Pacific Fashion Stylist Sammy Salsa: the new age Polynesian man.

He's one of New Zealand's sought-after fashion and celebrity Stylists and is quickly making his mark worldwide.

31-year-old Sammy Salsa Style has now been appointed as the internationally renowned MiNDFOOD magazine's full time Fashion Editorial Stylist for Mindfood Style.

The popular Magazine has a vast following in both Australia and New Zealand and has been running for over 8 years.

It's a rare position for the Pacific stylist who is one of few Polynesians in the European dominated industry.

"It's a huge opportunity for me, especially being polynesian and male," said Sammy

"Our aesthetic and our way of thinking is quite different from the european kind of style."

The creative stylist, otherwise known as Sam Cowley Lupo, traces his Pacific roots back to Vaigaga, Manase in Savai'i, Samoa and Avetele in Niue.

In his own personal style, the former TV music host of Pacific Beat Street, has pioneered the look of the new age polynesian man and gained respect from some of the fashion industry's heavyweights as well as his worldwide loyal followers on social media.

He represents an increasing number of Pacific Islanders who are bravely breaking away from the traditional gender stereotypes of pacific female/male attire.

"I've always had a different taste to most of my male cousins," he laughs.

"Society stereotypes us and they think Pacific Islanders are a specific breed and I've been lucky enough to break down some of those stereotypes."

He has styled artists such as Stan Walker, Ladi 6 and Hollie Smith and credits those gigs to helping further his career.

"I've been lucky enough to have a few doors open for me over the last 4 years"

"Especially working with key people in the entertainment industry who have really uplifted the platform that I'm on today."

The renowned Auckland-based stylist said he didn't know how to pursue his passion for fashion at first.

"As you get older and wiser you start making career choices and following different paths,"

"One day I got to a point where I thought - stuff that, I'm going to follow what I really want to do."

He says the motivation behind his success, is his family and his upbringing.

"I come from the struggle, my dad was in a gang and in the early days, there was quite a lot of abuse in my parents relationship," he said.

"A lot of that stuff has really motivated me to be a good role model for my four younger brothers."

The pioneering stylist says the struggles he's been through add value to his craft and his art.

Now his work continues to break the mould in an industry where there are few Pacific faces.