Sinthusha - Authentic, Empathetic, Manifester of Dreams
Some of you might remember January’s Tenacious Woman Karthika! After our live chat on Instagram ended, I asked her if there was anyone she would like to nominate for upcoming features. One of the names Karthika nominated right away was Sinthusha’s! Karthika called her an incredible henna artist and an advocate for many social issues. I love nothing more than seeing women support women, especially when both of them are small business owners and I was already intrigued by Sinthusha at this point. Karthika went on to state that Sinthusha supports many social causes with the funds she raises through her foundation and my mind was made up that I HAD to reach out to Sinthusha and ask if she would do the honour of being one of our many Tenacious Women!
So, I went to look through Sinthusha’s Instagram page, and I was BLOWN away by her beautiful and intricate work! Scrolling through her incredibly diverse portfolio, which ranged from the traditional henna designs, to products of Sinthusha’s imagination that featured the likes of Winnie the Pooh and incredibly adorable dinosaurs, I picked up on one thing – Sinthusha is SUPER passionate about henna which makes her determined to give whatever you request of her, her best shot. And maybe even the confidence to see it through. That was something I truly admired, and I wanted to know a little more about how she sees the world and maybe learn some things that way. I sent her an email inviting her to be our Tenacious Woman, and much to my surprise and gratitude, she accepted! So, without further ado, here is Sinthusha and all about how she sees henna, advocacy, and of course, tenacity!
How did you get started with henna and what made you decide to go from hobby to business?
I got started with henna when I first saw a girl at elementary school have it on her hands. I was really intrigued and asked my mom to buy me a henna cone. She declined at first because she felt I was too young, so I started drawing designs with a pen on my hands and paper. My mom bought me my first henna cone when I was thirteen and it has really just become my passion since. I have been very artistic since young so practicing henna became an extension of my pre-existing love for art.
I realized I wanted to turn my hobby into a business when I was seventeen. I knew I couldn’t pursue art as a career because my parents wouldn’t accept it. They wanted me to go into science so I told myself “Wherever I go, I will never let go of the artistic side of Sinthusha”. That’s where I got the idea to start a side project to use my passion for art to help make a small difference in this world. And that little project idea somehow flourished into a business that just celebrated its fifth anniversary at the end of last year.
How different is it to do henna on the different parts of the body, especially, say, hands vs a pregnant mum’s belly?
They are both different but beautiful in so many ways. What I love about doing henna on hands is that I get to interact with the clients more on a personal level. And what I love about doing henna on a pregnant mum’s belly (also called belly blessing) is that the session feels like I’m connecting with the womb and the baby inside. It’s truly a magical experience to feel the heartbeat and every movement of the baby while I do the belly blessing. It’s an honour as a henna artist to play a small role in someone’s life in bringing joy, love, and happiness all while leaving each other wiser and more whole.
You have now started a new business – custom decorated cookies! You’re literally becoming a one-stop solution for parties and corporate events! How did this come into play and how similar and/or different is henna and cookie decoration for you? I’m especially curious to hear since both involve a piping bag of sorts!
I’m not sure about one-stop-shop just yet but maybe one day hahahaha! It honestly all started when a few of my followers on Instagram really encouraged me to try decorating cookies and even made me buy the materials. I bought it and didn’t touch it until 6 months later when I told myself “Maybe I should give this cookie idea a shot for Christmas”. So, I tried it and it didn’t turn out too bad for my first time. I shared it on my (Instagram) story and sold them as Christmas gifts last year while raising money for a fundraiser I organized for homeless/housing insecure folks. Honestly, I would’ve never thought it would be where it is today, and I thank my Insta fam every day for it. Originally the idea was to launch the cookies as a separate service under Divinart since I wasn’t getting many henna bookings due to Covid-19. But my mom was against it (for valid reasons) because she reminded me the importance of helping myself before helping others. After bouncing back thoughts and ideas with my close ones, I decided to launch it as a separate business to support myself all while staying true to my values and giving back to the community twice a year through Divine Delights for Christmas and Cookie Grams (around Valentine’s Day).
The art of decorating cookies is SOOOO similar to henna which is why I love doing it so much! For piping designs on cookies, you need to master controlling pressure on the cone and you need to have stability in your hands. I learned both of these through over ten years of doing henna which is why I have a fairly easy time decorating cookies. And what I love about both mediums is that I can get really creative and bring to life whatever my mind and heart envision. One of the most profound things I have come to realize is how blessed I am with a gift to bring my visions to reality and where I can share these gifts with those around me to spread love and joy. It’s an indescribable feeling and makes all the hard work so worth it.
