’t so hard on myself and I had more faith in me. As much as the experience was amazing and life changing it was also challenging. I wish my mindset was stronger and I loved myself more fiercely during the competition. It’s natural for us women to compare ourselves to other women. I understand now that I’m enough and I will always be enough.
9. What's next for you?
2020 is a selfish year for me. I’m focusing on self-love, self-care, getting to know who ‘Julia’ is and doing things that empower me as a woman. I strongly believe that if I pour into myself more, will I be able to pour into others more abundantly. 2020 I will still be pushing in the modelling industry, focusing on empowering young girls through workshops and discover new adventures to embark on .
10. Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I’m a fun, loving, warm down to earth person. I love laughing and having fun. Don’t let the heels and makeup fool you, I enjoy the outdoors. Hiking and cycling are my favorite ways to keep fit. I enjoy watching Bollywood movies (I always wanted to be a Bollywood actress 
) I also love traveling and meeting new people.
12. If you could give your 13 year old self one piece of advice, what would it be?
My advice to my 13 year old self: Your uniqueness is beautiful. Don’t compare yourself to others. You are amazing just the way you are. Embrace it!
12. Lastly, where can we find you?
Instagram: juliapetersen1 https://www.instagram.com/
Facebook: Julia Petersen https://www.facebook.com/
"When you buy from a small business, you are not helping a CEO buy a third vacation home. You are helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, a mom put food on the table, a dad pay mortgage and a student pay for college."
I'm sure you've come across this quote somewhere, and I can't think of it being more relevant than it is right now. Where's the local is lekker spirit?
In South Africa supporting local is even more important because these businesses give our economy a much needed push and employ locals so that they have more cash money to support themselves and their families.
This year I wanted to prioritise supporting small to medium businesses.
August's theme of Women Empowerment is in full swing! Every Friday this month you can expect an interview with another #girlboss and get to know what keeps these Queens motivated to do the mostest! This week we chat to Sheena Deepnarain, a South African actress and blogger, living in Johannesburg.
Head & Shoulders is one of those OG brands that take me back to childhood, and this time they've come up with a new premium and feminine range, Head & Shoulders Supreme infused with Argan oil. Without compromising their anti-dandruff technology, Supreme is more conditioning and nourishing than ever thanks to the added Argan oil and micro hair nourishers.
HEAD & SHOULDERS SUPREME RANGE REVIEW
To start off with something special - and a little treat for you - there's a GIVEAWAY!
You stand a chance to win a curated DYI hairstyling kit (which will include hairstyling accessories, styling combs & brushes) ; LED Magnifying Vanity Mirror on stand, as well Head & Shoulders Supreme products.
Value – R1,300 per prize
How to enter: Take a picture with a Head & Shoulders Supreme product and post it on your Instagram feed, making sure to tag @headandshoulders_sa and you stand a chance to win- I can't wait to see your entries!
As someone with a super dry scalp thanks to my psoriasis (when your skin cells build up and form itchy, dry patches), I've tried every anti-dandruff shampoo on the market, multiple times. Since I can remember my dad's always used Head & Shoulders shampoos and he was the one that introduced me to it, and since then I almost always have a Head & Shoulders shampoo as my anti-dandruff shampoo and alternate its uses with my ordinary shampoo. However with the Supreme range, Head & Shoulders is combining the benefits of an anti-dandruff shampoo of that of a nourishing beauty shampoo so that we get the best of flake free, extra beautiful, moisturised hair in one product!
They've only just released in South Africa, and when they contacted me I knew I couldn't pass up on an opportunity to try their new range (My dad would have been so disappointed in me if I didn't!). What intrigues me so much is that they infused the range with Argan oil - personally I can vouch for the fact that Argan oil changed my life. Since starting my curly hair journey in February 2020, I've tried at least 5 different products that contain Argan oil and even purchase pure Argan oil in it's little essential oils bottle (P.s pure Argan oil is expensive fam!). BUT it's always been 100% worth it to keep my hair soft, smooth and moisturised.
BENEFITS OF ARGAN OIL FOR YOUR HAIR
Argan oil has been a staple in Morocco for centuries. It contains essential nutrients, has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is a rich source of vitamin E, which is required for healthy skin, hair and eyes. The oleic and linoleic acids that make up the majority of Argan oil's fat content are vital nutrients for maintaining healthy skin and hair.
Inspired by the Argan story, the new Head & Shoulders cosmetic dandruff series design brings to life the beauty and efficacy of the Argan tree leaves in a delightfully modern way.
WHAT MAKES SUPREME SPECIAL?
The first Head & Shoulders:
- with Piroctone Olamine
- with Argan Oil
- with BIC conditioning technology from Japan
SCENT
The classic Head & Shoulders tend to have a strong menthol scent, and while this makes them feel and smell extra fresh, I like that they've decided to change it up with this one. The smell of Head & Shoulders Supreme is a combination of classic florals with a freshness of fruits for a playful twist.
PACKAGING
The packaging deserves it's own section! I love how the Supreme range is packaged to be more premium and feminine than their older, classic ranges. The classic blue branding is elevated with a touch of gold. It has the same original branding that you'd expect from Head & Shoulders with the shampoo in their classic shampoo bottle. They've opted to use tube bottles for the conditioner making it easy to use and convenient. The shampoo comes in 400ml while the conditioner comes in 275ml.
VARIETY
The Supreme range comes in 4 different variants depending on your hair needs - Repair, Moisture, Smooth, Colour.
