 Aloha and welcome to another episode of the Savvy Chick Show on Think Tech Kauai. I'm Lily Williams. Today, our host Shantel Seville is coming live to us from Sydney, Australia with special guest Latoya Asha, the equestrian fashion blogger and founder of Horseshoes and High Heels. She is an entrepreneur, model, writing instructor, teacher, blogger, and more importantly, she's a dreamer, doer, a believer, and that's what the topic of today's show is. And a dreamer lives her dreams, combining talents for success. The Savvy Chick Show is dedicated to young women and girls with big dreams. Our guest Latoya Asha will take us on a journey through time, sharing inspiration and how she created her dream job of combining her love for horses and her passion for fashion. Latoya will inspire you to look within to find your true loves and talents and show how you could start creating your dreams no matter what age you are. Welcome to the show. Good morning. It's the 24th day of spring from Australia. Yes. Yes. It's exciting. Ooh. Warm weather. Yes. It's not warm. What's it today about? You came from outside. What is it today? Look, I think we're going to be in like 20s or something like that, but it's exciting for us. Yeah. We're in the past. Yay. We're at Bronte Beach. So this is where I used to live when I lived in Australia. It's just my bond by beach for anyone who's ever heard of Australia. And anyone who ever wants to come here, it is very beautiful. So Hawaii is beautiful, of course. I mean, anyone who's watching is not in Hawaii as well. All the people in Saskatchewan said you're Canada watching my own home town. Australia is the place to be, especially when it's winter in Canada. But you know, and if you want to do that, like I did when I was a little girl with big dreams, I just fell with them and got to Australia. And well, I've met a dreamer. So Latoya and I have actually been friends for quite a while now. And there's almost no one I know who really just takes what they love and works out in a way to to make that reality because people don't necessarily see a career path in horses. You know, girls love horses. They ride when they're young and and you know, if you're watching this and you are into horses, you might be doing jumping or I don't know if she can tell you all the way around. I did pony club and then you think, oh, I do after after school if there's only so many positions that you can be an Olympic rider or whatever it is. And then fashion. So Latoya is going to take us on a journey of how she's been able to merge these two, live them and always be fashionable and hang out with the horses. Every little girl's dream. So thank you, Chantel. Thank you guys for having me. I'm so excited. I watched Chantel show and I was always waiting when I was going to be my turn. I am, I am and I'm blessed. I've got great people around me that I'm here to share and hopefully motivate you guys to really go for what's within and really back that and believe in it too. So most of the girls that because we're all about the young girls and the women, young women and girls. So there should be a lot watching today. And if they're not, be sure to share this with all the ones that you know, please take us through right from the beginning. Like when did you find your love of forces and and how did that journey start? Oh, thank you, Chantel. Look, you know, when I was younger, I was like extremely sporty. And I think when you go through school and you're quite competitive, you know, I played lots of sport. And, you know, I had a great family who would wake up every morning and take into all these different sports. And then I came across horse riding and, you know, a cousin of mine in the UK, she rode horses and she was the only person in my family who did. And she kind of just gave me the buzz to ride. And so, you know, I started building this connection with animals and just loved being around them, their spirituality, their body language. And so I think I was six or seven years old. And I'd be trekking up to the pony, the riding school. And I was there every weekend. It was like, you know, you'd have a big week. And then I'd be like, when's horse riding, when's horse riding? And I'd be there rain, hail or shine. So I think my parents were quite happy that regardless of what the weather was, I'd always be there. So it was good. And, you know, yeah, I just enjoyed the riding and I loved working and being a part of all that. What kind of riding did you start with? It was just basic. So I loved doing a lot of little jumping. You know, I was like a little, little hoon, you know, it was like, if I could get on a little pony and ride really fast, you know, that was me. You know, it's like you get really skilled really quick. And so I'd be riding with all like the grown up. So all the 16, 17 year olds. And then there's little Latoya on a pony, like keeping up with all the big girls. My mom would be terrified. But it was, yeah, I used to like going really fast. And then so when did the fashion love start? Yeah, we were talking about this the other day. I just really enjoyed like working. No, I love surf shops. You know, I love the culture and being by the beach. Quite different to being on the farm and around the