SECOND NATURE
TV star turned entrepreneur Shay Mitchell has an inspiring thirst for life and is willing to go the distance to quench it.
WORDS BY INGRIE WILLIAMS
“I’ve given birth twice, and shooting Thirst was probably harder for me than that,” Shay Mitchell tells me on an afternoon in August. We’re chatting over Zoom as the 37-year-old Canadian has just returned to her home base of L.A. after visiting her family in Vancouver. She considers the place where she spent a lot of her childhood a refuge of sorts, animatedly describing how beautiful and relaxing it is in the summer: “My favourite thing to do there is pick blackberries; it’s very calming for me.” But shooting Thirst, her new travel show, which launched on Max earlier this spring, on the other hand? Where they had to chop sugar cane at a Brazilian cachaca distillery? Not so much. “Turns out I can handle a lot,” she says.
Depending on whom you talk to, Mitchell’s fame can be linked to any number of things. Some may know her from her role as Emily Fields on Pretty Little Liars, the long-running cult-fave mystery TV series that debuted in 2010. Others may know her as a viral TikTok machine or the new ambassador for Maybelline New York (which, considering her killer cheekbones and long, glossy hair, is a no-brainer). But the overarching through line is her love of a grand voyage, exemplified by her baggage brand, Béis, and her travel show.
Coat, skirt and shoes, prices upon request, Marc Jacobs.
Thirst is an intoxicating blend of entertainment and education presented through the lens of cocktail-infused wanderlust. The show highlights beverages unique to South America as well as the artisans who have dedicated their lives to crafting cheers-worthy drinks. As I experience first-hand during our nearly-hour-long conversation, Mitchell’s natural warmth, candour and fun make her the perfect virtual drinking buddy. Behind the scenes, the host found participating in the four-part series challenging: Within three days of arriving in Brazil (the first location), she got ill and remained sick throughout filming. “I learned that the show must go on; I don’t know if I’d ever been sicker in my life,” she says, noting that the tight 21-day shoot schedule didn’t allow for buffer days. “We were either travelling, scouting or shooting, and even on the days when my crew was resting, I was going out with my co-producer and we were shooting on our iPhones.”
While the experience was an international test of her mettle, she recalls it fondly. “It’s definitely one of the top three things in my life I’m most proud of,” she says. “I had such a blast shooting it regardless, because it was a project I was extremely passionate about and I had a lot of fun. I got to meet a lot of incredible people and taste a lot of great drinks.” Her most memorable sip? “It has to be the potato wine that I tried in Peru. I was so blown away by the fact that it tastes so similar to wine that we’re familiar with here.”
Jacket, $3,515, Rick Owens at Holt Renfrew. Sweater, $1,025, and boots, $1,600, Sacai at Bacci’s. Top, $135, and skirt, $145, Rachel Sudbury.
Born in Mississauga, Ont., Mitchell moved to Vancouver with her family when she was a tween. After getting scouted by a modelling agent at 18, she set off to work in Bangkok and Hong Kong for a year before returning to Toronto to pursue acting. Landing Pretty Little Liars and subsequently moving to L.A. changed the trajectory of Mitchell’s life, and she credits her parents, who are always planning their next getaway, with her being “bitten by the travel bug at a very young age,” she explains. “I loved the whole process and the buildup to the trip almost as much as I loved the trip itself because it was such an exciting, fleeting moment.”
That’s not to say she doesn’t also love being at home. The avid traveller, who recently logged treks to Italy, Costa Rica and Nashville, makes twice-yearly trips to British Columbia a priority. “Being Canadian is a huge part of who I am,” she says, noting that she never misses a nostalgic tour of her former stomping grounds. “It’s a reset.”
“I loved the whole process and the buildup to the trip almost as much as I loved the trip itself because it was such an exciting, fleeting moment.”
Mitchell values those grounding moments because her life is a juggling act of personal and professional responsibilities. The mother of two young girls, Atlas and Rome, she most recently appeared in Netflix’s You, Hulu’s Dollface and the holiday romcom Something From Tiffany’s on Prime Video. These days, however, running her businesses — yes, plural — takes centre stage. “Truthfully, I feel like I’ve always had that,” she says about her entrepreneurial drive. “When I was shooting Pretty Little Liars, while we were waiting for the next set-up to be ready, I was always looking at other things to do and I had a blog at the time.” A yearning to pursue her own projects also resulted in a YouTube travel show called Shaycation. “I’ve always been interested in business and marketing,” she says. “I didn’t go to school for any of that, but I always had a curiosity for it.”
Enter Béis, a luggage, everyday-bag and travel-accessories line that hits the sweet spot between functional design details, trend-driven colours and accessible price points. It launched in 2018, right after Pretty Little Liars wrapped its final season, but, really, it’s been years in the making as Mitchell reveals she had a childhood obsession with bags and the ritual of packing. “I loved the bags even more than I cared about what went inside them,” she explains.
Dress, $1,890, Sportmax. Hat, $210, Rachel Sudbury. Gloves, stylist’s own.
Mitchell’s resolute nature comes through clearly as we talk about her prerequisite for a project, such as her next film, The Up and Comer. “I have to be excited about the script,” she says. “It has to be something I’d want to watch. That’s super important.” With so much on the go, having a firm boundary helps her focus her energy and yield the most fulfillment. “I’m pretty good at saying no — that’s been one of the best lessons I’ve learned,” she says. “I don’t over-exhaust myself, because when you do that, you’re depleted and you’re not useful to yourself, your family or your friends.”
