[dropcap]A[/dropcap]iasha Tierra Gustave is not the same girl you once watched when she was crowned Miss World Saint Lucia in 2010. Her life experiences have encouraged her to grow tremendously, something she believes is her biggest progression. In her words, “I’ve progressed as an individual, holistically.”
Many of us are aware of the fact that after Miss World, Aiasha ventured more seriously onto a musical path, releasing demos, singles and some pretty hot music videos. She admits that she has faced many challenges and many breakthroughs, all of which have given her the opportunity to flourish as an individual and build her confidence, determination and resilience.
Still on a path of personal development, Aiasha is currently pursuing her Bachelors degree in Business Management. For her, this particular career choice ties in with her passions because, “It gives me a broad understanding of what it takes to start, develop and manage a brand or business, successfully.”
As part of her studies she’s also been able to take a closer look at her own personal brand, ‘Aiasha Tierra’, and she has her heart set on owning and maintaining her own businesses in the near future.
Music hasn’t at all been placed on the back burner – Aiasha keeps balancing both, something she says isn’t easy, but works for her because she loves a challenge.
“It keeps me on my toes and has helped me learn to manage my time,” she said. “The music also gives me a form of release when work and university get stressful.”
Aiasha recently released a new song, different from her others but still a groovy track called, ‘Do You Remember’ featuring Blakgold. The track is a happy song with deep meaning behind it.
“A song that wants you to remember what it feels like to embrace true happiness, to feel genuinely fulfilled and in love with yourself, life and the ones dear to you,” she explained.
“We tend to get so caught up in the hyper realities that society and the media flood us with, that we may not know the difference between what’s actually real and what isn’t, and that can cause us to lose sight of the true essence of who we are, our purpose and contribution to life.
“ ‘Do You Remember’ wants us to bring it back to the beginning, to our roots where we can appreciate the simple joys like how it feels to be alive, to be in love, to be appreciated, to be at peace . . . without the intrusion of societal judgements and pressures.”
An album is in the near future for Aiasha but for now she wants to continue creating and releasing songs to maintain a momentum. She has so much to share and express that she believes her supporters will appreciate and relate to. “It’s all about keeping my sound ablaze,” she said.
One of her biggest motivators is what she can contribute to her native island as well as the world in relation to the creative industries. With, of course, her main priority being to reach such a level of success where she can provide for her family and alleviate financial strains and stresses.
Though Aiasha is a lover of the arts, what motivates her most is the many talented youth within Saint Lucia, those who have limited available resources and opportunities to develop their creative skills who are still working actively to pursue their passion.
“We focus so heavily on academics and education (which is, of course, the key to a bright future), but we don’t focus enough on harvesting and developing the artistic abilities of our children,” she pointed out.
Aiasha disclosed some of the people who kept her inspired, including her partner, her mother, and STAR Managing Director and SHE Magazine Publisher Mae Wayne, ‘Aunty Mae’, as she likes to say.
“I am grateful for their support and belief in me, in my craft and in my potential,” she said.
We winded down our interview with the question “What next”?
Aiasha intends to continue connecting deeply with as many people as she can through her music and artistic endeavours and developing her charity, ‘Do It With Love’. She sees a bright future ahead of her and envisions herself as a strong, experienced, powerful woman, wife, mother, sister, aunty and daughter. A woman who is able to balance and marry her artistic endeavours with business ventures to provide for her family and those less fortunate. She also foresees love, creativity, success and fulfilment.
