I started my IG in 2007 I think, I had been modeling most of my life on and off so at 18 I started doing nude photography like Suicide Girls and my Instagram was to promote my modeling, it has grown alongside me since then but has always been my personal brand page; as I got older and become more successful I branched out from nude modeling and started pushing my own brands as well as a lot of social things.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
I never know how far back to go with this question but I was born in Port Elizabeth South Africa, I went to a private Christian all-girls school, in 2000 we immigrated to Canada, moving to Goderich Ontario, then st Thomas where I grew up until I was 20. I always was kind of the weird kid, I’ve been into alternative music like punk and metal since I was about 11 and so I was always kind of the outcast with weird fashion and colored hair.
I always gravitated to art - whether it was photography, painting, music, poetry to writing, and while we were immigrating we ended up in England for an exam my father had to take. I was about 9 I think and we ended up doing some tourism things land we ended up on the London bridge and my dad being the dick he was ended up making fun of this tattooed punk kid in bondage pants and patches and from that accidental encounter - started my fascination with tattooing and my desire to pursue it. I started in the tattoo industry at 15, opened my own studio in 2014 at 21 after buying a house in Hamilton, and really that was the start of everything since.
2. What led you to start your page on Instagram and what is it about?
I started my IG in 2007 I think, I had been modeling most of my life on and off so at 18 I started doing nude photography like Suicide Girls and my Instagram was to promote my modeling, it has grown alongside me since then but has always been my personal brand page; as I got older and become more successful I branched out from nude modeling and started pushing my own brands as well as a lot of social things.
Specifically mental health and trying to normalize depression and anxiety in everyday life and conversations. but I also try to share a lot of ‘political content about women's rights, LGTBQIA+ rights, anti-racism, and currently a lot of content about my industry and how we have been unfairly targeted during these lockdowns.
3. How would you distinguish the term blogger from an influencer?
I personally don’t see a huge distinction between them - although vlogging and blogging in my opinion tend to be more labor-intensive; like you write or film a blog - which requires planning and editing, where an influencer more based around Instagram or social media specifically, but again I think the terms can be interchangeable in most cases and most bloggers are influencers and vice versa
4. Is it financially sustainable to be an influencer today?
Yes… and no - I mean obviously there are highly successful influencers out there - but I certainly can’t pay my bills off social media alone, I tend to promote businesses I own as I get 100% instead of a commission or a paycheque but I obviously will work with other brands when I genuinely support and believe in the product.
5. What do you think influences consumer behavior?
I love this question - I think a genuine connection to an influencer is the only way to have them trust you enough to buy into your sales pitches. I know I follow people I find real, honest, vulnerable, I don’t want cheesy sales pitches and gross marketing, I want honest, raw conversations that happen to include a product or service - sometimes I also think it's really important to not always be pushing sales.
I think asking questions, engaging, and opening up yourself to people more than you try to sell something helps allow your followers to trust that you are a real person first.
6. What is your idea of success or your mantra in life?
My idea of success is simple- am I enjoying the journey to the ultimate destination? Because if I'm not- what’s the point? if the journey isn't fulfilling - why will the destination be? I want to be happy, I want my family to be happy, I want my friends to be happy - and if that is happening then I have every single thing personally.
But my goals are always changing and ultimately - I want to leave the world better than how I found it, I want to be successful but I want others to be too. I want to do good things for people and try to help everyone whenever I can because what the fuck is the point of being successful or having a following if you're not going to do something for others?
7. How can someone become a successful social media influencer?
Be interesting, be unique, have something real to offer people, we need more artists, more weirdos, more bleeding hearts, creatives, crazy people. people want to follow something because they are interested, invested, and because it fills a fantasy or a dream, answers a question, or opens a door to curiosity.
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” (Hemmingway) There’s nothing to social media, just open your heart and life- but remember when you open that door- you don’t always let the right things in.
8. Which is your favorite book and why?
Oh man, this is such a hard question but right now I'm reading “everyone vs racism” by Patrick Hutchison and it is incredible but I am always always always in love with anything by Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemmingway.
Memphis Mori - Social Media Influencer
Interviewed By: Navya Garg
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