When I started this account, I was in a different place in my life. I was still “trying to fit in”. I spent way too much of my time and money on alcohol and going out. I went out every time I was invited in fear that they would stop inviting me. I was nervous to post what I wanted on this account and had anxiety that those people would talk badly about me behind my back. The joke is, they talked badly about me no matter what I did. Now, feeling more confident than ever, it is time to rebrand.
The summer of 2021, this blog started to feel more like an obligation than a place for freedom of expression and fun. I decided to take a hiatus and told myself to take as much time as I needed to really do right by this account. I mentioned it on one of my Instagram stories, but a good friend told me that my personality did not shine through on my account. My new followers had no idea who I was. As someone with a big, bold in-your-face personality, this was both shocking and incredibly inspiring feedback. It was the kick I needed to relook at what I was doing.
Now, I want you to know me. I’d rather stand for something than stand for nothing. I am not throwing away my shot. (If you do not understand that reference, please google it immediately. You are missing out.)
I will no longer be only posting “pretty pictures”. At my core, I am weird. I am silly. I am bold. I am unafraid in so many aspects of my life and hopefully that is the person that starts to shine through. If I think about my favorite music, influencers, my dreams, my role models, etc., there is one thing in common. They unwaveringly stand by who they are. I am a feminist and I am proud. If that word scares you, I implore you to educate yourself, but also, don’t follow me. If you think society is better off with women treated less than men, quite honestly, read a book. Not sure what to tell you. I am done filtering myself.
People tell you to be careful online or on social media because it could affect your career. I think my bold statements will affect my career, but not in the way you think. I am honest and straightforward in life, so why wouldn’t I be that way in business? To a future investor, partner, coworker, I hope my online presence helps you understand my passion. I hope it shows my dedication to what I believe in. I hope I inspire growth mindsets and positivity.
One of my favorite song lyrics is “No, I don’t wanna sit still, look pretty”. I want to use my voice; my loud, unfiltered, very opinionated voice, to say something. If I look at my Instagram feed right now, I am not sure what I was trying to say.
After all of my reflection, I realized I actually do not want to be a fashion influencer. Yes, I love fashion and my outfits will still be stylish, but I’d rather be a lifestyle influencer. How do we grow together as a society? How do we take daily challenges to move ourselves forward, little by little? How does our use of color change our moods? How does a colorful Instagram feed filled with smiles affect our mood versus a monotone, serious hot girl feed?
If our addiction to social media is because we need an escape, I want my platform to be a positive escape that helps ease the burden of even needing an escape at all. While my platform is online, I will constantly and consistently be reminding people to take time unplugged. This desire to always be social, working, moving forward, takes away from our independent goals and our reflection on what is actually going on in our lives.
I hope to still keep all of my amazing followers because I really do value you being here, but I hope you are here to join my growth journey. For those of you who know me personally, you know that my growth journey will never end, so buckle in for the long haul.
**I know a lot of times when people rebrand, they delete their old posts. I am not going to do that. Those posts are part of my journey, too.
Challenge
Do not change for anyone. There is a difference between growing and changing. You were created exactly as you are for a reason. Do not let anyone steal your sparkle. I am for sure done with that part of my life.