Having taken over the position of beauty editor at New Idea late last month, BDNZ sits down with Ashley Ropati to find out everything about the new role and her journalistic career.
What has been your career path to date?
I think I got very lucky as far as publishing initiation goes. I started my career as a beauty intern for Vogue Australia, where I was fortunate enough to learn under one of the most inspiring and knowledgeable beauty editors breaking the mould today, Sigourney Cantelo.
Following my stint in Sydney, I moved to the editorial team at Yahoo!NZ and grew into my role within the independent online and luxury title, The Denizen. I still currently write for Beauticate (an online beauty hub spearheaded by the wonderful Sigourney) and stretch my legs in fashion, menswear and grooming content for the Sydney-based blog The Trendspotter. I satiate my hard news fix as a news editor for the NZ Herald online.
What attracted you to the role at New Idea?
New Idea is such an iconic title. It’s a fixture within women’s magazines both here and in Australia, so unsurprisingly I jumped at the opportunity to work and grow under such a wonderful masthead. I can resonate with the accessibility of the magazine, particularly within the beauty pages. The beauty industry, to me, should feel accessible and achievable. I believe women should feel inspired, excited and informed when leafing through the pages of a magazine and New Idea has always been great at achieving that.
Have you always been interested in the beauty media world?
The beauty media world came as a natural extension of existing endeavours for me. I’d always been enamoured with magazines and print journalism but I wasn’t quite sure where I felt most at home. Once I began learning more about the beauty industry and discovered how much I enjoyed producing beauty content, I fell in love with beauty and haven’t really veered off course since. I’m incredibly grateful that I enjoy what I do this much.
What will your role involve?
As anybody in print will tell you, it is a great balancing act between the perks and the perils. While launches and swanky events are such fun (and a fundamental part of the role, might I add), weekly deadlines can be punishing if you mismanage your time. I’m looking forward to stretching my legs in this role, though, and really getting started. Producing lively beauty content and informing the reader each and every week is one of my goals.
What excites you most about the role?
I think the history of it. So many clever, inspirational and engaging women have filled this role before me and paved an incredible reputation for the New Idea brand. I’m excited to put my own unique stamp on things and truly make the role my own.
What does beauty mean to you?
Beauty, to me, is a quiet confidence in what you’ve got. It’s a subtlety of both style and signature. Somebody who possesses true beauty radiates from within and a beautiful soul is the best place to start. I’m an advocate for the minimalists out there and truly believe there are few things more beautiful than a bare fresh face, clean hair and a douse of perfume.
What are your three desert island products?
This one is particularly tricky because it’s next to impossible to cover all bases, but here goes. If I had to nail it down to three, I’d say my YSL Touché Éclat because it really is a miracle stick, Bioderma Micellar Water for a quick cleanse no matter where you are, and Trilogy Rosehip Oil because a little of that liquid gold goes a long way.
