I'm shania-LEA,
And my story starts with a strong foundation, that foundation is my mum. As a single mumma, she had to balance running a successful business by herself, a mortgage and raising me. We had it pretty tough and there were a lot of scary times growing up but through it all mumma stayed strong. It is her resilience, intelligence and strength that inspires me to do what I do today, and showed me that women are fricking P.O.W.E.R.F.U.L
Because of that fact, I left home and away from my family at 16 to move to Sydney for university, following my passions for both the environment and medicine. Those years were some of the most stressful and lonely times in my life, and it was during this time I fell completely into my own spirituality, and began finding my way into photography and admiring divine femininity. At that point I was at rockbottom. I was sick, starving and broke, and I realized nothing in my life at that point was serving me the way I wanted or needed it to, and so started my major life overhaul and my still-to-this-day unwavering decision to create a healthy, wholesome and empowering life for myself. While it was scary being away from everyone I knew, and have absolutely no safety net to fall on, I can honestly say I am grateful for all of the hard times I faced because they catapulted me on a journey to put my health, happiness and well-being first.
Health, fitness and mindfulness are incredibly important to me and I am still learning new things every day, and have come to know so many beautiful and supportive people over time who have helped me on this journey. I have come to know the importance of simplicity and of embracing my femininity, of softening, of proper nutrition and movement and the divine art of selfishness.
Through this exploration I have made my own cosy little life, full of good food, good people and lots of laughter. I began to create Shanjii years ago, without fully knowing it yet. Today I get the greatest honour of photographing beautiful people, sharing knowledge and supporting other women to find their magic and power again.
I want people to know they are held, they are beautiful, they are strong, they are powerful, they are divine, and they can do absolutely anything they want.
You got this gorgeous
Your power starts within
P.S Love you mum!