Being a digital creator is cumbersome enough, now being a student alongside? and you have a most difficult combination to manage. On today’s episode of creator spotlight, we had a conversation with growing digital creator Debbie (@Blackhey) as we discussed how she started out, and how she manages both sides of her life.
Can you give a brief description of yourself?
Hi to you all beauties !
My name is Debbie. To be brief, I am a young female student that just came back from a long trip in South Korea (6months). I’ll be soon graduated from a master’s degree in business development.
My main characteristic : I am inspired by East Asian culture that influences me a lot in my lifestyle. That’s why you can find East Asian vibes in my style.
Give us a brief history of how you became a creator?
I started on IG when I was at high school.
I had lots of different accounts.
But this is with my very last account « @blackhey », made 4/5years ago (with lots of breaks), that I really start to make a fashion IG to show my style.
At the beginning it was just about posting photos of my outfits. I was taking photos everywhere (fitting rooms in shops, in street mirrors, outside thanks to my friends…).
My followers were very supportive and liked my content for real, even more than now. I have easily between 700 and 1k likes on my photos but then the IG algorithm destroyed everything.
Then I started to be a bit more « professional » and aesthetic in my content. At the same moment I entered into an artistic team with lots of talents (photographers, dancers, models…) and since this moment I started to connect myself with real digital creator and I finally started to have collaborations with real brands !
A real dream that became true ! Finally brands recognized my style and potential and wanted me to create some content for them ! ✨ VERY REWARDING !
For the most famous of them : SIZE? , ZALANDO, MONKI, NA-KD, AMERICAN EAGLE, MISSGUIDED, TALLY WEIJL, MIKAKUS, STORY OF LOLA…
Give me five words to describe the journey so far
Fashionable
Passionating
Educating
Rewarding
Intense
What’s a day in the life of a student and young creator in freelance on IG?
It’s very complicated to associate both.
Studies take a lots of time, just like the work of a digital creator.
To make it easier I just think about new outfit ideas every time, every where even when I’m hanging out with my friends or when I’m at a very important meeting for example. I write all my ideas on the app « Note » on my iPhone. More, I have also the collaborations with lots of brands I have to manage : find the best way to make the pieces irresistible and post them on my IG before the deadline.
Then I usually have time during weekends to create the digital content (photos, videos, reels) outside in Paris streets. Parisian spots are ones of the best for real ! You’ll always find a new instagrammable / fashionable spot ! ✨
The most of the time my friends take my photos, they are all well educated about how to take me in photo (hahaha😅) but when nobody is available I take them by my own with my tripod which takes more time.
That’s a big organization to be a digital content creator and it can be difficult especially when you have lots of deadlines from different brands to post the content but the most important is that YOU HAVE TO FEEL PLEASURE MAKING YOUR CONTENT ! You must be passionate. That’s why I also recommend to not make only collaborations to not lose the PASSION and to not be trapped by the « negative IG business ».
What influenced/inspired you into choosing this as a career path?
It was very unplanned.
At the beginning, IG was just for me a way to have fun and share my style just like that.
But one day it became professional without asking thanks to the improvement of my style and content.
Then, I decided to accept being called « a digital content creator » and to collaborate with brands because I know it can open lots of doors in lots of industries, not only in the fashion one.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?
MY PASSION FOR ORIGINAL OUTFITS.
THE FEELING OF BEING WELL-DRESSED AND BEING WATCHING IN STREETS FOR MY STYLE !
And now, the possibility to go further with brands into collaboration and to have more and more opportunities.
Do you strive to be unique in your creative endeavors? If yes; how?
YES OF COURSE !
That’s my motto ! BE ORIGINAL !
All my outfits must be original, new, inspiring for people, even intriguing for some of them (ahahah).
I rarely post « simple outfits ». You have always a special touch, especially with accessories. My last fav touch « my pink panther socks » from South Korea. They are crazy. They make an outfit FUNNY AND UNCOMMON !
Have you ever doubted your talent? If so, how do you work through your doubt?
I think every one lives this moment in their life « am I good enough in what I am doing? » « Will I be recognized one day for my work ? ». Especially during these hard times.
When you are living this moment, it’s good to take a moment alone with yourself to figure out what you are doing wrong to doubt yourself like that.
Then, you should ask yourself about your life objectives, how far are you from them and about the actions you make to reach them (are they enough?).
Also, you just have to re-motivate yourself thanks to a supportive entourage or just by your own if you’re mentally strong enough.
Finally, you have to keep in mind that just a few talents are innate. JUST A FEW !
We must educate during our whole life to become always better and better in what de are doing. Even Bill Gates still educating himself in his work ! So never rest on your laurels !
It’s like that you’ll become the best, or at least, one of them !
If you could choose a theme song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
OMG !
Would be « Gorillaz - Feel Good Inc. » for sure !
Especially the instrumental bridge !
Every time I feel moody, I just listen to this track and especially to this bridge part and everything gets better then.
Moreover, Gorillaz is a band that matches a lot to my personality. They are talented, uncommon, original, funny, sometimes weird and that’s why we love them.
If your creative work was edible, what would it taste like?
Ouch ! Hard question.
For sure an East Asian typical food mixed with some French gastronomy.
That’s why I would say : a Bubble Tea « Creme Brulee » flavour🧋
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