One of Australia’s most successful influencers with almost two million followers on Instagram, Natasha “Tash” Oakley is one of the many using the social media platform to help generate a lucrative livelihood for herself. While there’s little doubt that Tash could have predicted the hysteria that would amount from launching blog A Bikini A Day with bestie Devin Brugman in the summer of 2012, this one is taking it all in her stride.
With 60 Minutes last night airing a special segment dedicated to some of Australia’s top social media influencers, below we take a look at some of the key take-outs from Tash’s interview with presenter Peter Stefanovic.
On social media’s impact on her business
“I don’t think my business would have been able to have existed without social media – it has played a huge role in where I am today.”
On why she started A Bikini A Day
“Devin grew up in Hawaii, I grew up in Australia – you kind of live in bikinis. You don’t save up for shoes and bags, you save up for bikinis. One night we literally sat in our couch in LA and said ‘we need to start a blog that everyone can relate to and that every beach girl in the world can understand’.”
On working hard
“I travel to amazing resorts and beaches all over the world. It would be very easy for me to just lay back and relax and take that all in and not actually be working in those locations – but I have the work ethic and the discipline that I’ve always known and I think that’s what’s gotten me to where I am today.”
On social media marketing
“What I say to everyone is that it’s not every day that you have the ability to influence millions of people.”
On how much money she makes
“We have been progressively making more money over the years, but essentially all the money we make goes back into the business and the things we are passionate about.”
On photoshopping images
“I have not photoshopped an image… but in saying that, there’s no way I can say that no-one has photoshopped an image of me.”
On getting that perfect shot
“It’s all about lighting, it’s all about angles, we know our angles and we know how to pose for a photo. We’re like any model in the world, I guess. I don’t like to say I’m a model, but essentially I am.”
On the future of Instagram
“I don’t see it going anywhere because people are so drawn to it. Essentially people are wanting more. They want to travel the world, they want to feel inspired. And I think that is going to be something pretty hard to get rid of.”
[instagram url= https://www.instagram.com/p/BXotPAoDNau/?taken-by=tashoakley hidecaption=true width=1050]
All images: @tashoakley
Click here to see the interview on 60 Minutes.
Want exclusive influencer interviews and news straight to your inbox? Join our mailing list or follow us on Instagram.