Sarah Mantelin is an incredibly talented content creator with a focus on fashion, culture and art. I was recently given the opportunity to interview her and my life was irrevocably bettered by it.
Her Campus (HC): Tell us about yourself!
Sarah Mantelin (SM): My name is Sarah Mantelin. I’m from a town on the French Riviera, so I grew up by the sea and mountains.
I moved to London one year after graduating from university. I’m a freelance creative, splitting my time between a User Experience (UX) design job and running my Instagram page.
HC: Talk to us about London!
SM: Moving to London is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made; living abroad was always a non-negotiable dream of mine. This is probably because I attended an international school from ages 8 to 19 and was surrounded by various cultures and languages.Â
London is a multicultural, accessible city full of open-minded people. The culture and museums are diverse, the food is amazing and the coffee shops and bookstores are as cute as they look on Pinterest!
Starting a new life in a new country allowed me to reinvent myself, find the courage to pursue my dreams and taught me to develop thick skin. Life here is comparable to life in New York City: terrible weather, high prices and challenges everywhere. But there’s a special, incredible energy that makes you feel like anything is possible. It’s a city for dreamers and doers!
HC: How did you get into design? What’s your favorite part?
SM: In 2015, I earned my master’s degree in marketing from l’EDHEC, a French business school. I absolutely loved my experience and have so many memories: living with friends, participating in a student exchange program, taking on an internship in Paris and working as a teaching assistant.
But after completing an internship that didn’t turn into a full-time job, I felt lost. While all of my friends were landing jobs and moving on, I didn’t have a clue what to do.
Fast-forward a year later and a move to London, I found the courage to pursue the creative career I had dreamed of. I took an intense three-month design course that allowed me to build a design portfolio and began working as a print designer in Central London. I had landed my dream job in my dream city!
After two years, I decided to shift my career from print design to UX design. Working for a magazine is great, but there are more job opportunities in the digital industry. It felt like a natural career progression.
My job now is a perfect balance between creative and analytical thinking. It’s a great career choice if you’re a creative who gets bored easily: every day is different, with varied tasks and projects. Because the tech industry is in constant evolution, you’re always learning.
HC: How did you get into photography?
SM: I’ve always loved photography, but it became a big part of my life when I started my Instagram page in 2017. I had always wanted to blog but I thought it was too late because the influencer space was so saturated. After discovering Jaci Marie (@jacimariesmith), I found the motivation I needed.Â
It took me over two years of experimenting and working on my account nearly daily to find my photography style and brand identity.
I’m very lucky to have the support of my boyfriend Johann, who is also a designer and creative. I met him a few months after starting my Instagram page and we’ve been working together since. He photographs while I work on the creative concepts and picture editing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him!
What I love the most about content creation is coming up with creative concepts, planning photoshoots and editing photos.
HC: Why is mindfulness important? How do you practice mindfulness daily?
SM: I’ve suffered from generalized anxiety and panic attacks since I was 17, which inspired me to find ways to create peace in my life. It’s a skill that takes years of practice to build and I’m just at the beginning.
On a daily basis, the first step would be to create a morning routine.
At the moment, I usually wake up at 6:30 a.m., meditate, have breakfast and coffee while reading, exercise, and then shower and get ready for the day.
Having a mindful coffee (or tea) gives you time to appreciate everything you have.
It’s also important to learn how to say no. The quote, “saying yes to something is saying no to something else,” is accurate. You have limited time: use it to do the things that are aligned with your values and purpose.
You don’t need to be perfect. For example, while I’m usually good at doing all the things I’ve mentioned above, I tend to overwork myself. This is something I need to improve on.
HC: What’s your favorite book?
SM: I don’t have a favorite book, but I do have a favorite genre. I am obsessed with biographies! I find them so inspiring and motivating. Some biographies I’ve loved are Michelle Obama’s, Steve Jobs’, Phil Knight’s and Nelson Mandela’s. Apart from that, a novel I really enjoyed this year was Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. I highly recommend it if you’re stuck in a reading rut!
HC: If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
SM: I would tell my younger self to start taking steps to create her dream life and to trust her intuition. I waited too long before realizing that I had to stop living for other people’s expectations.
Take time to reflect on your dreams, purpose and values. Pay attention to your natural talents and to what brings you joy.
It’s okay to feel lost. Take time to find your purpose, and don’t settle for a career you’re not passionate about. And no matter how old you are, it’s never too late to change your life’s direction.
You can find Sarah Mantelin here: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmantelin/.
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