Pulling Up Australia
Feeling frustrated by the lack of representation, I started an Instagram account in 2019 to promote Australian women of colour. By 2020, I was calling out Australia’s top fashion and beauty brands for their lack of diversity. I highlighted over 140 brands, sharing screenshots of their social media pages. This sparked the "Pull-Up" campaign, which prompted major brands like Vogue Australia and MCoBeauty to adopt more inclusive advertising policies. But there's still much more to do...
During the same year, I was trolled and bullied online, an experience I wrote about on Medium. Enduring this unwarranted criticism forced me to confront deeper issues like white feminism and performative activism in Australia. Brown women often struggle to be heard in this country, and that reality fueled my determination. I rebranded the account to Unlearning Shit, and now advocate for systemic change as we unlearn and decolonise. Throughout this journey, I connected with powerful voices like Ruby Hamad, author of the transformative White Tears/Brown Scars, and actress/advocate Pallavi Sharda. I'm incredibly proud of the strong, supportive community we've built—driven by like-minded individuals who are committed to real change in Australia.
Ashlene's Story
From Syd To NYC & BACK
Raised in Western Sydney and facing a lack of South Asian representation, at just 16 I launched a teen magazine called "Hot Ashes," which evolved into the first website for South Asian youth in Australia. Soon after, in 2002, I moved to New York to pursue journalism, interviewing artists like Rihanna, Usher, Missy Elliott, Aamir Khan, and Kanye West before transitioning to the corporate world, where I work ed in advertising and marketing for the next 20 years.To date, I have worked with the biggest celebs, influencers and brands in the world. I have been a vocal advocate for diversity, particularly regarding the digital pay gap between white and POC influencers."As the only woman of colour in the room, advocating for diverse talent often becomes me vs. them" - Ashlene for Business Insider Australia.Thank you for reading my story.To contact me please visit www.agameagency.com.
