Sharon Mundia’s journey into blogging began three years ago, shortly after graduating from Monash University in South Africa with a degree in Marketing and Management. Although she had always been passionate about literature, practical considerations influenced her choice of academic path. Sharon’s background in marketing became instrumental when she launched her blog, This Is Ess, as a space to share glimpses of her life. As her audience grew, brands began reaching out to feature their products, initially in exchange for free items. However, Sharon quickly realized that to sustain her work and avoid burnout, she needed to transform her blog from a hobby into a professional business. This realization was strengthened by her parents’ insistence that she create a tangible plan for profitability, prompting her to rethink her approach and treat herself as a full-fledged media platform.
To professionalize This Is Ess, Sharon implemented a strict no freebies policy and created a clear rate card for clients, outlining the costs for featuring products on her blog and social media platforms. She invested in high-quality visuals, working closely with photographer Victor Peace, and occasionally partnering with stylists and makeup artists for special shoots. Beyond aesthetics, Sharon handles nearly every part of the content creation process herself, including drafting proposals and budgets, liaising with clients, scouting locations, directing photoshoots, editing content, and publishing posts. By carefully choosing partnerships that align with her brand, she ensures authenticity while generating revenue, demonstrating that building a successful online presence requires both creativity and strategic business acumen.
Sharon’s dedication and professionalism have led to numerous opportunities, including brand ambassador roles for Store 66 and the Samsung A Series, as well as contributing online content for Capital FM. Her daily routine is meticulously organized to balance content creation, planning, client communications, and media appearances, with social activities often taking a backseat to maintain productivity. Sharon’s journey illustrates that turning a passion into a thriving business demands discipline, creativity, and foresight. Through This Is Ess, she has not only built a credible and influential lifestyle platform but also inspired a new generation of mediapreneurs to pursue their goals with intention and professionalism.