horses. So when I was 14 and nine months, because that's when you can get a job. I was like, right, I need to walk in and get a job. 14 and nine months. My mom's like, how long? How many days now? And I'd be like, I've got five more days, you know, so soon as that day came, I had my resume and in I went to those surf shops. I wanted to work in the surf shop. I love the color. I loved them like the cool culture and there's some really cool people working in there for you. If you walk into a surf shop, they're always really bubbly and really friendly. So that was me. I was like, right, I'm going to work in a surf shop. And then off I went. Mind you, we didn't have a surf shop near our house because we lived out quite the country. So I was like, how are you going to do that? And I said, well, I'll figure it out. So if I had a car, but I was 14 and nine months, this is the most important point girls watching this, I'll figure it out. And that's where these that's where these big dreams start. So yeah, I think exactly. It's like how and I'll figure it out. And so if I had a car, but I didn't have a license 14 and nine months, I could have drove to work in 20 minutes, but I didn't have a car. So it was catch a bus to one stop, catch a train to one train station. And then I had to backtrack on another train back pretty much home to get to my job. And I worked. I was at school and I worked Thursday nights, Friday, you know, Saturday, Sundays for the horses. But that travel just to do what I enjoyed. And it was something that I needed to do. So, you know, that travel, I added the hour travel just to be able to get to my little job at the surf shop, which I really, really loved. Just I also wanted to quickly touch on this. You won the job, the surf shop. And then how did you get that job? You just walk in there and just take a resume or how did you do that? Yeah, you know, all about resume writing. But it's just asking the question, you know, they didn't have and I guess everyone would want to work in the surf shop as well. And, you know, they didn't have the sign up saying job available. I literally just walked in there and said, hey, I'm here. And I just like to really know if you guys have any positions going if there's anything coming up in the new year or Christmas is a really busy time where they employ quite a lot of cash. I'm fourteen and nine months and I'm for 15, nine months and I'm ready. And I'm ready to sell, sell, sell if I wanted to close. And so, you know, and they took my resume as they do. And they said, you know, we actually are looking for some Christmas casuals, which was a really good time where they employ lots of people. And so, you know, then I caught the train all the way back and said to my mum, they've taken my resume and they're going to give me a culture in the bank. I was really excited. That's that's awesome. And just to go for the jobs that you want, because there are a lot of jobs out there. And even if you're in a small town, I mean, where Elatoia was living was still the city, but the outskirts of the city. So it wasn't like she had a lot of options. She just went for the one she wanted and she was determined that was hers. And that sort of in my life journey of how I create the opportunities and things I want. They're not necessarily there. But if you go with such enthusiasm and passion, it's hard for people to kind of say no to you kind of like think tech and how I got on the show. So Elatoia, from there, we know you love horses. You can keep riding throughout high school. You got your jobs, you're riding all the time, working, studying. What did you end up doing when we finished high school? So I was going through school and I was quite a good mediator. So I was always really great with other like other kids and people. And it was almost something like, you know, if there was something happening in the school yard, Elatoia could be there to talk about it and kind of facilitate that. So my school really identified me as this mediator. And again, my parents were saying, wow, in she goes, she's, you know, really ambitious and really wanting to help lots of people or communicate. And so from now, I kind of got this love for education and how to teach and enjoy learning. And so, you know, once I finished high school, I wanted to be a school teacher. And so I and I didn't really know how to do that. And again, I thought out in forums, I had my, you know, my answer score and and I said, right, I'm going to be a school teacher. So I'd turn up and say hi to all the coordinators and say, right, I'm here because I'd really love to take on a teaching degree. So I did my four years in a Bachelor of Education. I did work as a school teacher and did some relief teaching where you go to different schools and you kind of feel and to understand the culture of the school that I potentially wanted to work out for quite a while. And then I got the shift, you know, I then decided that, yeah, I enjoyed that, but there was a little bit more to me and a little bit more to what I wanted to achieve. And it's because you're so you're teaching, but prior to teaching, you started doing pageants and things like that. So sort of weave that through the story so people can understand why