Kajal, Porsha & Niamh: Refreshing Perspectives & Bright Ideas From Three Rising Talents

Gadigal Land

— June 20, 2024 —

Look up happiness in a dictionary, and you'll find something along these lines: A state of well-being and contentment. We thought we’d search out a youthful take on the word and what it truly means for young Australians.

Bringing together Sydney-based Kajal, Queensland’s Niamh and Melbourne resident Porsha on a grey day in Sydney. Despite the weather, the three new faces were full of bright ideas and refreshing takes on what happiness really means to them.

“You don't need to be happy 100% of the time to be a happy person; it's the balance that is happiness”, were the wise words of Niamh.

For Porsha, it’s about community: “My idea of happiness is to have an amazing group of friends and family around” and “also being comfortable by yourself.” Smart.

Kajal’s take on true happiness is “waking up content with what you have.”

The three rising talents in the fashion industry share more perceptive ideas about life, along with a strong lineup of music, movie and podcast recommendations. Scroll on to get to know them better. Then , peruse the shoot and all the pretty Prada pieces in the gallery above.
 

Name: Kajal Achari
Star sign: Pisces 

Where do you live now, and where do you consider home?
I live in Bella Vista, and I consider it the home where my family is present.

What does your ideal day in your hometown look like?
Definitely a city trip with a friend, drinking coffee and eating yummy food.

How do you think your upbringing helped to shape your worldview?
Being brought up in a religious family, I've been able to appreciate the various cultures in my community and learn about them. 

What is your idea of happiness?
My idea of happiness is waking up content with what you have.  

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Check my phone.  

What’s the coolest or most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?
Strawberries don't ripen once picked. 

How can we make the most of our time on Earth?
Living in the moment and appreciating the little things.

What are you most looking forward to for the rest of this year?
Completing my first year of nursing.

What books/podcasts/shows are you enjoying at the moment?
Crime books as well as true crime videos on youtube. 

Favourite song?
One of my favourites is 'International Love' - Pitbull and Chris Brown.

Favourite movie?
Fractured.

Best TikTok to sum up your current mood?
Watching tiny kitchen videos where basically people create meals using tiny-sized items.

Name:  Niamh
Nickname: Niamhy
Star sign: Leo

Where do you live now, and where do you consider home?
I live in Victoria Point, Queensland, and always have; I really know my way around the place since I walk everywhere.

What does your ideal day in your hometown look like?
My ideal day in my hometown would be walking down to the bay and playing with my dog on the beach.

How do you think your upbringing helped to shape your worldview?
I think my upbringing really helped me appreciate how lucky I am to live the life I do; I know I get to pursue my passions, and for that, I'm so grateful; life is precious, so we should preserve the earth as much as we can.

What is your idea of happiness?
My idea of happiness is much like everyone else's: you don't need to be happy 100% of the time to be a happy person; it's the balance that is happiness.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
The first thing I do when I wake up is go find my cat or dog to annoy, lol.

What’s the coolest or most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?
Coolest thing I've learnt recently is that Vikings bathed like once a week, which is pretty good for those times.

How can we make the most of our time on Earth?
By trying our best to preserve and appreciate the earth, there won't be a future for us without a healthy planet.

What are you most looking forward to for the rest of this year?
I am most looking forward to the adventures that modelling will take me on.

What books/podcasts/shows are you enjoying at the moment?
I loved reading the short story Brokeback Mountain.

Favourite song?
'Indygar' by Adrianne Lenker is my favourite song at the moment.

Favourite movie?
Probably Spirit; I've always loved that movie, haha.

Best TikTok to sum up your current mood?
I don't use TikTok.

Name: Porsha Bella van Oosterwijck
Nickname: Porche
Star sign: Libra

Where do you live now, and where do you consider home?
I live in the south-east of Melbourne, Australia, but I consider home wherever my family and loved ones are.

What does your ideal day in your hometown look like?
My ideal day would be to wake up and start the day with a training session for basketball, then catch up with friends and go shopping or go to the gym then have a nice dinner with my family. 

How do you think your upbringing helped to shape your worldview?
I was always brought up to treat people with respect and to be confident. I like to socialise and get to know people on a personal level.

What is your idea of happiness?
My idea of happiness is to have an amazing group of friends and family around you and also being comfortable by yourself.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
I always start my day with a nice shower, it wakes me up, especially with early morning training.

What’s the coolest or most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?
The most interesting thing I’ve learnt recently is what goes on behind the scenes of fashion week. I saw everyone’s creativity and saw how everyone worked so hard to put on the shows. 

How can we make the most of our time on Earth?
I think just not letting people bring you down. I was always taught to not let people get under your skin and if there’s something you love, go for it. My Mum also says “everything happens for a reason” and I stand by that.

What are you most looking forward to for the rest of this year?
I look forward to see where life takes me, going overseas for work is something I’m so excited for; it would be great to see the world outside of Australia. 

What books/podcasts/shows are you enjoying at the moment?
I’ve been enjoying the show Suits and I loved the book Ugly Love.

Favourite song?
I love my music so I couldn’t pick one but my top three would be 'Power Trip' by J. Cole, 'Stay Ready (What a Life)' by Kendrick and 'Jhene Aiko' and 'Ghost in the Machine' by SZA.

Favourite movie?
I love The Hangover series.

Best TikTok to sum up your current mood?
This TikTok me and one of my friends did before Anna Quans show hahahah.
 

 

Photos: Sarah Adamson
Fashion: Miguel Urbina Tan
Beauty: Claire Thomson
Features Editor: Chloe Hill

Niamh, Kajal, & Porsha are represented by The Scouted
 

We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation as the traditional owners of the land on which this shoot took Place.

                    

Subscribe to Cool Pretty Cool Updates

Other Shoots