Sasha Shantel
(She/Her)
- Co-Founder, Women Who Slay
London
As seen in:
Every Game I've Finished
Covers:
Lifestyle, Travel, Beauty, Wellness, Fashion, Food & Dining, Women 40+, Personal Essays, Culture & Entertainment, Blogging & the Creator Economy
Doesn't Cover:
Politics, hard news, finance, technology, science, legal affairs, crime and specialist medical reporting.
Style, Beauty, Wellness & Lifestyle Writer www.sashashantel.com
Top 100 Lifestyle Blog in UK @Feedspotblog
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
My first journalism role was writing for UK urban lifestyle publication Flavour Magazine. The opportunity came after I won their Miss Flavour beauty pageant in 2008, which opened the door for me to contribute as a writer. It became an important early step in my career and helped me realise how much I enjoyed combining lifestyle, culture and personal perspective through writing.
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes, many years ago, and I actually quite miss using one. There was something satisfying about the sound of the keys and having to be more deliberate with every word. It felt slower, more focused and somehow more connected to the writing process.
How is social media changing news?
Social media has made news faster, more immediate and far more interactive. Stories can now reach audiences within seconds, often before traditional outlets have had time to publish. It has also given journalists direct access to communities, eyewitness accounts and emerging conversations. The challenge is that speed can sometimes come at the expense of accuracy, so strong editorial judgement and verification are more important than ever.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Andie Anderson from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I’ve always loved the idea of a lifestyle writer who can take everyday experiences, relationships and culture and turn them into engaging stories people genuinely want to read.
What does it mean to be a journalist?
To me, being a journalist means being curious, observant and responsible with the stories you tell. It is about asking questions, listening properly, checking the facts and finding the meaning behind what is happening. It also means recognising that even lifestyle stories can shape how people think, feel and live. Good journalism should inform, connect and sometimes challenge people, while always treating the reader’s trust with respect.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
#BBCDad because nothing says “live television” quite like your children bursting into the room mid-interview.
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
Email is best. I prefer concise, personalised pitches that clearly explain the story angle, why it is relevant to my audience and any key dates, assets or opportunities involved. I’m especially interested in pitches that offer a genuine lifestyle story rather than simply a product announcement.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
WordPress for publishing, Canva for visual content and media assets, Google Workspace for writing and planning, SEO tools for optimisation and keyword research, and social media platforms for distribution and audience insights. I also use AI tools to support research, idea development and workflow efficiency, while keeping the writing, editorial judgement and final voice firmly my own.
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram. I love how visual and immediate it is, but I also enjoy the storytelling side of it. It gives me space to share lifestyle content, connect directly with my audience and support the longer-form work I publish on my blog. For me, it works best when it complements
Who do you wish followed you?
Michael Jackson, without question. No other celebrity has ever left me as completely in awe as he did, and quite frankly, I don’t think anyone ever will. His artistry, presence and impact were on another level, so seeing his name pop up in my followers would have been unreal.
Why did you become a journalist?
I became a journalist because I have always loved to write, to share and to encourage. I wanted to tell stories that felt meaningful and relevant, but I also knew quite early on that I didn’t want my voice to be overly governed by other people.
That desire for creative freedom eventually led me to run my own magazine, In-spire LS, where I could choose the stories, people and conversations I believed deserved a platform. I also went on to host my own radio show, which gave me the opportunity to interview individuals I found influential, interesting and capable of inspiring others.
For me, journalism has always been about more than simply reporting. It is about giving people something they can connect with, learn from or feel encouraged by.
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
I didn’t work for my school newspaper, but while I was still at school I completed two weeks of work experience at Insurance Times, which was based in Cannon Street, London. It was definitely an experience, and it actually helped me realise that I wanted to write on my own terms, about subjects that felt relevant and meaningful to my life and experiences as a woman.
One of the most valuable things I learned there was how to conduct an interview, which stayed with me. Those skills became incredibly useful later when I founded and ran In-spire LS Magazine for eight years, interviewing people across lifestyle, entertainment, culture and business.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
My interviews with Usain Bolt during the 2012 Olympics will always be one of the proudest highlights of my writing career. I secured the opportunity through my own magazine, In-spire LS, which made it even more meaningful. It was a moment that showed me what I was truly capable of as a journalist, editor and publisher, and it gave me the confidence to aim higher with the stories and people I wanted to feature.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Stay curious, keep writing and do not wait for permission to call yourself a journalist. Build your portfolio wherever you can, pitch ideas consistently, develop your own voice and learn how to spot the story behind the obvious headline. Most importantly, protect your credibility. Be accurate, ask good questions, verify what you can and never underestimate the value of your own perspective. A strong career is built one article, one pitch and one relationship at a time.
When's the best time to pitch you?
Weekday mornings are usually best, particularly Tuesday to Thursday. I’m always open to a strong, relevant story though, so if the pitch is timely and genuinely fits my lifestyle coverage, send it my way.
What's the best pitch you ever got?
The best pitches are always the ones that feel genuinely tailored. I really appreciate a concise email that clearly explains why the story is relevant to my audience, gives me a strong angle rather than just a product announcement, and includes the key information I need without making me search for it. A great pitch should make me immediately think, “Yes, I can see the story here.”
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
One of the worst pitches I received was for e-cigarettes. I don’t smoke and I wouldn’t promote smoking or vaping products, so it was completely misaligned with both my lifestyle coverage and my personal values. The only context in which I’d consider covering the subject would be from a health, wellbeing or wider social-impact perspective.
What's your favorite drink?
Blackcurrant Ribena, all day, every day. No hesitation. It has been a favourite for years and I will choose it over almost anything else.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Probably exploring somewhere new, trying a restaurant, attending an event, travelling or simply enjoying London. A lot of my writing begins with real-life experiences, so even when I’m away from my computer, I’m usually discovering something that might eventually become a story.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
Stylist. I love the way it blends lifestyle, culture, wellbeing, careers, fashion and real conversations affecting women. It feels current, intelligent and accessible, and I always appreciate publications that can be entertaining while still having something meaningful to say.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
That lifestyle writing is somehow “light” or less meaningful than other forms of journalism. In reality, lifestyle stories often sit right at the centre of how people live, spend, travel, eat, dress, work and feel. The best lifestyle writing goes beyond trends and products, it connects personal experience with wider conversations about culture, identity, wellbeing and the way we live now.
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