“When we consistently hear the same feedback, we take it very seriously. But I don’t see the benefit of an unnecessary negative comment.”
Balancing a strong sense of self with self-deprecating humour plays largely into Mitchell’s mass appeal. On social media, her audience clocks in at 7.5 million on TikTok and 36 million on Instagram and she makes you feel like you’re catching up with your most glamorous yet down-to-earth friend. “I try not to take social media too seriously,” she says. “I post things that I find interesting, funny or important, but I don’t ever feel pressured to post. I don’t let it control me.” In between flashy clips from the makeup chair or behind the scenes at a photo shoot, you’ll catch glimpses of her life at home — making gummi-bear candy with her kids or reviewing a popular sweet treat. Her lip-synching skills to trending audios, several of which went viral during lockdown, have only gotten better. Being detached from the onslaught of follower feedback, and opting out of reading every comment, factors heavily into her approach. “If I don’t read too much into what people are saying about me, in general, good or bad, it allows me to be more even-keeled, and that’s better for me,” she says.
Though Mitchell appreciates the open photo diary and timeline of life that social media offers, she wishes the platforms would address the darker side of TikTok. “There’s constructive criticism, which I genuinely enjoy and need for my business,” she says. “When we consistently hear the same feedback, we take it very seriously. But I don’t see the benefit of an unnecessary negative comment.” Navigating online cynicism is at the forefront of her mind as she anticipates her own daughters’ experiences. “When the time comes that they’re on social media, I’ll really have to set them up to have a little extra armour, because words are hurtful, regardless of whom they come from,” she says.
Top, $3,850, skirt, $5,950, boots, $2,300, and sunglasses, $640, Balenciaga.
“You dress how you feel — at least that’s what works for me and it’s what I’m telling my daughters,” Mitchell says, describing her personal style as always evolving and fun. Since having punctured the pop-culture bubble in the 2010s, she has left her bandeau dresses and plat‑form heels behind and embraced a more streamlined aesthetic that includes oversized blazers, micro minis and structured ensembles.
Mitchell is quick to give stylists their due. Over the past year, she has worked consistently with Shalev Lavàn, whom she considers a good friend. “I know what I’m good at, and I don’t have a knack for that,” she says, lightheartedly. “It’s really cool to be able to be a bit of a doll with people who are really super creative.” Mitchell lights up as she recalls her FASHION cover shoot, including being enamoured with a pair of sculptural pink Marc Jacobs shoes that stylist Leila Bani had brought to the set. “I love seeing what designers come out with,” she says. “We should be able to play throughout our lives and figure out what feels good and what doesn’t. Fashion is beautiful art to me, and we need art to make the world go round.”
And around she’ll go, because Mitchell has big plans for her next global stops. Though a second season of Thirst has yet to be confirmed, Mitchell is more than game for another turn. “The next place I would go to is Asia,” she says. “They have a lot of different beverages there that I would love to explore.” Dream destinations include Seoul, Vietnam and more of South America. “New Zealand is another place that’s been circling in my orbit; the landscape there looks so incredible,” she says. More immediately, she’s manifesting a holiday trip to London, England — or the picturesque Cotswolds, to be specific — but Scotland is also in the running. “I was there earlier this year for a fashion show, and I made myself a promise to go back,” she says. “It would be very cool to experience the winter — they told me they occasionally have reindeers there.”
Along with the stunning vistas, culinary discoveries and everything else an epic trip has to offer, connection is ultimately what Mitchell seeks when she roams. “Travelling has helped me recognize just how similar we are as humans, no matter where we come from,” she says. “A lot of us share the same values, and it’s just a really beautiful thing to see.”
Previous image
Next image
BEST PACKING APPROACH
“I’m an over-packer, so packing cubes have been a game-changer. I’ve also gotten better at trying on full looks ahead of time to avoid bringing everything but the kitchen sink.”
BEST CARRY-ON ESSENTIALS
“I have a multitude of portable chargers to avoid my cell being on low battery. Plus, I’ll always bring a couple of cameras: a disposable one and my little digital camera. It’s all about the memories. Oh, and antibacterial wipes to clean the seat off. I am that person.”
BEST BEAUTY-BAG MUST-HAVES
“Along with sheet masks and a face mist, I have a tube of Maybelline Sky High mascara in every bag I travel with. I also bring Vaseline as a multi-use balm — it’s great for cuticles and elbows.”
BEST LONG-HAUL-FLIGHT OUTFIT
“It needs to be comfortable. Lightweight black trousers, a jean jacket with a hoodie, a tank top and a baseball hat — that’s my go-to vibe. Dressing in layers is key because you never know if the airplane is going to be freezing.”
BEST GAME PLAN
“Go with the flow. Have a plan, but don’t be married to it. If you miss something, it can guide you to a different experience. Also, talk to the locals. I’ve been to so many incredible places because of somebody I met.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG SWALES
STYLING BY LEILA BANI
CREATIVE DIRECTION BY GEORGE ANTONOPOULOS
HAIR Sergio. MAKEUP Rio Translado. MANICURE Zrinka B Vuksan for Zer.0 Professional Nail System. PRODUCER Sean Frith. PHOTO ASSISTANTS Gaelan Glenn and Wayne Hoecherl. DIGITAL TECHNICIAN Rob Seebacher. FASHION ASSISTANTS Kristine Wilson and Rosemary Fisher-Lang.