Having been born in Canada and feeling like you had to compartmentalise your Tamil identity to assimilate with the majority, would you say doing henna has brought you closer to your Tamil identity in any way?
Yes, marudhani/henna has definitely allowed me to connect to my roots and culture that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to in my lifetime. Learning how my Amma used henna in her homeland and learning the history of henna has allowed me to appreciate the plant and give gratitude to the ancestors who came before me. Growing up to use this art to adorn people for weddings has brought me so much closer to my identity, ancestors, and heritage. I’m truly grateful for the path I have paved for myself. I definitely would not be the same person if not for my younger self who dreamt big and never let anything stop her.
We can’t talk about Divinart foundation without talking about the work you do in supporting vulnerable communities through your henna. Has this been in effect since day 1 of starting Divinart foundation and why is it important for you?
Yes, like I mentioned earlier, ever since the inception of Divinart, the goal was always to use my passion for art to make a difference. This has always been important for me because I believe we are all here on earth with the purpose of leaving this world a little better than how we found it. I have been doing this since I was young, and I have never looked back.
You are vocal about and advocate for so many different things – the civil war in Sri Lanka, indigenous communities not being seen in Canada, mental health, climate change – it’s A LOT. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by talking about these things because all of them have heart-breaking connotations attached to them? And do you feel what some describe as caregiver fatigue where you just get overwhelmed by the negativity and caring from talking about all these issues and how do you cope with it?
I am an empath so it can definitely get overwhelming when you feel pain on a deeper level, but it doesn’t stop me from doing what I do (whether it be offline or online). Lately, I haven’t had the capacity to do social media activism like I used to because of all my recent commitments in life. But what I have learned is that beyond social media activism, it’s important to ask yourself “What are you doing beyond the screens to actively fight for the causes? What actions are you taking in your life that is reflective of your social media activism?” I definitely go through caregiver fatigue, not only through social media but also through my community involvements. It can get quite overwhelming, but rest is part of the fight for justice. Rest is an act of resilience. Rest is one of the many things I do to cope.
Of the various causes you have supported, I’m especially curious of the housing projects you did with Chez Doris Women’s Shelter for the Indigenous people of Montreal. How did you get into this project or why did you choose to work on it? I’m also curious to hear as someone with parents from a country with civil war and genocide, did you see any parallels in the stories (between your parents and the Indigenous people you met) and if it shaped your understanding of who you are and your identity?
That housing project was just an amazing experience. I still think about that Indigenous housing project and how much every single woman I met shined resilience and strength through their eyes and stories. I realized many people in our community had misconceptions of Indigenous folx, and so I wanted to break those stereotypes by raising awareness through sharing real stories of the women I had conversations with. These stories were shared with their permission on Divinart's social media platforms. I got into this by having conversations with one of my close friends, years back, where she made me realize the similar lives our common ancestors and Indigenous folx have gone through (and continue to go through). From state oppression, cultural erasure, land theft, etc.; the realities led me to connect with my Indigenous kin on a deeper level. With time, it really became one of my life's work to create spaces and build meaningful relationships alongside our Indigenous kin. Especially, as long as I live on these stolen lands that have allowed me to thrive and pursue my dreams. It's my way of giving gratitude.
At the end of the day, what would you like to be known for?
I want to be known for having paved my own path as a first-generation Canadian who led a life with integrity, authenticity and compassion to inspire the people around me through my life’s work.
What would you like to share with the woman struggling to find her niche or her passion?
With Covid-19, many have resorted to social media as a way to stay connected but this can be hard because sometimes you feel a certain pressure to start a new side hustle or be better or do better. It’s important to be gentle with yourself during this time and in order to find your passion, you have to connect with yourself first. For me, I cultivated my passion at such a young age that it was natural for me to lead my life with what I love doing. But I recognize this may not be the case for many and it may take a long time until you find your calling. As a starter, ask yourself what makes you happy? What brings you joy?
What does the word “tenacity” mean to you?
Hahaha, I feel like this word has my name written all over it! To me, it means perseverance, passion, and determination which make up every fiber and atom of my being and a hunger to bring dreams and visions to life.
You can learn more about Divinart through Facebook, Instagram, and their website! You can also learn about Sinthusha’s new venture, Divine Delights through Facebook and Instagram!
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