Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Lewis.
Hi Briana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised as an only child here in Miami, FL to immigrant parents from Trinidad and Tobago. With that being said, I had always been told that I needed to get good grades in school, go to college and get a good-paying job. As a child, I have always taken an interest in the arts and more specifically fashion. I believe my interest stems from my Mother and my interest in pop culture. My mother was a fashionista herself in her day and it rubbed off on me. She always made sure I looked good before I left the house and taught me how to dress and be stylish and we would shop for clothes; she always encouraged me to choose something that was different. I always wanted to get the fashion magazines when we went to the grocery store. It started with Seventeen and grew to Vogue.
When I went to college at Florida State University is when I began to embrace my want to work in the fashion and social media space. However, I still had certain expectations from my parents and family in the back of my mind which caused me to change my major a couple of times. I was also a little fearful of how to create a successful career in the fashion field. Until I finally decided to study Editing, Writing & Media in the English Department. I’ve always been well and did the best in writing and English and the field was broad enough for my to explore other things. I decided to make my extracurriculars and internships be writing and fashion related. I joined a student-run fashion publication junior year of college and worked on the PR team creating content for the socials and then moved on to the womenswear styling team. I also bought myself my first camera and got into photography.
After college, I worked as Visual Merchandiser in RTW at Macy’s. My yearning to work in the social media industry was still there and it grew into me wanting to work for my own. I wanted to do something that would combine my photography, writing and styling skills. In July of 2021, I finally launched my fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog bristhetic.com. At the beginning of this year, I started to take my socials and content creation more seriously and I am now growing as UGC (User Generated Content) Creator and micro-influencer. I’m working with some amazing brands in the skincare and beauty fields, creating content for them and getting the ball rolling.
My goal to work for myself and create a business is still in the beginning stages but I love it and love the growth I see in myself. My main goal is to inspire others through my work and story and create a community online of other fashion lovers through my social media and blog.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am reading a book right now called Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, and in it he writes, “There is no such reality as something for nothing”. Every great success story has its bumps in the road and struggles. It hasn’t always been easy for me on this journey but I try not to focus on the lack or current circumstances and just keep pushing forward with my eye on the prize. I’ve always had struggles from growing up with a single mother to my health and finances yet I always push through.
I try to embrace the challenges even when it is uncomfortable. Me being a spiritual person and focusing on faith helps to just always focus on finding the solution and finding the light at the end of the tunnel knowing ill come out stronger and victorious in the end. Working a 9-5 in retail as a visual merchandiser and trying to balance getting my brand kicked off, creating content and affording clothing and bills and a social life all on my own is not easy but I keep pushing. Once I realized I wanted to be my own boss and create my own business/brand I knew there would be challenges but I was ready to face them knowing my passion and knowing it would be worth in the end.
I think one of my biggest struggles was the decision to leave my 9-5 as a visual merchandiser to pursue my content creator and blogger business. We are living in a time where everything is so unpredictable. There’s an ongoing pandemic and the economy is beginning to struggle but I was so unhappy and just knew if I just put my all into my work and kept pursuing what I love, everything would be alright. Taking the leap of faith and leaving the comfortability of a steady income has not been the easiest but I know it will be worth it. Focusing on doing what I love and being great at is what’s best and the money will follow.
Another big challenge of mine is just having the confidence. Having the confidence in myself, in my work and abilities. Communicating and reaching out to brands and having the confidence to do so is not the easiest. I had a slow start but I am definitely picking up traction and communicating with some big beauty and fashion brands on the daily.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a fashion blogger and micro-influencer and I have a UGC(User Generated Content) Creator business. As a UGC Creator, I create content for brands to use on their social media accounts, websites or run as ads on social media and get paid for the content. I love it because it combines my love for photography, social media, fashion and beauty. So far with my UGC work majority of my work with brands have been in the skincare niche but I’m looking to branch out to my other two favorite fields of fashion and beauty. This has really opened up my communication with brands and my audience for my blogging and influencing as well, Of course, it’s fun getting free products and working with brands but it’s a lot of work. Like the meme says, “I quit my 9-5 to work 24/7” it’s the truth!
I created my blog bristhetic.com as a way to share my personal style and passion for fashion with others and to inspire others. I also share on lifestyle and beauty topics as well. I believe I’m different in that I try not to keep pushing the same 3 fast fashion brands I’m always looking for new online boutiques or small fashion brands and designers and minority designers with cool items to share.
If you’re wondering what my blog name “Bristhetic” came about it’s a merge of my name and the word aesthetic. Bristhetic means “All things concerned with Bri’s appreciation for fashion, beauty, lifestyle and art”. I’ve just always resonated with the word aesthetic. I’m just always seeking things that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye. And as a fashion blogger and content creator, having a certain aesthetic and common theme guiding your work makes it easier for people to recognize you, your work and style.
Right now, what makes me most proud was just having the courage to start. I’ve talked about starting my own blog and doing content creation for a while but sometimes doubt, procrastination, self-criticism and fear of judgment kick in. But I got passed it and believed in my abilities and the feedback I have been getting from friends, strangers and different brands has been great! My launch date was better than I expected for my blog and my first two months working on my UGC business has been great and I know if I stay consistent and keep growing a genuine following will continue to grow.
I believe what sets me apart from others is me being a 27 years old African American women. It’s not often that I see many mainstream content creators and fashion bloggers that look like me and I would hope to be a part of making a difference in that and that excites me. I already like to find new, small and black-owned fashion brands and designers to support and I often share in my blog when I do so and I created a page on my blog to highlight and share any new and upcoming black-owned fashion, beauty or lifestyle brands that I launched last year. Being able to do things like that and hopefully make a difference for someone else like me trying to make a name in the fashion world excites me.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I would have to say, my mother. As an only child to a single mother, I have watched her work so hard to make sure I have everything I needed and wanted. She is a huge part of what motivates me to keep trying and going every day. As I mentioned earlier, my mother is also a huge part of where my love for fashion and styling comes from. She was a fashionista herself in her day and I remember how she would dress to go to work as an Assistant Manager in a bank and it rubbed off on me. I just always remember when I was smaller that for any event or outing or place I was going I just always had to get a new outfit. And she always made sure I looked good before I left the house and taught me how to dress and be stylish and we would shop for clothes she always encouraged me to choose something that was different. And to this day every time I’m going out I always find a reason to buy a new outfit! I also steal things out of her closet to this day!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFFGVyv8Ec/shcbbLIYswqfWSP3XNu84A/view?website#2:home
- Instagram: bristhetic_
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianalUGC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnnFvMY9j7ExrEHpdJbIoMQ
- Other: bristhetic.com
