Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Xuan.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
At the age of 12, I always wanted to be a YouTuber or a creator of some sort. Every friend I’ve made, I’m sure we’ve had a conversation about YouTube and content creating at some point. I always saw myself as a content creator, but I never had the courage to do it. I was a rather shy person growing up. I never quite liked putting myself out there in fear of judgment by other people and preferred to be in the background. At times, I’m still, unfortunately, like that. While some of my friends took photography and multimedia electives, I chose to do art. That was my way of expressing creativity. I can’t say I was the kid that was always doing art because I haven’t even filled up a whole sketchbook before deciding to start a new one. I’ve done most hands-on creative things from drawing and painting, crocheting, dabbled in weaving, sewing, and pottery… I’ve done a lot that I’m starting to not recall what else…
I’m currently a college student, and things have changed since then. Some of that creativity I used to do before has moved digitally from digital art to video making. Compared to when I was 12, I’m a little less afraid on being out there and fully expressing myself. Rather than believing that I’m a background character of my own story, I’ve started to believe I am a main character of my story.
During the pandemic, I took a semester break off from school and was making a few YouTube videos. When I did return back to school, I had transferred from community college to university so I had to put my priorities into readjusting to being at a new school. That opportunity did give me time to think about where I wanted to be later in my future and if I were to continue the journey of content creating, and what direction I wanted to take it. It’s been about a school year later and I only recently picked things back up again with the YouTube channel, Instagram and TikTok account now because I’ve readjusted being back in school.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve struggled with believing that I am capable and learning that time doesn’t wait for anyone. I’ve mentioned briefly the idea of being a background character and a main character. When I was growing up, what I saw in the media for Asian representation was the side character: the nerdy friend, the best friend, or just an excuse to “diversify” the cast. So, I’ve struggled with the idea that I could be more than what I am as an Asian American.
I’ve seen the recent rise of Asian representation in both the industry and social media world that I realized I wanted to be a part of that conversation in some shape or form. I pushed the idea of becoming a content creator to the back of my mind for almost a decade and the pandemic played a huge role in changing my mindset.
I was in community college when the pandemic hit during my second to last semester. To be transparent, being at home and doing school online basically, 24/7 is something I do not want to repeat. I ended up taking a semester off after that semester and luckily, I had already finished all my transfer classes that I was able to transfer to university in the new school year. During that time, I had realized my days were moving both slow and fast, because before I knew it… I was off to university. I did manage to put some things out during the quarantine, which has helped me gain a bit of that confidence of putting myself out there.
I do still struggle with time managing as school has been my main priority since the beginning. I often forget grades don’t matter but the things you learn and the skillsets you gain will in the long run. So, I’m in the process of learning to balance both the content creating and the upcoming last year of my college career.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Oh gosh, summing everything up is going to be difficult. I started out as traditional (fine) artist. My preferred mediums in traditional art is paint and watercolor, but I’ve dabbled in charcoal, chalk pastel, etc. as well. About a year before the pandemic, I was painting on jackets, and casually selling them. What sparked my creativity then was my love for K-Pop and having friends who encouraged me to bring back the art. I was known for painting on jackets for a while. Any of my traditional work is still my proudest piece of work.
Now I lean into illustrating and digital art because I am studying to be a Graphic Designer in school. So, a lot of what I do at the moment is digital work.
Unrelated to school and digital art, I mentioned working on YouTube and social media on the side. I run 3 Instagram accounts, which is a lot, I’m aware. My main account is more of my personal, lifestyle, and college life. The 2nd account is my art account, where I post my art when I can. The last account is my fashion and makeup account. That one is more of an outfit inspiration account and graphic eyeliner makeup looks. In a way, that account is for me to discover my style in fashion, and improve in makeup. Ironically as an artist, I can’t do eyeshadow but I’m fascinated with learning to do graphic eyeliner looks. Then I have TikTok accounts that accompany the main and art Instagram accounts, and YouTube on the side.
I guess the best way to describe me is a jack-of-all-trades because I do a bit of everything. I’m just an artist / creative that is trying everything she can.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m most excited to graduate from college next year. I’ve been focusing on school for so long I’m ready to be done!
Other than that, I don’t have anything set in stone right now. I do plan on focusing more heavily on content creating this summer since there were some things, I planned in the past but didn’t have time to before. I’m currently working on getting my portfolio and website running as something to hopefully look forward to. I may apply to do some modeling but I’m not too sure yet… it’s something I’ve considered but I do have a lot on my plate to start so we’ll see. I feel that I have a lot planned up my sleeve but it’s the time management and the planning that is stopping me from figuring out what to do next haha.
As of right now, my main focus is finding and building my niche and see where it takes me in the future!
Contact Info:
- Email: emilytxuan@gmail.com
- Website: https://emilyxuan.myportfolio.com/ (my graphic design portfolio)
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/emilytxuan / www.instagram.com/thesakurapress / www.instagram.com/emilyxinspo
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilytxuan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ9nY1GIgq7zs0QhBdsl_7g
- Other: https://linktr.ee/emilytxuan
