“I’ve always considered myself a positive person. I realize more than ever that positivity and kindness towards others are extremely important. It is what will get all of us through unexpected difficult times such as these.”
Sasha is a self-labeled “born and bred New Yorker.” She’s always lived in Manhattan, and is currently a full-time student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, studying Advertising Marketing and Communication, graduating this upcoming December.
“Since I could remember I’ve been fascinated by the transformative powers of makeup and fashion. When I was a junior in a high school, I launched a mini lip gloss brand. Currently, I’m working on new products to launch within a few months under my brand, Sasha Anne. I’m also a beauty influencer, YouTuber, and blogger.” Says Sasha. “My long-term goal is to always ask questions, to wonder, to be surprised, and to find beauty in unexpected places.”
Recently, Sasha was diagnosed with lymphoma. She wants to stay empowering to young girls around the world by showing that beauty is only “skin deep” — and she isn’t shying away from the spotlight while undergoing chemotherapy — aiming to inspire others to move through their own unexpected challenges with grace and hope.
Since Sasha is stuck quarantining like so many others who are high risk, she launched the “One Million Smiles” campaign to give back the smiles that coronavirus has taken away from so many.
Read about her experience facing the challenges of the pandemic from Manhattan while fighting against lymphoma and fighting for the confidence of girls, everywhere in her COVID Chronicle, below:
Can you describe your current living situation?
“Currently, I am living with my parents in Manhattan. I was living a few blocks from Fashion Institute of Technology with a roommate, but all classes moved to online as a result of COVID-19 and I moved back home. So, I am back in my old bedroom. I am immunocompromised now so I have to be extra careful. I don’t even go outside unless I have a doctor’s appointment.
I am basically isolated other than being with my parents and my dog, Chloe. She is a Morkie, half-Maltese and half-Yorkshire, and the sweetest dog ever.”
Can you tell me a bit about your “One Million Smiles” campaign?
“Once I was diagnosed with lymphoma and realized that so many people were stuck at home and isolated, I felt that I wanted to do something to cheer them up. Even people who go out for groceries are trapped behind their masks and feel alone. There is no way to see anyone’s smile. Half of our faces are covered. Everyone feels somewhat alone now.
But we are lucky. We live in a highly sophisticated, technologically-savvy world. We can smile and send our smiles worldwide to show others that we are thinking about them. There are older people who are at risk of COVID-19 and people like me with compromised health conditions. There are so many people of all ages who crave seeing a good smile.
Each week, there is a new “smilestone” theme. We just finished up Disney week! I’m obsessed with Disney, so that was fun. You can find out all of the weekly smilestones and how you can send in a smile on my website.”
Can you tell me a bit about what people should know about lymphoma, and how important it is for people to be mindful of those who are at high risk of contracting COVID during this time?
“Lymphoma is a specific type of cancer that affects the white blood cells. I have Hodgkins Lymphoma, which is a curable cancer, and for that I am very grateful. However, the chemotherapy treatments that I am undergoing put me at a very high risk of infection.
In the process of destroying the bad cancer cells, the chemo attacks some of the good white blood cells as well. Therefore cancer patients such as myself are mostly isolated from everyone else during this time to minimize the risk of catching any sort of cold or virus such as COVID-19.”
“Before coronavirus and my diagnosis, I took for granted the daily interactions that I had with others. I was more focused on social media and my phone than I was with face-to-face interactions. I realize now how much I miss seeing my family and friends.”
Is there anything you feel that you’ve learned about yourself or the world from this experience, that you’d like to share?
“Before coronavirus and my diagnosis, I took for granted the daily interactions that I had with others. I was more focused on social media and my phone than I was with face-to-face interactions. I realize now how much I miss seeing my family and friends. I have married brothers and sisters who do not live in New York. I miss them so much. It will be months before I will be able to see them.”
Has this experience in any way changed the way that you order your life priorities?
“I have always wanted to inspire others. Now more than ever while going through this crisis my priority is to inspire others to move through unexpected challenges with grace and hope.”
What has your local community been doing to fight the rate of transmission?
“I live in Manhattan. So although New York got off to a very rocky start in March, I praise Governor Cuomo for being strict and unrelenting with rules for social distancing, wearing masks, and keeping businesses closed until it was appropriate to start opening New York City up.
Although I only venture outside for hospital and doctor appointments, my parents tell me that everyone in our neighborhood wears a mask and that the businesses that are open are complying with the rules.”
What has been your general daily routine so far during the pandemic?
“Being home I am taking more time to do things I wouldn’t have had time for before — such as baking and taking bubble baths, playing with my dog, Chloe, and organizing my closet. I’m also enjoying watching old movies.
Other than no socializing, my routine was not much different than before. I am up by 9:00 and my favorite breakfast is fresh strawberries, a vanilla latte that I make with a Nespresso machine, and a toasted bagel with cream cheese, or a warmed piece of my Mom’s blueberry pie. Since I took courses during summer, I set three hours aside in the morning to do my coursework.
I am very disciplined about filming my YouTube videos and TikTok videos and posting daily to Instagram. By noon, I am ready to film and edit. I am constantly thinking about fashion and beauty looks. I have been very busy fine tuning the packaging and the marketing plan for my new product launch this fall. Somehow I’ve been busier than before COVID-19.
Since my diagnosis, I tire easily and it’s difficult to do as much. My routine is basically the same, but I pace myself and there are days that I simply cannot do what I would like.”
What have you been doing to keep your spirits up on a day-to-day basis?
“I try to stay as active as possible and keep the same routine that I had before. The one difference is that I allow myself room to chill. My parents bought me a TV for my room and when I feel really stressed, I put on a movie and make myself popcorn and relax.”
Has this travel ban/quarantine situation impacted any especially important future plans you had laid out?
“Oh yes!!! I was supposed to go to Italy with a close friend this August and it was cancelled even before my diagnosis.”
Anything else at all, you’d like to share?
“I’ve always considered myself a positive person. I realize more than ever that positivity and kindness towards others are extremely important. It is what will get all of us through unexpected difficult times such as these.”
Check Sasha’s Instagram at @simplysashaanne, as well as her YouTube and her blog!
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