Behind The Beauty with Asha Rakha

Asha Rakha is not one to wait for the right opportunity. Born in Leicester and raised within a mixed heritage (her father originally from Mauritius, her mother from India), the model and founder of Model Mindset believes in creating her own — building a career on resilience, consistency and self-belief. Below, more on Model Mindset, her skin, hair and fragrance favorites, the haircare ritual that reminds her of her grandmother, and the one beauty tip she's picked up from spending time on set.

I START MY DAY WITH a ten point gratitude list that I usually write down in my notebook (or on my phone if I am traveling). I think starting my day with remembering all that I’m grateful for makes such a big difference to how I spend the rest of the day. Personally, I have seen that it helps me stay positive throughout the day, even when things don’t go to plan. I truly believe that everyone can benefit from this practice, because often there is so much that we take for granted and this allows you to strip back and remember that there is always something to be grateful about.

A TYPICAL DAY IN MY LIFE starts quite early, since I am a morning person. The first thing I'll do is my skincare routine first and then breakfast. I like to nourish my body and eat a wholesome meal to kick off the day. Then I get in a workout — either Pilates or weight training — and then head to a cafe or back home where I get in some admin work, or meetings with the Model Mindset girls. I also work on my social media brand deals.

MY BEAUTY MANTRA IS less is more. Over the years, I have found the products that work for me and I really hope that they do not discontinue any of these.

SKINCARE:

I love Elemis and the Superfood Midnight Facial Moisturizer and the Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm are my two favorites from the range. They're pricey, but so worth it (the moisturizer has a thick texture but feels really light on the skin and leaves you looking like a glazed donut when you wake up the next day). I also really love the CeraVe Foaming Cleanser — it's simple, cheap and gets the job done. I also suffered from closed comedones for quite some time, and I swear by the Acnecide Face Gel for this; it's available in any drugstore and has genuinely helped me clear up those tiny bumps.

HAIRCARE:

Haircare has always been a big part of my routine for as long as I can remember; I grew up with an Indian grandma and she oiled my and my two sisters' hair every Sunday using amla oil. Now, I use coconut oil but I still make sure to get in a good hair massage every Sunday — it is my way of pampering myself at the end of a long week. I try to keep it in overnight because that allows all the goodness from the oil to really seep into the hair and scalp. In terms of products, I absolutely love the Color Wow Color Security Shampoo and Conditioner for my hair. I have never gotten any color done on my hair, but for some reason, these two products work really well for me. I also use the Ultimate Repair Night Hair Serum by Wella on wet hair; I am amazed at how glossy and soft my hair becomes every time after I use it — it's practically like touching silk!

MAKEUP:

On my days off, I prefer to go for a very simple look. I skip foundation and instead do a tiny dot of the Refy Brightening & Blurring Serum Concealer. I am usually shade 15N and even though it is a little darker for my skin tone, it blends like a dream so you can't really tell the shade difference. For the cheeks, I love the Airbrush Bronzer from Charlotte Tilbury. Because I have very prominent cheekbones, I use a very light hand while applying it, just to bring back some color to the face. I layer it with the Sculpted Cream Blush Stick by Ogee Cosmetics in the shade Rose Quartz; I swear by this product and love how it gives my skin a dewy finish.

THE THREE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS HAVE IN MY BAG...a sanitizer, the Lip Sleeping Mask from Laneige and a perfume dispenser that I get off Amazon and fill with my favorite perfumes.

I CREATED THE MODEL MINDSET because I felt like there was a lack of mental health resources and guidance for models starting in the industry, particularly for those navigating rejection and self-doubt. I started out as a model when I was quite young, about fifteen years of age, and I had no education on how to cope with the daily ins and outs of working as a model. There were so many resources on the more practical side of the industry but nothing for mental health. Model Mindset provides support through an ebook (that is available on my website), one-on-one calls with me, and workshops, all focused on educating models on real-world strategies that they can use to build confidence, break past norms and set themselves up for success.

One of my biggest motivators for starting the platform was also the years of rejection that I faced because of my height and being told that I did not fit the standard model requirements. That impacted me a lot because that was not something that I could change. I am about 5'6" so I am in the in-between — neither short nor tall — and initially, there was a lot of hesitation on the agents' side on whether I could make the cut because of that fact. They could see my potential, but no one wanted to take the risk of hiring a model that did not fall within the standard. A big win for me recently was one of our girls — who happens to be the same height as me — signed with an agency and has since gone on to work with recognizable brands after attending the Model Mindset workshop and using the resources provided.

A BEAUTY TRICK THAT I LEARNED FROM MY GRANDMA was to brush my hair upside down, at least twice a day, to help stimulate growth and give hair more volume. I still do this, and if you see me with my hair flipped over, it is because I am brushing my hair.

MY INDIAN AND MAURITIAN HERITAGE has been really helpful for me as a model. No one can really tell where I am from at first glance and this ethnic ambiguity has been my strength. Over the years, including models who are Indian or of Indian origin has become a lot more common, which is amazing because it wasn't the case before. And don't get me wrong, we still have a long way to go, but it's been incredible to see the industry get more inclusive with time. Especially here in the UK, where brands are now more keen to hire us for their campaigns. A lot of it, in my opinion, is also because of the South Asian creators that have been more open about their heritage on social media and that's so amazing because Indian women are so incredibly beautiful and we deserve to be seen and celebrated.

ONE OF MY MOST MEMORABLE CAMPAIGNS has been with a luxury resort in the Maldives. To shoot in Maldives had been on my bucket list for a long time, and I was so happy when it happened! I have also worked on some really amazing campaigns with Cartier, Burberry and GHD Hair. I have another one coming towards the end of the year that I can't speak about just yet, but I am really excited for it to go live!

A TRICK THAT I HAVE SEEN MAKEUP ARTISTS USE...use your fingers to blend in your complexion products (yes, foundation included!). It might sound crazy but it gives a flawless finish and looks really beautiful.

A PRODUCT THAT INSTANTLY MAKES ME FEEL PUT TOGETHER...the Clinique Black Honey lipstick! I love how it immediately adds this gorgeous color to my lips and really pulls the whole look together, even if I have just my skincare on.

MY SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE IS... the Musc Noble by Guerlain. Sadly, it has been discontinued and I am so heartbroken because I don't think I've found a scent quite like that one again. For the day, I love using the Givenchy L'Interdit Rouge; it is the perfect balance of spicy and sweet and I love the way it wears on my skin. I also love the Jasmine Rouge Eau De Parfum by Tom Ford.

A BEAUTY PRODUCT THAT I WOULD LOVE TO CREATE...a scalp massager that also dispenses oils, so you get all the benefits of a traditional hair massage no matter where you are.