Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Diaz.
Leslie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Sure! I started my page in the middle of my second year of college when someone close to me during that time told me I should create a food blog of some sort with restaurant recommendations and thankfully I listened to him. This was during a time when I felt pretty lost because I was no longer passionate about the career I was studying (Speech therapy) so I was looking for any sort of creative outlet. I did what most people who started a food page did. I went to restaurants I loved or was interested in, paid for my meals, and would post as often as I could.
Things got tough once I realized I wanted to take this seriously and everyone around me didn’t understand it and or thought it wasn’t possible to make a career from posting food content. Back in 2019, social media wasn’t as much on the forefront as it is now so I had to fight to get to where I am today. Right now I work full-time in social media as a content creator for my page and as a social media manager for various restaurants across South Florida. I also have to credit much of my motivation and success to my boyfriend (@canchicaneat) who has been my biggest supporter and has helped me film almost all of my videos for the past almost 2 years.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road couldn’t have been less smooth. I would say my main struggle was trying to convince my family that I had a vision and for them to trust me. I’m the daughter of Cuban parents with traditional values and they wanted a safer, more traditional career choice where money was more secure. This time was very frustrating for me but looking back I can’t blame them because going a more creative route is always a gamble.
There were also a bunch of smaller struggles along the way such as balancing my creative pursuit while still doing college work, constantly driving far, paying more money than usual on food to get content, comparing myself to other creators, etc. However, I’m so grateful for how it taught me that nothing great comes easy and that you have to work hard if you want to achieve your goals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I believe what sets me apart is I like to cover all parts of South Florida and often spots that are more affordable for most people rather than only the trendy restaurants in Brickell, Miami Beach, Design District, etc. I put lots of love into each one of my videos and while I try to maintain the same style, each video has its own personality based on the restaurant. I’m proud of how much I’ve grown these past 4 years, especially this past year.
With every video I post, I intend to always offer my audience an experience of the restaurant or business I’m showcasing. It’s important to not just get great views but to translate those views into real people going to the restaurant. Achieving longevity in social media is not through viral videos, but by building an authentic relationship with your followers. This is what I’m most proud of achieving and hope to continue to do on my social platforms.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
This industry will probably have a major shift in the next year so I cannot even imagine how much it’ll change in 5-10 years. When I was starting out, Instagram was mainly a platform just for cute pictures, and the shift it’s taken since then with Reels is night and day.
I believe Instagram and TikTok are still going to be the main platforms for a while until the next new app comes.
Videos are going to keep getting pushed but editing styles are going to keep getting even more creative and innovative.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/treatyoselfeverywhere
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR7H2y6F/
