Today we’d like to introduce you to Rheanna Velasquez.
Hi Rheanna, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Thinking about where my journey started, I think back to when I was in elementary school and I knew exactly who I wanted to be. I envisioned it daily. I knew one day at a very young age that I would be someone very successful in the fashion industry. I didn’t know what and I didn’t know how, but I knew. Fast forward, I ended up steering away from that vision because I felt like it wasn’t realistic for my life. My family was the traditional middle class and growing up I didn’t look the part that I felt like I should be in the industry. Whether it was due to magazines I would read growing up and seeing the how the women looked or etc. To me, I didn’t fit the part. I decided to choose the medical field because it seemed more practical for me. My interest constantly changed in the medical field, and nothing ever seemed right. I bounced a lot in what I wanted to do in the medical field. This was all throughout my middle school to college career as well. Once Covid hit in 2020 I was working part time, going to school full time. I ended up getting laid off for two weeks. In those two weeks I started to read a lot of mental health books and books that really opened my mind to different ways of thinking. After reading these books and really diving deep into myself in every way, I created an Instagram page directed to my style and that was when the journey started. I created the page while still living with my parents, once September hit in 2020 I then moved out with my partner and at the time I was very big into vintage clothing. From there I opened up an online vintage shop, and I would do pop up markets as well. This helped me to really get out of my comfort zone coming from someone who grew up as being the shy quite one. I was then able to market my brand, network and meet so many amazing people that have supported me through my journey to where I am today. Through this journey I have been on a podcast, hosted live fashion contests, modeled for multiple brands and now currently creating content videos for high end brands such as the ones you see in the stores and purchase. Truly blessed is an understatement for the life I live today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not completely. When I first started this journey balancing a fulltime college routine, working part-time and also trying to work 24/7 on your own brand is a very hard balance. I quickly realized that this was going to be much harder than what I imagined and what I thought I could handle. Later down the line I knew going into 2021 I wanted to focus on my brand and making money to continue to build my brand, so I put college on a hold. This was a hard choice for me because I had felt like I put so much time, energy and money into that part of my life, but I also knew I had a much bigger picture for myself. As far as current struggles, having a well-balanced life in the seasons that I currently fall in. While still working full time it is hard to find a balance with everything. Taking care of myself, mentally, physically, spiritually, etc., connecting with brands, creating content for brands and myself while still wanting to make sure I have time for the people that mean the most to me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a full time UGC Content Creator. I create non-ad like video content for brands to use when marketing their products. They then can be put onto whichever preferred platform. I specialize in fashion, fitness and all things lifestyle. I would say the things that I am known for would be my style, vintage clothing, and fitness. My content work is something that I am most proud of. Looking back from when I started to where I am now makes me look back in awe. Coming from someone who didn’t know how to edit and who was shy. I put in time to search how to edit, study what the pros or people I looked up to were doing and really practiced it and put it into action. I believe what sets me apart from others is my authenticity to my craft and myself. I’m not one to follow the trends and I love to do things in my own way, in my own style.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I don’t post about it much, but I love to bake. Baking is something that I’ve been doing since middle school. I grew a love for it that it very therapeutic for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rheaup.my.canva.site/portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhea.up/
