I want to change perceptions about luxury living

By Rita Okoye

Ashley Stephanie is an international recording artiste, songwriter and dynamic performer of Cameroonian and Nigerian heritage. Renowned for her vibrant stage presence, she has built a distinctive cross-cultural music career spanning Africa and Europe.

In this interview with Sunday Sun, Ashley speaks on her new show, LifestyleWithAshley, the journey and discipline behind her success, as well as the exciting projects she has in the works.

Your show, LifestyleWithAshley, promotes luxury, discipline, and taste. How do you define “true luxury”?

True luxury may mean different things to different people. For me, it means being yourself while enjoying the best life has to offer, regardless of cost.

You’ve spoken about intentional living. What does that look like in your everyday life?

Intentional living is reflected in all aspects of my everyday life. I work out daily – no room for weakness. I live healthy, avoid junk food, and stay away from fakes. Be it fake goods, services, or people, I do all of these effortlessly.

What inspired you to launch LifestyleWithAshley and how has the reception been so far?

My inspiration to launch LifestyleWithAshley stems from many factors, but one of the most important is my honest desire to educate people about what a luxury lifestyle means. It is not the phrase “fake it till you make it.” It is a way of life that is beyond the general average yet within your means.

Luxury fashion, for instance, is not wearing branded designers boldly from head to toe, looking like a walking billboard. Rather, it is looking classy in timeless pieces without necessarily showing logos.

The reception has been so encouraging. Soon, we intend to make it more face-to-face, bringing it into the studio with a live audience to learn from the queen.

What are the biggest misconceptions people have about wealth and lifestyle?

Some of the biggest misconceptions people have about wealth, especially in Africa, include viewing wealth as a tool of oppression of the “have-nots” instead of an instrument of comfort for self and elevation of others.

As for lifestyle, most people believe lifestyle is only about lavish living. However, that’s not entirely true.

Lifestyle is about living a life that satisfies your passions and inspires others. For instance, if you are passionate about watches and can afford the best, you can educate people on their essence and how you can even double your income by investing in certain watch brands. This will not take away the pleasures you derive from buying or wearing the best collection of watches.

You’ve positioned yourself as a voice of authority in lifestyle. Do you think Nigerian celebrities are living a fake lifestyle?

To be honest, yes. Most celebrities in Nigeria live a very fake lifestyle or do not fully understand what a true luxury lifestyle entails. Lifestyle is way beyond a few trips to Dubai on a commercial plane, wearing one designer item badly matched with 10 other fake luxury goods. That’s why we are here, though – to teach them how to do this the right way

Which lifestyle trend would you like to correct in the Nigerian entertainment space?

Without thinking much, it will be the trend of feeling too big for others wearing fakes. Sister, there’s only one Vancleef and Appels, not Vancurve.

How do you balance educating your audience without coming across as overly critical or harsh?

Lifestyle with Ashley Stephanie is all about education and has nothing to do with passing a message or being better off than others. This may take time to  understand, but eventually people with an open mind to learn will decode the concept.

You’ve described yourself as a “lifestyle connoisseur”—what qualifies someone for that title?

When you’ve been there, done that on all levels, yes, you can. I understand what lifestyle and the intricacies it entails. I have been privileged to live the best life and enjoy all that money can buy across continents, consistently for decades now. I don’t just understand this luxury lifestyle – it knows me by name

How intentional have you been in crafting the “Stephanie Ashley” brand we see today?

Very intentional, I would say. The Ashley Stephanie brand you know today has always been about intentionality, impact, and keenness to maintain brand originality from my days as lead singer of the Spanish Girls until the present day.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard your music. Should fans be hopeful?

We’ve been working on so much lately, and soon, the pleasant surprises will be let out of the bag.

What kind of message or sound should we look out for?

Very much part of the surprise, so stay connected.

Does your music reflect the same themes of luxury and intentional living?

Yes, in certain songs, however, the inspiration determines the message of each musical work I put out.

Which artistes or genres have influenced your sound the most?

I enjoyed a wide variety of music across various genres as a creative; however, I have been most inspired by a couple of genres, such as jazz, R&B, makossa, zouk, soul, and coupe decale.

What sacrifices have you had to make to maintain the lifestyle you preach?

I can’t drop the famous line that “you need to work hard and stay consistent in all you do.” Yes, that is very important, though in my case, I was born into this, I grew up in this, and I am made for this. The lifestyle chose me. It knows me by name, no sacrifice needed

What changes would you like to see in the entertainment industry and influencer space?

I would like to see entertainers and influencers live a life that truly defines who they are on or off camera. That’s when you truly inspire or influence others.

Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope LifestyleWithAshley and your music will leave behind?

I want to look back someday and see thousands of young people say that LifestylewithAshley positively changed their entire perception of luxury living and helped them grow into more sophisticated people through lessons from the show’s episodes.