I'll be trying out the Repair and Smooth ranges over the next month - follow me on instagram (@lifebyashasingh) and check back on my blog for review post!
P.S don't forget to enter the giveaway!
References:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/argan-oil#section9
This post is sponsored by Head & Shoulders South Africa however, all opinions expressed are my own.
August's theme of Women Empowerment is in full swing! Every Friday this month you can expect an interview with another #girlboss and get to know what keeps these Queens motivated to do the mostest! I'm kicking off this series today with an interview with Michelle Meilhon, a South African blogger living and working abroad in the Netherlands as an au pair. She's actually a close friend of mine who I met exactly a year during a blogging event!
Nimue’s challenge and promise is simple. Take up the 12 Week Challenge and if you can’t ditch your foundation in week 13, we will give you your money back.
Why does it somehow feel like we skipped straight from summer to the middle of winter? I went from barely remembering to put on lotion to having to put on 101 products on my skin to keep it hydrated and feeling moisturised.
Luckily right before lockdown, Nimue sent me their new Smart Rehydration range, which admittedly at the time I didn't really think I needed because my skin felt pretty hydrated. Fast forward 3 months, it's become such a staple. Even more so now that I know how absolutely essential hyaluronic acid is - think of it as collagen's first cousin (And with the attention collagen has been getting lately, it's crazy that hyaluronic acid hasn't been getting much attention at all)
Luckily right before lockdown, Nimue sent me their new Smart Rehydration range, which admittedly at the time I didn't really think I needed because my skin felt pretty hydrated. Fast forward 3 months, it's become such a staple. Even more so now that I know how absolutely essential hyaluronic acid is - think of it as collagen's first cousin (And with the attention collagen has been getting lately, it's crazy that hyaluronic acid hasn't been getting much attention at all)
What makes you feel the most wanted? What does it mean to feel the most wanted? It means feeling flamboyant, passionate and authentic, feeling free, adventurous, untimeable and playful. In other words feeling the most wanted is about feeling like the most empowered version of yourself.
The Girl Boss series aims to highlight the achievements of women just like you and me who are doing amazing things. Hopefully their stories will inspire you as much as they inspire me. This week we chat to Valencia Bogdanovic, a qualified cosmologist and content creator/blogger behind Style Your Confidence Now.
The Girl Boss series aims to highlight the achievements of women just like you and me who are doing amazing things. Hopefully their stories will inspire you as much as they inspire me. This week we chat to Zahra Dada, the digital entrepreneur behind Livalil.
It's that time of year again - time to go on 10 mall trips and STILL not find good enough Christmas gifts for everyone! Christmas shopping can be so frustrating, I for one know the struggle.
That's why I'm hoping to make Christmas shopping a little easier for you and give you some gift inspo so that you can go to the mall with a plan and know exactly what to get everyone! This should save you from the multiple mall trips that end up being a waste of time and energy. You'll find something for everyone (and then some!). Hope this helps!
That's why I'm hoping to make Christmas shopping a little easier for you and give you some gift inspo so that you can go to the mall with a plan and know exactly what to get everyone! This should save you from the multiple mall trips that end up being a waste of time and energy. You'll find something for everyone (and then some!). Hope this helps!
High quality skin care products are something we shouldn't have to compromise on. While I'm all about that saving money life, I'm also someone that believes in investments and investing in good skincare products is super beneficial in the long run.
While I personally use just a few essential skincare products, I like to incorporate one or two other more intensive products into my routine from time to time depending on my skin's needs. For 3 weeks I incorporated the Environ Focus Care Hydrating Oil Capsules and Environ Focus Care Youth+ Revival Masque into my routine.
Hey you. Yes you, the one procrastinating and reading this blog post - you should be studying!
With Halloween coming up I figured it's the perfect time to do something scary - LIKE GETTING BLOOD INJECTED IN YOUR FACE, ALL IN THE NAME OF BEAUTY. Well, kind of.
I decided to try out the Vampire Facial. The vampire facial is a PRP (Platelet-rich plasma) treatment that uses your own blood to promote the healthy activity and regeneration of your skin cells. I first heard of it a couple years ago when Kim Kardashian posted a bloody selfie in IG (Eeeep!)
In actually fact, as you will see in the video, it isn't bloody at all. The red blood cells aren't used.
PROCESS (VIDEO)
STEP 1: YOUR BLOOD IS DRAWN AND YOUR FACE IS NUMBED USING NUMBING CREAM.
STEP 2: THE BLOOD IS RUN THROUGH A CENTRIFUGE TO ISOLATE THE PLATELETS.
STEP 3: MICRONEEDING OR MICROABRASION WITH THE PRPs (i.e blood) TAKES PLACE ON YOUR SKIN
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW!
AFTERCARE
Right after the treatment your skin might be a bit red with a sunburn texture (i.e cancel any plans you have for the rest of the day!). You have to apply sunblock and should not wear makeup directly after. Make sure to continue applying sunblock even after, although you should be wearing sunblock anyway. After a day or 2 your skin may be very dry and start to peel off (which is what I experienced). Then, after around 3 days you should see results - beautiful, glowy skin!
Disclaimer: My treatment was complimentary but all opinions expressed are my own.
Time for another #girlboss interview! Get to know what keeps these Queens motivated to do the mostest! This week we chat to Danielle Jayne Dass, a fashion designer with her own fashion label, blogger and recent mom of 2!
I was nominated for the unique blogger award by the amazing indirasinnerbeauty.com (Gurrl you da best!). She's on this blog so much I don't think she even needs an introduction!
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