Today we’d like to introduce you to Eugina Noh.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Eugina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
One of my childhood dreams was to become a food photographer. I’ve always taken pictures of food wherever I went, phone eats first! The camera roll on my iPod Touch would be entirely composed of food pictures. Admittedly, I would be that person who only posted photos of food on her Facebook Timeline. In college, my friends would half-jokingly tell me to create a separate food account on Instagram. And so “Euginoms” was born in Pittsburgh, PA. My food blog was mainly a means to document all the “noms.” I genuinely loved to explore the vastness of food cultures in the various neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Besides, grabbing food with people was a great way to start conversations and get to know people in college. I also began to post photos and write reviews on Yelp where I pursued Elite status. That year I became a Yelp Elite member and hold that title to this day. @Euginoms started to really grow when I moved down to Atlanta, GA as a post-undergrad. I was completely new to the area and my curiosity to discover the food scene here grew as I ventured out into the different neighborhoods. What sparked a deeper involvement with Atlanta’s foodie community was simply one encounter with a fellow foodie who invited me to meet and connect with other Atlanta foodies (#atlantafoodies). I love how this platform allows me to network with foodies all over the world and to advocate for restaurants and businesses. I have met so many incredible people, both online and in-person, who love and get excited by the same things I do. Never would I have imagined that I would be a part of a community like this nor that I would grow my presence as a foodie influencer through this platform.
Great, 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?
The Instagram platform has definitely grown over recent years and the struggle of comparison and competition has as well. As my food-gram began to reach greater audiences, I found my initial purpose shift from genuine enjoyment of sharing my food journey to focusing on the more visible aspects of the platform — followers, likes, views, etc. While trying to grow your brand, I think it’s important not to lose sight of staying true to who you are in portraying your value. Don’t be ashamed to show the things you love and don’t be discouraged when you might not get the “validation” you want from the numbers. At the end of the day, remind yourself of why you do what you do. Meet people who bring joy and inspiration into your craft, and of course, have fun with it.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am always on the lookout for new places to showcase on my grid. I scroll through Instagram and Yelp for a much longer time than I’d like to admit – constantly bookmarking places into saved collections and organizing them on several lists. As someone who has moved around quite a bit growing up, food has always been a great way to get acquainted with a new environment. On my feed, you can usually find sweeter than savory content, but I try to bring a balance of both. What motivates me and makes me proud of creating my brand are the small boosts of joy I receive from followers who express their appreciation. They thank me for introducing them to new places or tell me that they seek out my page as one of their sources for food recommendations. Not only does my work help my followers, but also the local community. I love it when I can give back to restaurants by giving them greater exposure in the community and in turn bringing in new customers. Euginoms has become a creative outlet for me and I hope that this happy place of mine can continue to reflect that.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I would say one of the biggest barriers would be confidence. Personally, I battle with self-confidence daily. There are always going to be people out there who tell you you’re not good enough or that they’re better than you. It’s very easy to go down a slippery slope of comparison, especially with how accessible social media is. But I think the key is to have a clear goal in mind and surround yourself with people who celebrate your successes. I really believe that with a strong support system, you’ll be able to overcome these barriers and flourish in your work.
Contact Info:
- Email: nomeuginoms@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/euginoms
- Other: https://euginoms.yelp.com
Image Credit:
Cover Photo: @kai_fishy; Other Photos: Eugina Noh
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