EP 16: From London to LA: Inside Fashion, Talent & Entertainment

“I wanted to create something for myself — something that looked as good as it smelled.” – Ashley-Gianna Hallett

On this episode of The Vanessa Podcast — the weekly show where we talk business, culture, and the real stories behind extraordinary people building their own lanes — I sit down with Ashley-Gianna Hallett, branding professional, talent manager, and founder of the luxury candle brand Ya Thamani.

Ashley is British-born and now based in Los Angeles, with a career spanning brand partnerships, fashion, and entertainment marketing. She’s worked with global names like Burberry, Elite Model Management, MAC Cosmetics, Hugo Boss, Fenty Beauty, and Cartier, and today mentors the next generation of creative talent.

She’s also the founder of Ya Thamani — a luxury candle line she built during the pandemic that reflects her love of fragrance, storytelling, and design.

About Ashley-Gianna Hallett:
Ashley has over a decade of experience across fashion, brand partnerships, and talent management. She has managed campaigns for household names, worked with artists and public figures across entertainment, and now runs her own luxury brand while mentoring up-and-coming talent.

In This Conversation, We Discuss:

• Growing up in South London and dreaming beyond borders

• The graft it took to break into fashion without connections

• Lessons from Burberry and Elite Model Management

• How she transitioned into talent management and brand partnerships

• The behind-the-scenes of negotiating celebrity campaigns

• Moving from London to Los Angeles and navigating the culture shift

• What British creatives bring to Hollywood

• The origin story of Ya Thamani, and why she built a luxury candle brand

• Bootstrapping a product-based business and breaking into retail

• Her proudest founder moments (including features in Allure)

• The common thread running through her career: passion

This is a conversation about resilience, creativity, and carving out space in industries that weren’t built for us.

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📱 Follow Ashley: @yathamani on Instagram