Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Monique Smith. I am a fashion enthusiast and social media influencer. My journey in the fashion industry started back in 2012 when I began to create fashion content on various social media platforms such as Tumblr & WeHeartIt.
My decision to pursue a career in the fashion industry was not the most conventional, and it was not initially supported by my family. Despite their apprehensions, I was determined to pursue my dream. Starting in elementary school, I would spend hours online creating fashion content, putting together outfits and blogging about my passion. It was only in high school when I discovered Instagram that my dream began to start. I started to post my outfits, which received positive feedback from my community, and began to grow a small following.
After graduating college with a businesses diploma, I worked in several unrelated corporate jobs, which left me feeling unfulfilled and unhappy.
During this time, my colleagues often commented on my creative abilities and encouraged me to pursue my passions. It was these comments that inspired me to take a leap of faith and leave my corporate job to pursue my passion,
Volunteering at Toronto Fashion Week, attending networking events, traveling to different cities, and making connections with people in the industry were some of the ways I pursued. I continued to focus on my creativity and learned about the fashion industry during the quarantine period. Posting online, emailing fashion brands to work with them, and consistently posting my looks enabled me to grow my platform and reach a larger audience.
However, I was not content with just posting fashion looks; I wanted to add value to my audience and help motivate them. This is why I began posting behind-the-scenes videos to share my knowledge and expertise on taking photos, editing, and working with brands.
Through my journey, I have come to realize that my purpose is to help others find confidence in themselves. This has brought me full circle, and I am now able to be a role model for others. I hope to inspire and motivate others to pursue their passions and be confident in their abilities.
If you are considering pursuing your passion, I encourage you to believe in yourself and don’t not let the voices of others discourage you from pursuing your dreams.
Remember that time is precious, so start today, and do not be afraid to take a leap of faith. I hope we can start this journey together