that was in you to do something slightly different. Yeah, again, just meeting people. I am so intrigued by people's journey and I'm so curious in where people are being and where they're going and how they think. Pageantry was it's fantastic for that. Someone had I can't really remember the person who told me you should do Miss Earth, but I can't remember the real lead in. I think I bumped in on the street and they just said to me, would you be interested in doing Miss Earth Australia? And I said, I don't know. I'm working at the search of love horses and studying teaching. And so I said, you know, what? Say yes and figure out how and give it a go. And so throughout uni, you know, I was living this fantastic pageantry world and being able to compete and make finals and represent Australia. So what kind of pageant? Yes, my first one was Miss Earth, Miss Earth. And so I flew to Sydney. That was my first experience of Sydney. And I was blown away because I was always in Melbourne quite a lot. And then we had Miss World, which was fantastic. And again, you meet lots of girls and I'm still friends with them today, which is fantastic. And then Miss Universe. So in Victoria, I competed in the Miss Universe in May Top 10. I didn't even know that. I only found out the other day when we were preparing for the show. I'm going to get up. And from there, yeah, then I got to go to Korea and represent Australia at the Miss Asia Pacific World. So I didn't know that till now. Very good. Being something that, again, you know, exploring talents, you know, I think within us, you know, we can there's so much in there that we can really get to know. And, you know, I've been someone who always been able to identify that and go with intuition and then highlight that and say, yeah, I'm going to explore that more. Had you modeled before or did you just go down the street? Someone said you should go and miss Earth. And you went, yeah, my course is fashion. Yeah, I was really sporty. So how old were you at that time? Um, so I had to be 18. So, yeah, I think my first pageant was at 19. So you almost started sort of modeling at 18. Oh, wow. Well, there you go. Yeah. So you can start at all different ages. It's not one of those things that you have to start from a young age and then so through that. So now we're back to your teaching and there's something not quite, there's something more that you have to do. And how did that come about? Yeah, it was it was an interesting transition because I loved being in the classroom and I with my preps or my great twos and Miss James and it was really exciting. But the thing that I was missing was this individuality where we started to look at people as opposed to curriculum. And it was really hard for me because, you know, I was coming from a community background where I was really involved in my own community and and people there. And, you know, I was just teaching all this curriculum. I was like, well, what about the personalities? What about the people of the things that they're good at outside of school? And so I decided to leave my teaching career and it was a hard one to do that because it was stability. And then everyone said to me, you know, but this is your job. This is your career. You've gone to uni for four years to be able to do that. And so I said, no, I'm going to start my own business. And from there, I started Little Toy of the Brand, which was all about, you know, mentoring young girls to have life skills, whether it be about how to create a positive first impression or how to job interview or how to introduce yourself and shake somebody's hand. And so I was able to run these workshops in Melbourne and they were really successful and worked with hundreds of girls and the parents were coming along and even joining in on the classes as well. And so it was, yeah, really equipping, you know, young girls like yourself, how to get out there and do it. And so how do you introduce yourself and tell us how to introduce ourselves? Yeah, first things first, it's always about your eye contact. Yeah, making sure you make clear eye contact and when your body's positioned yeah, shoulders and posture, positive posture and eye contact. Introduce yourself and shake somebody's hand. You know, that's OK as well. We're going to role play it. Sure. Why not? Hello, Chantel. Oh, hello, Little Toya. My name is Little Toya. Hello. Hello. What's your name? My name is Chantel Seville, host of The Savvy Chick Show. Here on Think So Kauai, nice to meet you. Pleasure to meet you. Thank you. How was that? Well, look, I think we could do that again. Yeah, I think we could do that. Well, let's do it on our car. Break back. We'll be right back, guys. You're watching Think Tech, Hawaii, exploring the world we live in, recognizing the changes around us and looking into the future of our lives together in these islands. Great content for Hawaii from Think Tech. Aloha. My name is Danilia, D-A-N-E-L-I-A. And I'm the other half of the duo, John Newman. We are the co-hosts of Keys to Success, which is live on Think Tech Live Streaming Network series weekly on Thursdays at 11 a.m. Aloha. Aloha. Aloha, everyone. I'm Maria Mera, and I'm here to invite you to my bilingual show, Viva Hawaii on Think