Ashleigh Cahn: Beverly Hills Publisher and Photographer

Photography: CJR Media Photography

In a city famous for its fame, Ashleigh Cahn is in the business of making moments last forever.

To understand the woman currently reshaping the Beverly Hills media landscape, you have to look back to 1994. That was the year a six-year-old Cahn moved from Johannesburg, South Africa, to California. She did not just arrive, but she adapted and then hit the ice. For over a decade, Cahn was a competitive figure skater who eventually toured the globe with Disney on Ice. While she was performing for thousands, she was secretly studying the world from a different angle.

Traveling the world made her realize that her true passion was in photography because she loved having the ability to make time stand still. Most people leave the circus to find a desk job, but Cahn left the ice to build an empire. She traded her skates for a camera lens in 2013 by launching Ashleigh Cahn Photography.

Her training as an athlete provided the discipline and precision she applies to her art. Her philosophy is simple but profound in that she loves being able to take a moment and turn it into an unforgettable memory. Whether she is shooting high-stakes real estate architecture or intimate family portraits in Santa Monica, she applies an Olympian mindset to her art.

Capturing the community was not enough for Cahn as she wanted to connect it. As the Publisher of Beverly Hills Living Magazine, she has taken on the role of community architect.

The magazine is about bringing neighbors and local businesses together. Under her leadership, the publication focuses on stories that highlight and uplift while acting as a bridge between the residents and the businesses that serve them.

Cahn’s influence culminated recently in a massive event that signaled a changing of the guard in the 90210. She hosted the inaugural "40 Under 40" Red Carpet Event at Gravitas, a stunning 28,000-square-foot private club in the Golden Triangle featuring Art Deco design and marble finishes. The event honored 40 young leaders shaping the future of the city. Paying homage to her South African roots, Cahn dubbed the judging panel the "Big 5" which was a nod to the African wildlife icons.

The judges represented the heavy hitters of industry. The panel included Philippe Ziade, the visionary behind Growth Holdings and LIVV Homes , and Erik Peterson, the President of PHX Architecture known for converting the Old Montage to The Maybourne.

Joining them were Richard McWhorter, a wealth management veteran based in Beverly Hills at SRM Private Wealth, Having worked with some of the biggest companies in the finance industry, Richard combines traditional financial expertise with a creative, personalized approach, Dr. Dan Shaer, a leading figure in the dental wellness space, is experienced in cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and oral surgery, periodontal therapies, endodontics, and sedation dentistry. Our 5th and final judge, Carol Ghanem, a human rights activist, entrepreneur, and CEO of multiple companies, most recently partnering with Nina Garayan for the "Walking with Alex" foundation.

Ashleigh Cahn has managed to do what few can by successfully merging the grit of a professional athlete with the gloss of a Beverly Hills publisher. She is no longer just watching the show, but she is directing it. For a city that is always looking for the next big thing, Ashleigh Cahn has made it clear that she is already here.

You can follow Ashleigh Cahn on Instagram, and her Magazine Beverly Hills Living Magazine