Today we’d like to introduce you to Sumaiya Khan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sumaiya. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Basically, I have a shopping addiction that I turned into a fashion and lifestyle Instagram blog! I became a fashion fiend while studying at The University of Georgia. I slowly learned about trends, what worked or didn’t work for me, and how to ball on a budget essentially because I was definitely a broke college student. I focused my career path on non profit work and health promotion but always kept my shopping habit up. It took me some time but I finally decided to create a blog on my Instagram platform to showcase my personal style, great finds that are high end and/or street wear, and various happenings in Atlanta! I love trying new restaurants (I’m a huge Yelper!), and visiting new places in Atlanta and beyond, so you’ll find a bit of that along with my fashion posts.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I am still a very new account so I’m definitely feeling the struggle at the moment. Developing an engaged, active following is hard because everything is so fleeting on social media. Most of us already have various aspects of our life that are constantly fighting for our attention and social media only aids to limit our focus. In an Instagram world overly saturated with bloggers, you feel like you need to have a perfectly edited theme and an expertly curated feed. If that’s your preference, then more power to you! I can only hope to stand out for doing the opposite. I try to have as minimal edits as possible with the outfit being the focus. I thrive on real color images and outfits that are affordable yet put together.
I also feel that I represent the majority of Asian women who may generally be overlooked. Our society has a long way to go with fully embracing woman of color, but especially those that don’t fit the mold. Instagram is not inclusive to every type of Asian woman. It favors the fair skinned, model thin, delicately featured Asian woman who is “exotic” enough to make you wonder where she’s from but American enough to make you look past her identity altogether. I have a darker caramel skintone, with frizzy, wavy curls and a nose that’s been passed down from my Bengali maternal grandmother. I am not a size 2, and I definitely look South Asian. I hope I can bridge the gap in the blogging world to include Asian women of all ethnicities, colors, sizes & shapes. I would want anyone who wants to follow me to know that I aim to be as authentic and down to earth on Instagram, as I am in real life!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am firstly a Behavioral Health professional working for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, at a county government agency. Secondly, I have a Fashion and Lifestyle blog on Instagram, under the handle @Sumaiyastyle. I create outfits that are fun yet functional, chic yet affordable, and inspirational yet attainable. You will also get fabulous finds that I’m loving at the moment, new and favorite restaurants to try out, and travel adventures, such as my recent trip to Bangladesh. At the moment, I’ll be honest: I’m most proud of reaching 1500 followers, and being able to find time to take photos in between a full-time job, an active social life and spending time with my husband!
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I have found a welcoming community of bloggers out there who support newbies. Supporting, sharing & connecting with other bloggers from different cities is very important because it exposes you to audiences around the world as well as allowing you the opportunity to develop friendships that may not have been possible otherwise.
Contact Info:
- Email: sumaiyastyle077@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumaiyastyle/?hl=en
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
