Anisha Sandhu
Model & Mentor
My name is Anisha Sandhu and I have been modelling for about three years now. I first got into the industry when I applied to my mother agency in Toronto while I was still studying in uni. I modelled part time throughout school, and once I graduated I started to model full time. Shortly after, I signed to agencies in Europe and New York, and have been mainly living in New York for a couple years now.
How did you hear about Mentoring Young Creatives?
I heard of the Be Well Collective a year ago and reached out to see if there was a way I could be a part of the work that they were doing. I got an email in the summer asking if there were experienced people in the field who would be interested in mentoring young creatives and immediately jumped on the opportunity as this has been something I’ve been wanting to do for a while.
Why do you want to be a Mentor on the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
The fashion industry can be a really challenging place for young people to work in, and I’ve had issues that I’ve had to deal with partly on my own because of the industry. I always wished that there was someone I could go to for help that would understand my experiences, so I can’t wait to be able to provide that support for young creatives because I know how hard it can be and how few people know what you are going through.
What past experiences do you have which you believe will help you to mentor a young person in the creative industries?
I think modelling in a competitive environment such as in New York City or Europe for the last few years will help me mentor a young person because there is so much you have to learn how to navigate on your own. For example, networking, pleasing casting directors and clients, knowing when to listen to your agency and when to speak up for yourself, how to travel alone for jobs very frequently, and how to prioritize your mental and physical wellbeing over jobs.
I also think my history of dieting and exercise and my relationship with food and overall body image is helpful to mentor a young person because I now feel like I am in a better place. However, I do know that is really challenging to deal with when you are not in a healthy place, and it is a long process that cannot be rushed in a matter of a few weeks. I think that healing is a journey and you might never be perfect but the point is to grow upwards, and I think being able to relate to those who have or have had body image issues will be comforting.
What do you hope to achieve from the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
I hope to change negative experiences that people have had into positive learning ones, because there is so much I have learned through difficult situations that I have been in. There was a period where I really resented the industry that I was in, and I became jaded through negative experiences I had. Once I was able to work through some issues that I had, I changed my perspective, and started to see my job and the industry in a more positive light. This has really motivated me to actively push for a more positive and inclusive environment in the fashion industry, and I really hope to help others do the same thing within time.
What are you most excited about in starting the Mentoring Young Creatives programme?
I’m most excited about connecting with young creatives, letting them know that I am a support system for them, that they are not alone, and I hope that I can make someones day just a little bit better just by listening.
How do you think your career and health would have been affected had you had the opportunity to be mentored early in your career?
I think if I was mentored early in my career I would have been much less insecure and I probably would have had to take less breaks from work. I used to go home for weeks at a time when my mental health was not great in order to keep myself afloat and just distance myself from the industry. I think if I was mentored, I still would have had some downs, but I probably would have been able to deal with them in a more healthy way and I would have acquired tools early on that would have helped me stay grounded and not get swept up in the Industry.
What is the best piece of advice that you have been given by a mentor/colleague/friend?
The best advice I’ve gotten is that modelling is not my worth and the way I look doesn’t reflect my value as a person.