Rising Stars: Meet Jewels Rhode

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jewels Rhode.

Hi Jewels, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2015, I graduated with a Master of Public Health degree and struggled to find a full-time job. It was very disheartening because I felt I did everything “by the book” to land a decent role in my field: went to a prestigious college, had competitive internships and job experiences, and went to a top public health school. After months of rejections, I decided if the world wasn’t going to give me an opportunity, I will create an opportunity for myself.

I then began to think about my identity beyond public health. What was I known for among my peers? What brought me joy? Upon this reflection, travel immediately popped into my mind. At that time, I had visited over 20 countries while being a student or working full-time. I was the go-to person among my friends for all things travel-related. In June 2016, I started my journey as a Digital Content Creator and launched my website Travel Jewels to provide people with the information and inspiration to bring their travel dreams to life. Ironically, as soon as I launched my blog, a full-time role in Public Health fell into my lap. In 2020 during the pandemic, my brand evolved to focus on travel and wellness as I began to realize the importance of maintaining well-being whether you’re stationary or traveling.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been the smoothest road, but I’ve learned to appreciate the bumps along the way because it makes me a better creator. Imposter syndrome was my biggest struggle at the beginning of my content creation journey. The constant comparison of myself to other creators’ success was debilitating at times. I got through it by shifting to an abundance mindset, where I recognized that there is room for everyone to win. Everyone is on their own unique journey. Another struggle was an unhealthy fixation on the number of followers/metrics. But I realized that fixation was unproductive, and instead, I focused on producing clear content consistently, which has attracted a lot of brands to work with me.

As cliché as it sounds, I truly believe what’s meant to be yours will be, regardless of metrics. This became clear to me when I was invited to World Influencer Congress in 2019 hosted by the government of Uzbekistan when I was at 15,000 followers and I was surrounded by other influencers that had hundreds of thousands and even millions of followers. Lastly, being at the mercy of ever-changing social media algorithms is tough. It’s frustrating to put your everything into content that isn’t being pushed out as much. But again, I found that as long as I’m doing my best to produce high-quality content, I will attract the right followers and brands for me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Travel Expert and a Travel/Wellness Digital Content Creator. I showcase adventure and wellness experiences domestically and internationally. I also provide tips on living a healthier lifestyle. I partner with tourism boards, hotels, and brands to help promote their destination and services. I’m most proud of creating informative content that helps make peoples’ lives better. I receive countless messages from people who have used my blog posts/ content to plan their trips and it makes my heart so full.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If you want to add more adventure and wellness into your life, follow me on Instagram and join my email newsletter.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.traveljewels.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traveljewels/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/travelJewelsTV/

Image Credits
Photo on staircase – Carolina Ramirez