Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiana Lee.
Hi Tiana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
This is definitely going to be a walk down memory lane, I would have to say my journey started in 2013. Instagram was the newest social platform to hit the market and it was all the rage. A platform that was solely dedicated to taking snapshots of your life and displaying it in a neat grid format.
At the time, I thought it was so great you could express yourself and gain inspiration from fashion, cooking, and much more. Little did I know that my journey would begin there. Blogging and sharing snippets of my life have not only opened doors to experiences I would have never dreamed about. But, it has also allowed me to create such a wonderful community. Many years have passed and newer and bigger networks have popped up such as Tiktok.
If we thought sharing photos was amazing how about the step by step process of video curation. Seeing all the creativity expressed through short-form videos is inspiring. Having the disciple to balance a full time job as well as a full time content creator not only takes time but dedication. I attribute my work ethic to my competitive figure skating background and piano career. I absolutely love what I do; all the time and effort I dedicate towards every aspect of my life really does pay off.
Alright, 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?
There have been times when I question if all this hard work is worth it. I can vividly remember once in the when I was in college where I completely broke down. I was practicing in the residence halls for a big piano exam, willing myself to keep playing the scales, but all of a sudden I just stopped and started weeping. It was one of those moments where you just question if the struggle and pain is worth it. I had been overwhelmed because of upcoming midterms, piano exams, and skating competitions. A lot of pressure fell on my shoulders and it kept compiling. Most of the time it feels very solitary since the majority of my work has to be done alone.
Being alone for an extended amount of time can be tricky and dangerous because you tend to spend most of your time in your head. I think being a competitive athlete puts a lot more pressure on an individual because as we all know your worst enemy is yourself. The greatest inhibition an athlete can have is being so blocked mentally that you stop yourself from achieving what you know you can accomplish.
It has taken me years to become the person I am today. I owe a lot of it to ice skating and piano. It has given me a valuable tool in life to continue pushing forward no matter what, especially when it comes to collaborating with famous brands. It is quite competitive for certain jobs you can and can’t book. I always tell myself that if this job didn’t pan out, there will always be another one waiting for me around the corner. As it turns out, there is a lot of truth to that! Feeling down by the little things in life which you can’t control is not worth it. You have to know your worth and just keep moving forward!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Lifestyle/Beauty Blogger as well as a Piano Teacher. For blogging, I specialize in everything from video curation to editing all the way to blog posts and large scale campaigns. I love working with brands that not only have amazing products, but great ethics. There have been many times where I have had to decline brands because our values do not align. For being a Piano Teacher I love sharing my passion for music with people of all ages. I have had over 17+ years of music experience and was classically trained. Seeing my students flourish and grow from the beginning is what’s amazing to me. I not only can share my joy, but give others the gift of music.
I think my unique backstory being a figure skater/piano teacher is what sets me apart as well as my authenticity. I am a very candid person and love to share what truly brings me joy or inspires me. Graduating college last year has catapulted me into adulthood during an unprecedented time aka the height of Covid. The constant grind and need for improvement is what’s needed to flourish and be successful. Staying true to myself and my beliefs is what I feel people gravitate towards.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes, there were so many that I learned. During the height of Covid, I was going through my last quarter as a Senior in College. Being a senior in college is like the last college hurrah. You work hard all those 4 years and for it to come to such an abrupt end is saddening. The class of 2020 did not get a proper graduation ceremony because of all the chaos that was going on. Nevertheless, I continued on and graduated with a degree in Psychology from the University of California. It opened my eyes and showed me how fast things can turn. One moment I was enjoying my life at school with my friends, my blogging, and much more. All of a sudden it came to a halt because of the pandemic everything was moved online. I had to shelter in place and could not see my friends or family. Thank god I had my dog Chloe with me as well as my phone to keep in contact with all my loved ones. Life is precious and we really have to cherish the moments while we can.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://allmylinks.com/xoxo-tiana-xoxo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xoxo_tiana_xoxo/