Tech, Hawaii, every other Monday at 3 p.m. We are here to talk about news, issues and events local and around the world. Join me. Aloha. Welcome back to The Savvy Chick Show. We have Latoya Asha, founder of Horseshoes and High Heels, and we're coming back with more inspiration. Today, we're talking all things horses, fashion, confidence, passion and how you combine your talents, loves and passions to create your dream job. Hey, ladies, welcome back. Hi, talents, loves and passions. Everyone loves fashion and horses. And it's exciting to have Latoya here because she has done a lot and always sort of understates what she does. So it's pretty exciting to share with you all these accomplishments that she has achieved that even people who know her well might not even know because she just does them and gets on and goes to the next thing. So in this segment, we're going to give you a little bit more tips on the confidence and how you can find your true loves and passions, as well as give you some insight into where she went and how she won some fashions on the field and went to Dubai and created her own brand, Horseshoes and High Heels now. So let's let's get back to it. So before the break, we were talking about confidence in introducing yourself and how you got into working with girls to help them with that. So what else is that entail? Yeah, so talking about yeah, how all these workshops that I was running, you know, it was mostly important to give girls the confidence to follow what it was they needed to do. You know, I think we all have a life purpose, but unless someone can really highlight that and, you know, give you the confidence to do it, then you don't go for it. You know, I still get messages today from all these amazing girls who are saying, I thought about doing this. What do you think? And I say, what do you think I would say? And they say, yeah, right, I'll be back and they go up and do it. So, you know, I really was able to create a really great culture where people would say, how would you do it? I should have gone and asked and knocked on the door, picked up the phone. And so, you know, how how are they doing it? These girls were really doing a lot of role plays. You know, it was really hands-on, it was really active. Again, it was all about being able to stand up to all and have a great posture. Sorry. And to believe in what they were saying, you know, I think, you know, there was only so much I could give them, I could give them the tools and the skills, but they had to really then go off and do it themselves. And so we were able to really refrain that and then go forward. So how do you, I mean, this is also what I do. But from your point of view, how do you help people go within or to find out what it is that they truly love? Because I think sometimes people feel almost guilty that they would love fashion and be able to make a career of it or love horses. They're just it's just in society. Somehow it's not possible. It's possible easily to become a lawyer or a doctor, even though it's hard through school, you think it's achievable. But yet for some reason, to follow these creative paths, it just seems like, oh, no, there's no there's no job there for me. So how do you look within to find out what you really love? Yeah, I was I'm a quite a visual person. So it was all about creating vision boards and create and journaling. And the vision boards really were the key thing for me. You know, I was able to cut out all these things and explore all this stuff and put down in front of me. So what what in my life looked like when I was to be able to create all these beautiful pictures and images? And what was important? I used to write my name in a bubble in the middle of a piece of paper and then have all these arrows pointing up of all the things that I wanted to explore and get to know more of. You know, I was able to identify my strengths and my weaknesses. And what were some of the things that I needed to work on in order to kind of bring it all together? Yeah, that were really good tools for me and good tools for you as well. So it's something you perhaps try, whether you're, you know, vision or you like to write things down or draw or doodle or anything creative because it also allows you to sort of just let what's in come out. And if you do it in the privacy of your own room or something, it can help you really, you know, let that out and not have to feel that there's people watching you or judging you because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if people judge you. And I mean, literally, I and I both know that people say, you know, along the journey, they're crazy. They they believe in unicorns or something because we just have this ability to just continuously go for what we want without any boundaries and then make it happen. So I mean, if you went for what you want and you didn't achieve it, it's OK to. But when you do, it actually does give you that extra confidence to know what's possible. So yeah, definitely. And now tell us about so you started getting to the fashion and you started doing fashion on the field. So we're going to go through that quite quickly. But tell us how that all happened. And then up to Dubai, because that's pretty amazing. Yeah, I know