FINALIST: Philly Mag Style Influencer of the Year. Y’all, there are so many things going on right now that I need to stop and take a moment of gratitude. Like true gratitude, not just saying it. Oftentimes it feels in this “hustle culture” that we live in that if you aren’t doing “something” or chasing the next thing then you aren’t doing enough. I feel in that moment that I am not truly being grateful for what I have or where I am at now in the present.
I’ve had some really amazing moments and opportunities over the years and feel like I just let them fall to the wayside. Like “yea that’s great and all but I want more, I need more.” I’m a work in progress but I must stop, WE must stop. So I am stopping to pat myself of the back and truly be proud of the honor that has been bestowed on me to be nominated as a FINALIST for Philly Magazine’s style influencer of the year.
Now of course I would love to win. But even being recognized…finally recognized for the work that I have been doing over the last 10+ years feels like a win in and of itself. For my OG Vida Fashionista fans, y’all know I started out as “Wild Thang by Davida Janae.” I had not a clue what I was doing and there was no blueprint. WE the “OG influencers” or as we were called back in 2014 “bloggers” we wrote the blueprint. We walked so these Gen Z and Gen Alpha kids could run.
There is still so much to learn about this ever changing industry. One thing that has never changed is my love for creating and my love for fashion. I feel like I still have so much to do and so many other goals that I would like to achieve. If you would have told me when I started this little blog that this is where I would be, I would never believe you.
It takes my breath away when I think about how hard I’ve worked. Knowing how much I’ve sacrificed to be where I am. In this moment. So many leaps of faith, tears, tons of moments of doubt, wanting to quit. Unwavering faith (tho it definitely wavers cuz I’m only human) have put me here.
All this to say if no one else in this world is proud of me I am proud of me! Yes it’s unconventional to many. Some that will never understand what or why I do what I do I will continue the work. Because though I and other creators may make it look easy (cuz that’s our job) IT IS WORK!
I would not be here without all of you and all of your support over the years. Every like, comment, share, repost never goes unseen and I appreciate you all so much. So let’s go out and get this win but even if I don’t, I know that I’ve already won.
All my love and gratitude,
Davida aka Vida Fashionista formerly known as Wild Thang by Davida Janae lol
Thanks for reading!
