With a dazzling smile and flawless complexion, Shashi Naidoo is hard to miss. She first appeared on our television screens in 2004 on the e.tv soapie, Backstage.
Since then she has worked as a presenter and featured in a number of TV and print commercials for big brands and retailers.
But don’t be fooled, there’s more to Naidoo than just a beautiful face. She is one of the founding members of Fashion with Feeling, the first major non-profit organisation in the fashion industry, and owner of Joburg-based model agency Alushi Management.
We speak to her about her career highlights to date and entrepreneurship.
Did your background in modelling help your transition to becoming an entrepreneur?
My start in the industry was by chance. One of my part-time jobs as a student was as a florist. One day I was delivering flowers to an advertising agency and was asked if I was there for the casting, which I obviously wasn’t. But, being a bit of a risk taker, I decided to try my luck anyway. And the rest snowballed from there.
Having spent a few years as a model, I was able to see a gap in the industry for girls who didn’t conform to the typical ‘size 0, 6ft’ model stereotype and that’s when I opened Alushi Models.
Why did you become an entrepreneur?
I am not sure if I actively made the decision to become an entrepreneur. I had my first business at the age of three, selling mud cakes to the neighbourhood and I’ve had many since then. I think some people are just entrepreneurs and some people are more comfortable being ‘jobeneurs’.
To what do you attribute your success?
I think anyone with some form of success will say it has been 99 percent hard work and 1 percent talent.
Tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career?
I have been the brand ambassador for Cotlands Baby Sanctuary, a non-profit community development organisation, for the last three years.
My relationship started when I did a voluntary MC gig for them and I was in such awe of the work they did in so many communities that I made it my mission to get in involved and take on a bigger role.
One of the biggest projects that I initiated was the “Donate your birthday to Cotland” campaign, whereby people instead of requesting gifts for their birthday, can rather have their guests go online and donate any amount of money to the organisation.
The project has done amazingly well and a lot better than any of us thought it would.
I think it just goes to show that most people are inherently good and do want to give, but are just not sure how to go about it.
What is unique about Alushi Models?
When I started as a young model it was almost impossible to find an agency that would represent me.
At that time, model agencies in South Africa were very strict about only taking girls over 1.73cm and a size 0.
After having gained experience in the industry, I really began to feel that this was a dated concept of what a model should be and decided to open up my own agency to represent a broader scope of models, called Alushi.
That was six years ago, with just five models to start with.
We now represent over 400 models, and I am very proud of the fact that we were a ground breaker in changing that stereotype of what a model should be.
Most agencies now, too, represent a diversity of people and I feel that in my own little way, I have contributed to that growth in beauty standards in this country.
What would you be doing right now if you weren’t here?
My all-consuming passion is travelling. If I had a choice I would be exploring some new, foreign destination.
Your favourite place to travel to and why?
My favourite city is London, because it’s so familiar to me, but I still have a sense of amenity about the place. My favourite island would be anywhere with a deck chair and a bar that serves cocktails with umbrellas.
What’s your most memorable experience in business?
I have wonderful memories of booking a model on her first international campaign or scouting a model on the streets and watching her career flourish. But what I think is equally important in business are the knocks you receive and learning how to get up from those because that is what will make you grow and what will make you much wiser when going into your next business venture.
What do you think makes a good TV presenter?
Aside from the basics – being warm, eloquent and likeable. However, the fundamentals of any job are the same: showing up on time every day, respecting your colleagues and to continue improving.
How do you use social media to grow your brand?
I try to keep whatever I put out on social media interesting, relevant and in-keeping with my brand. I think a great way of deciding whether or not something is appropriate to post is asking yourself: “Would I be happy with this being on a massive billboard on the highway with my name attached to it?” People often underestimate the reach of social media. What is the hardest thing about being in the spotlight?
Some people tend to confuse being in the public eye with being public property and form very misinformed opinions about who you are without having met you.
Your beauty essentials include?
I am in love with the new fragrance from Juicy Couture – Viva La Juicy Rose, La Prairie Platinum Cellular serum, Gary Rom Cortex repair conditioner and Clarins BB detox fluid with SPF25.
What advice would you give to young women wanting to succeed in business?
When I was growing up there were not many female role models in business, but now there are so many I can think of: Jenna Clifford, Khanyi Dhlomo, Sheryl Sandberg, Basetsana Khumalo, and the list goes on. I think it’s important to look to these women for inspiration as entrepreneurs. Being an entrepreneur has allowed me to do what I love every day which makes it easier to attain your goals.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Be kind to yourself... it’s hard to be happy when someone’s being mean to you all the time.