it was such a such a whirlwind of events. It started because I saw I was riding the horses and I loved that. And then one day I got taken to this race track and I thought, wow, this is fantastic. I said, and I love being around thoroughbred race horses and or whatever. And I said to myself, OK, I love this environment. How can I get involved? And so for me, it was like, right, well, you know, you're five, ten and you can't be a jockey. How are you going to really stay within this industry? So I was I used to lead the horses. I used to gear them up for my old riding instructor. She was a passionate. She's a passionate rider, dressage rider. Also had the horses, race horses. And so I go to these race tracks and think, OK, I can gear up the horses, but I can't ride them because I can't be a jockey. So and I like going really fast. So had to just let that one slide. And so we went to the spring racing carnival. And you know, the Melbourne Cup is a very big race. And I was just taking it all in, you know, young girl, loved horses from the country. And so I remember just looking around and thinking, God, everyone's dressed amazingly. The horses are in fine condition. And then there was this tent there beaming with all these women walking and having these fantastic outfits. And I said, right, I can't ride around, but I can walk down there and be a part of that. And so that's where my my exciting steps on the runway began through racing fashion, because I thought this is the place that I wanted to be involved in. Because you've been on the stages with the pageant troops and what not. So you were the confidence to. And then so how I mean, I know that you set up like shoots and you find designers and how did you start doing that? You just had to do that. Yeah. Yeah. I loved, you know, a lot of the work that I've created is a little bit it's ambitious. So my modeling was never about mainstream, you know, fashion. It was always something that had a little bit of quirk to it or a little bit different. And so all these shoots that I've been creating were, you know, I was the creative director. I could source all these amazing photographers, makeup artists and designers and create these really great shoots, which were really loud and vibrant and really out there. And that was the work that I wanted to create. It was never mainstream. And the Christian fashion and the racing fashion allowed me to do that. And I could add horses and I could use amazing environments. And people loved the idea of, you know, being able to shoot these elaborate shoots because they were just so different to anything they got the opportunity to do. And I think what's important there as well is that LaToya has a fantastic body, but she's not your absolute, you know, skin pole, thin, thin, but what you think models to be. So that's something else to also take note of is, I mean, like I said, she has a gorgeous body, but it was more about being healthy and having these gorgeous shoots that were created. And it was actually the designs and the thinking outside of the box and choosing the right people with the right hats, you know, that she stores the hats and you work for some really top designers and milliners. So that's been incredible for you as well. Yeah. All the way to Dubai. So tell us about Dubai. Dubai was I still. Oh, no, wait, take us back one more time. Myer fashion on the field. And what did you win? Tell us a little about that. What did you win? Yeah, this is incredible. So I bless to always in Melbourne, the Spring Carnival is a very big event. And I always walk in the designer award, which is about the outfit and the millinery award, which is about the hat. And so, you know, I did that for, you know, many years, working with, like you said, the top designers and milliners. And but when I moved to Sydney, it was it was a different pace. You know, racing here at Randwick is still well known, but not as big as the Melbourne Cup. And I didn't know anybody here. And I thought and I hadn't done the Spring Carnival for a year or so due to a passing of a good friend of mine. And it kind of turned how I felt about the racing and fashion. But when I got to Sydney, I thought, I might go and check out these races. So I didn't have anyone to go with. And I was but I needed to go there. It was something that I said, I need to go and check out. So as I did, I source my outfit. I love I put all my own outfits together and I'm inspired by, you know, vintage scenes and collectives. And so I put my outfit on. I remember getting out of the car of the driver. And as I was walking in, I was placing my hat on, which normally you get your hat down at the, you know, the hair salon and all of this. And I'm just like putting on my shoes last minute and just walking in, walking in, knew a few faces, which was quite handy to say hi. But all in all, I didn't have my tribe there, like you do in Melbourne. You didn't have an entourage following you. You didn't have an entourage, no photographer and no one on. Yeah. So it was really overwhelming. Probably one of the most challenging moments that I put myself in, because I was in a new state. I wasn't even anywhere that I knew or where to go and who to speak to. So I turn up and once you get in the