For those on TikTok, you will know the immense talent that resides on the app and for those who aren’t on Tiktok, you will quickly come to understand how true this is, once you scroll down Ashlei Major’s feed.
It has been just under a year now that Ash’s videos have been garnering attention but one of the most popular is a series of makeup looks based on her heritage.
One living in the diaspora can understand the excitement I had when I realised Ashlei’s look was a Greek inspired blue with gold eye makeup look. Upon delving into her page further, I discovered a beautiful red, black and golden yellow look based off of her Indigenous Australian heritage. Another video, inspired by her Greek roots, playing with blue and white hues grabbed my attention.
I then decided to ask Ash a few questions about herself and how as a proud Greek and Warluwarra woman, she manages to bring the two artistically rich and beautiful cultures into makeup.
Relatably, Ashlei was told to be proud of who she was and where she came from without understanding much of where that was and what that meant. Around the age of 11 her now step dad, Les Tanna entered her life, with his upbringing being a stark difference to Ashlei’s, having grown up surrounded by culture more prominently, speaking language and creating artefacts.
Looks from Aslei's social media accounts.
Looks from Aslei's social media accounts.
Looks from Aslei's social media accounts.
Looks from Aslei's social media accounts.
His presence in her life, posed as an inspiration, a catalyst, in many ways, for Ashlei to ponder her own identity in the lens of her cultures.
With others in her life to inspire her, such as her nan, Ashlei was prepared when she was faced with a year 11 art assessment pondering the question, ‘Who Am I?” A pivotal age for Ash, who had just begun to ask more questions, seek answers and learn more about where she comes from, helping her form more cultural and spiritual awareness.
While on this journey, Ash discovered her family Totem, her mob’s picture dictionary in Warluwarra language, while also having had the opportunity to listen to tapes of her great, great, great, great, great grandmother Queen Ida Toby speaking her tribe’s language.
At the same time she was learning many recipes from her Yiayia on traditional Greek dishes.
Scrolling deeper into Ashlei’s TikTok, we can see her artistic outlet began in drawing and painting realism that slowly morphed in makeup artistry. When her friend who worked at Priceline gave her her first makeup, Ashlei was on the fast track to graduate from the Huxley School of Makeup.
She views social media as a pivotal way she could connect with others, especially in the pandemic, being able to share her cultures, her art and talent, and engage with fellow Greeks, Indigenous Australian peoples and others who were curious about the meshing of these two cultures.
She continues to grow and learn her craft from those who have been honing it for years, and expand her career with modelling and makeup through being signed with an agency. She hopes to allow these experiences and the lessons to come to build her into a more recognised makeup artist and content creator.
One thing that is clear about Ashlei is how much her cultures mean to her, how much her creative outlet is intertwined with her cultural heritage.
It is safe to say that wherever Ashlei is in five years time, her ancestors and everyone blessed to watch the journey unfold, will be proud of her, her talent and the impact she has and will continue to have on her communities.
Find her on TikTok @itsashleimajor and on Instagram @ashlei_major