In today’s digital world, social media has become an extremely lucrative and popular industry. The entrepreneurial and business minded individuals, such as Shani Hollywood, understand just how profitable social media can be if utilized correctly; however, growing a social media platform to a profitable level is not an easy task by any means. Gaining the attention of thousands of people online is one thing, but retaining their interest requires tremendous hard work, consistency, strategic networking, and a substantial amount of patience. Shani Hollywood has never allowed an obstacle to get in the way her dreams, and although she didn’t start out as a social media star, she has used her prior business knowledge to gain over 700,000 followers on one social media platform alone.
Shani was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Growing up, Shani battled a combination of problems which consisted of a troubled home life in which she found herself surrounded by addiction and mental health issues, as well as being bullied at school for her appearance. Despite the many obstacles she faced at a young age, Shani’s drive to succeed paired with her relentless work ethic allowed her to persevere through many difficult times. She went on to complete her college education with a degree in fashion business, but after a short period of time decided to enter into her family’s real estate business instead. Shani began managing commercial real estate properties that her family owned until her life took an unexpected turn.
Shani was at work one day when her friend called and offered her the opportunity to model for his school photography project. Although she agreed to be the solo model for the project, she didn’t expect anything to come from it. When she posted the photos from the project to her Facebook, they gained a substantial amount of attention. After a few weeks, Shani realized that she possessed the potential to be successful as a social media model. Since then, Shani has leveraged her bubbly personality and prior marketing knowledge to amass the following of nearly a million loyal followers which continues to grow each day. She has also achieved her dreams of becoming an internationally published model in publications such as Playboy Israel, Maxim South Africa, Esquire Latin-American, Playboy Italy, and Playboy Slovakia. Although Shani has already accomplished things most models can only dream of, she still has many future goals and aspirations for her modeling career.
Shani’s continued growth through the years proves that her strategy for success defies the odds in an industry where longevity is rare. She has recently dedicated herself to helping aspiring entrepreneurs create a rewarding career on social media, something she knows how to do as well as anyone. Shani’s accumulated knowledge and vast experience as a businesswoman across multiple industries makes her skillset very unique, and she shared with us a few of her tips to achieving success in life:
Building a positive and determined mindset is key. These two traits are the most important for anyone starting out in the pursuit of a goal. Do not allow yourself to get easily discouraged, as you will experience many ups and downs along your journey. Always remember why you started, focus on your goals, and stay consistent with your effort until you accomplish them.
Surround yourself with a winning team. Create an atmosphere that fosters friendship, loyalty, and promotes an environment of teamwork. The right individuals will motivate you to work harder and to support one another.
Stay true to yourself. Being authentic and communicating that through your brand will bring value to your audience. Use your power of voice and unique experiences to set yourself apart. By doing so, you become more relatable to your audience, ultimately creating a loyal following.
Be vulnerable yet encouraging. Being honest about your struggles opens many ways in which you can strengthen the communication and connection with your audience; however, it’s important to also use your experiences as encouragement and motivation to help others overcome similar situations.
Shani is an individual who never gave up on her dreams despite the multitude of obstacles she has faced. She is truly an inspiration to all, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in the future.
Readers can keep up with Shani Hollywood on her Facebook and Instagram.