line, you've got some amazing girls who were all there standing by themselves. And so as you do, you introduce yourself and get to know some other people there. But, you know, we're all there to enjoy fashion and racing. And then and then you go through the heats and then you go through the rounds. And I'm going to speed her up because we have so much to talk about, but then basically you won. Oh, yeah. It was like, I went from not knowing anyone to knowing everyone really quickly. And what did you win? You know, it was, you know, $25,000 worth of prizes. I got tickets to fly anywhere in the world. I had my long jeans watch and $8,000 for Maya. And like the list goes on, it was just absurd. And I was just shaking. And I was like, I had no one to just jump around with. I had to ring mum or text mum and go, mum. And they're like, you won. I'm like, I know, didn't even know you were doing it. I knew she won, but for a while, I didn't realize what she'd won. So with your round rule ticket, you decided to go to Dubai. Yeah, I needed to keep following on my journey. I could have gone anywhere in the world, but Dubai is the richest race in the world. And I had to go there. It was just on the vision board and on the map. And my intuition said, get over there, girl. And we went, took the prop and took win place there too. So it was a good win. It was a very good win. And the reason I wanted to speed you up because it's pretty exciting. I'd love to talk about Horses and High Heels and how you really... So now Latoya is a brand called Horses and High Heels. She's the question fashion blogger, making her way around the world, doing what she loves. And I'd love for you to share a lot about that and also perhaps little insights and tips on how girls can follow your journey along the way. Oh, definitely. Being an entrepreneur has been the tricky part. It's like, what business do you do and then how do you start it and why do you start it? I've been able to explore all these different talents and all these different avenues. And now I get to put them all together and something that gives me goosebumps even talking about it because it's something that I truly, truly love. But I have to go on quite the journey in order to know that this is where I want to be. So Horses and High Heels is about women in the equestrian industry and young girls and anyone who is, yeah, a part of the horsey world. And so, and obviously my love for fashion and being individuality. So I can combine those two through, you know, my new business now, which is really exciting. And so you blog about different sort of course events and what other things you do. Yeah, and you're ready to relaunch a new website. Yeah, I'm excited about the relaunch. I started the blog. I'm not a tech person, but I had one computer open with how to start a blog and then I had another one saying, make the blog. And so I built it from scratch and from there it was a huge learning carpet. I think because I invested so much of my own time into it was something that I really wanted to back in and grow. So you get new relaunch now. I'll be doing a stuff around the racing, the polo. The Olympics were a great time and all the show jumping dress, large and eventing. And I'm excited now to travel the world and see what all these horses are up to. And so there's also a lady that you've blogged about as well who's very quite famous and well-known that's in Europe. Is that one blog on your website as well? That's, I think we're ready, we're ready. In the Olympics, at the like, in the Olympics? So Mary Hannah was our oldest Olympian overseas. So yeah, I'm going to do some interviews with her. Some of our top riders were doing fantastic stuff. And yeah, keep that kind of, so many people have horses in their lives that we don't actually know about. So I'm going to be able to reveal their back stories like Shania Twain, I want to hear from you. Katie Price. And the other very exciting thing for those of you who love fashion. So here goes the toy again. That's the horsey side, but the fashion side. So we're looking at launching some signature pieces, is that right? Yeah, yeah, we're looking at really bring out some signature designs. So soon you'll be able to get some prints and things that really are in line with horses and high heels and inspired by the Christian world and taking it through the time, from medieval right through to, how we see a Christian today, which is exciting. It's just so neat. Where do you even think of all these ideas? Yeah. I don't know anymore. I think you just listen, you know, you listen and you're aware of the cues that you're given and stay open. So is that what would be your best advice then to girls watching the show who love horses or love fashion or love something else that doesn't seem traditional? Oh, I think we're nearly there. The lady. Oh, yes. We are, thank you so much, ladies. But wait, could we hear your one piece of advice first? Yeah, believe in yourself. Vac yourself and know that you can do it and your vibe attracts your tribe. Awesome. I love that. Well, thank you so much. And we'll see you next week on Think Tech Kauai. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, guys. Thanks, guys. Thanks, everyone. See you. Bye.