From the Politics to the Canvas: Shasha Jamal’s Story of Art and Connection

Some people prefer to map their lives meticulously, carefully planning every step toward a definitive goal and advancing from one milestone to the next. But others, like Shasha Jamal, view life as more of an open canvas, one meant to be filled with a plethora of varying colours, textures, and even unexpected brushstrokes.

From a deep history in political advocacy and sustainability to making an abrupt turn into airline stewarding, and now establishing herself in the world of art and cultural diplomacy, Shasha has never confined herself to a single lane. In a culture that emphasises career trajectories and titles, her life is a refreshing expression of the idea that careers do not make up our identity, but are simply ways to explore the world. 

Shasha’s journey shows us what happens when we dedicate our lives not to following a single path, but making space for all of them.

Nottingham Malaysia: The Foundation of a Global Mindset

For Shasha, pursuing a degree in International Relations didn't stem from a desire to work in government offices or sit at negotiation tables; it came from an aspiration to understand the world in a deeply human way. “I never wanted just to study policies. I wanted to see how they shaped people’s lives, how they played out in real-time,” she explained. It was this thought process that led her to The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNMC), where she did far more than study international affairs.

If one thing is true about Shasha, it's that she is never content staying on the sidelines. In 2021, she assumed the role of Sustainability Officer in UNMC's Student Association, a platform that allowed her to turn awareness into action. “A lot of people care about big issues like climate change, gender equality, mental health, but they don’t always know how to contribute,” she reflected. Shasha aimed to bring a sense of accessibility to social issues, bridging the gap between the people and the problems. From organising International Women’s Week to parading for conversations surrounding mental health, Shasha put heavy emphasis on making advocacy tangible for the students of Nottingham Malaysia and ensuring they felt heard.

Shasha also applied her competitive spirit to her work as a student-athlete, representing UNMC and even her state on the field as a touch football player. Beyond competition, she built discipline, learned to be a team player, and pushed past limits, lessons that would carry over into every other aspect of her life. 

But one of the most defining experiences of her time at UNMC came when she worked on a political campaign in Sarawak, engaging with communities whose struggles were often undermined. “You can’t just study the world, you have to live in it,” she said. “Being on the ground, listening to people’s stories, that’s what changed my perspective.” Around the same time, she also participated in the Asian World Model United Nations, where she represented Montenegro and debated issues like corruption in healthcare funding. “We were from different continents, but at the core, we were all fighting for the same things: justice, fairness, dignity.”

For Shasha, UNMC was far more than an academic institution, it was a testing ground for the belief that stories, people, and impact are connected across industries. It was the place where she realised that learning doesn’t just happen in lecture halls: it happens in action.

Taking Flight: Lessons from the Skies

Of all the careers Shasha could have pursued with the depth of experience she gained during her time at UNMC, she chose one that placed her high in the sky: as a Malaysia Airlines stewardess. While there were more conventional lines of work she could have stepped into with her degree, she wanted to experience the world in the most direct way possible. Working as a cabin crew for Malaysia Airlines was an unexpected turn, but it quickly became one of the most defining experiences of her life. “The cabin was a microcosm of the world,” she reflected. “Every flight was a reminder of how deeply human we all are.”

While her job took her across the world and immersed her in new cultures, Shasha’s time as an air stewardess was never just about travelling—it was about human connection. One day, she could witness a child on their first flight, in awe of the clouds rushing by. The next, she could be assisting someone flying home from a funeral, their heart heavy with grief. Through these fleeting yet deeply human encounters, Shasha got to experience the full spectrum of human emotions. Constantly being around people from all walks of life, she learned to communicate across languages and to handle high-pressure situations with empathy. Most importantly, Shasha reinforced her key principles in life of understanding the world by living in it. 

Her time as an air stewardess wasn't a detour but rather a chapter in a bigger story, one that continues to evolve as more experiences and opportunities unfold.

Shasha’s Canvas: Art as a Storytelling Medium

Art has always been an integral part of Shasha’s life, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that she decided to dedicate herself to it fully. To her, art goes beyond self-expression: it’s a way to tell stories, capture emotions, and give form to the intangible. For Shasha, art isn’t about exclusivity or being confined to gallery walls. “I don’t want art to be something you only see in galleries—I want it to be lived.” 

This thought process was what birthed Shasha’s Canvas, a project that emphasises nostalgia and storytelling through tangible art. From paintings and prints to wearable pieces, Shasha's goal has always been to create things that can engage and stimulate people in unique and deeply personal ways.  Her Wear My Canvas campaign embodies this idea—an initiative that transforms her paintings into scarves, allowing people to carry art with them rather than just admire it from a distance.

Two defining characteristics of Shasha's pieces are her use of narrative and symbolism; her paintings constantly hark back to fairy tales and stories from her childhood, the reimaginings of which go far beyond whimsical reinterpretations: they are about reclaiming forgotten narratives and challenging traditional perspectives. Similarly, her painting of a manatee, one of her most personal pieces, was not just about marine life, it represented vulnerability and survival, mirroring struggles faced by marginalised communities. “So much of my art is about emotions that aren’t always easy to put into words,” she explained.

At its core, Shasha’s art is an extension of her life philosophy: that stories should not just be observed, but felt.

A Life in Motion

For Shasha, no single title or profession defines her. Whether through political advocacy, aviation, or art, her work has always been about immersing herself in experiences and amplifying stories that deserve to be heard. From her time at Nottingham Malaysia to her unexpected years in aviation, every chapter has shaped the way she tells stories today.

With Shasha’s Canvas, she continues this pursuit, using art as a way to preserve memories, reclaim narratives, and make self-expression accessible to all. Her journey is not about following a fixed path but about embracing every opportunity to connect, create, and challenge perspectives. And if one thing is certain, it’s that her story—like the ones she tells—is still unfolding.