When Chantelle became a mother, something within her shifted, a spark ignited by the desire to leave a meaningful legacy for her son. 

This wasn’t just about creating a product but proving that dreams, no matter how audacious, can materialize with hard work and vision. From this powerful intention, AISHANI, a South Asian-inspired beauty line, was born. Launching in early 2025, AISHANI is more than a beauty brand.

Balancing the demands of motherhood with the realization that the traditional 9-to-5 grind no longer aligned with her aspirations, Chantelle sought something greater, a purpose that transcended herself. 

Armed with little more than courage and a dream, she started where few would dare: approaching strangers in shopping centers with an elevator pitch about AISHANI. The vulnerability of that act was met with an unexpected reward. Complete strangers shared stories of courage, authenticity, and resilience, affirming Chantelle’s belief that she was onto something profound.

Breaking Stereotypes and Building Movements

South Asians have long been boxed into rigid stereotypes, but Chantelle saw an opportunity to rewrite the narrative. For her, AISHANI was never just about beauty products, it was about creating a movement. “I wanted to challenge the outdated narratives when it came to South Asian representation,” she explains. “I also wanted to create a space that gives people the freedom to define themselves on their own terms.”

Sometimes, the relatability of a founder gives a product something special. Once I learned Chantelle’s story, I truly believed in her "main character energy." Her Glow Cream, though simply a beauty cream, carries a deeper meaning because of what AISHANI represents. “The cream is the physical embodiment of what AISHANI stands for to me, confidence, power, and main character energy,” Chantelle says.

But her journey wasn’t without hurdles. Growing up as a shy, tomboyish girl torn between two cultures, Chantelle often felt the pull of dual identities, too “Australian” for some, too “South Asian” for others. “It’s very difficult to strike that balance,” she reflects, “I felt like there was a point where I was almost doing things or shying away from other interests outside of the South Asian culture just to fit in - but I think the more I leaned into authenticity over time, the better it was for me.” In her 20s, she began to embrace her unique blend of both worlds. Meeting her husband, who became her rock, and stepping into her authentic self set the stage for her to build something as daring as AISHANI.

Climbing the Mountain

Motherhood, part-time work, and entrepreneurship have made Chantelle a master of juggling hats. She admits that balance is elusive, saying, “Please don't talk to me about balance! We can't do it all or have it all, ALL the time—and that's perfectly okay. It's about accepting the inevitable tradeoffs, doing what you can, when you can and embracing the idea that sometimes “balance” may not exist..” Starting a business, she says, is like raising a child, challenging, all-consuming, and deeply rewarding.

Her husband has been her number-one supporter throughout the journey, but Chantelle also sought inspiration from outside. At a networking event, she connected with Swarnaa Rajalingam, founder of Swana the Label, and found an unexpected sisterhood in Sydney’s South Asian entrepreneurial community. That connection unlocked doors to a world of like-minded creatives who were also shattering expectations.

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, once described entrepreneurship as isolating: “It’s lonely at the top. It’s even lonelier to be an entrepreneur.” Chantelle felt this in AISHANI’s early days. However, she used isolation as a tool, a time to refine her vision, strengthen her resilience, and reconnect with her intuition. She also drew wisdom from role models like Emma Greene of SKIMS and Good American, curating quotes, podcasts, and affirmations to build a personal reservoir of strength and inspiration.

Beauty in Failure

Chantelle’s early days with AISHANI were marked by rejection. Approaching strangers in beauty stores and receiving polite “no’s” was disheartening. “Most of the time, people were really receptive, probably like 90% of the time, but there was this one time in a beauty store. A girl was shopping, totally focused and minding her own business. I thought it would be fine to approach her, but she wasn’t as excited as I expected. I barely got a word out; I said, ‘Do you…’ and she immediately cut me off with a ‘no.’ I walked away, feeling so embarrassed, thinking, ‘That’s it, I’m not approaching anyone else today.’ But, of course, five minutes later, I was right back at it, approaching someone else like nothing had happened.”

Complete strangers continued to open up about their skin struggles and journeys toward authenticity. Chantelle knew she had tapped into something bigger than skincare. Her mantra? “There is beauty in failures.” Each setback has been a stepping stone, propelling her closer to the vision she holds for AISHANI.

A New Standard of Leadership

For Chantelle, building AISHANI has been as much about inner work as external success. “Practices like meditation, visualization, and journaling are game-changers for me. They help me stay grounded, focused, and aligned with my goals. Even if I don’t get it perfect every day, doing something for myself is what matters.”

Chantelle keeps a vision board, which she looks at every morning and before bed. “It’s filled with my dreams and aspirations, and I sit with it and meditate on them. It keeps me connected to my vision and aligned with my goals.” She also embraces balance in her diet and life. “I follow the 80-20 rule, 80% of the time I’m eating clean and nourishing my body, and 20% of the time I enjoy treats. It’s about balance, not restriction.”

The heart of Chantelle’s leadership lies in intuition. Moving out of her family home in her 20s was the first step in learning to listen to her inner voice, a skill she continues to rely on when navigating challenges.

A Legacy Beyond Business

For Chantelle, success isn’t just about AISHANI thriving as a business. Her ultimate vision is to see a sea of South Asian-led brands disrupting industries and reshaping narratives. “AISHANI is one of the many,” she says, emphasizing the collective power of this movement.

AISHANI is a revolution in representation, an invitation for all to embrace their authentic selves, and a call to action for minorities to take up space unapologetically. After hearing Chantelle’s story, I’m proud to say I’m a tote-carrying member of this movement. Find out more on Instagram: @AISHANIBeauty.

Ashani Dante is a multi-talented creative, a public speaker, the Founder and former CEO of The Flourish Journey, a board director, podcast host and a leadership educator. Learn more about her work at https://www.ashanidante.com, on LinkedIn and Instagram.

The Flourish Journey is running two great events upcoming events:

1. A powerful in-person workshop for teen girls (13–15) to explore identity, body image + confidence on 18 June - Get your tickets here. 

2. An insightful online session for parents and educators with Chelsey Goodan (Oprah’s recommended her book!) and a Flourish team psychologist to give real tools for supporting teen girls in today’s world - Get tickets here.