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Epsita's avatar

Wow this was such an interesting read! You were so big! You saw the whole rise of the influencer scene. Very cool, really.

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Michelle's avatar

Thanks Epsita! It's been a wild ride. Happy to be here in a softer, cosier version now.

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Hannah's avatar

omg this was so fascinating to read! You must have been a huge influencer!! I was not a blogger but a picture of me went viral on tumblr in 2012 (i am also old) and I still remember how strange it was when I saw a girl in one of my university classes reblog that pic in real time without knowing I was sitting two rows behind her 😆 And then yes, I'd come back to my apartment to an inbox full of hate mail LOL I'm so happy you got out of the toxic influencer era and are now on cozy lil substack! Sundaze Book Cafe 4ever 🤍🤍🤍

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Michelle's avatar

I'm glad you found it interesting! A friend and I were talking about this chapter of my life and how bizarre it was that my life is SO different now, and that's what inspired this piece. The Internet is such a strange place, huh? Substack >>>>

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Caroline Beuley's avatar

Sounds like you were in it at the right time and got out at the right time too! I think substack might be the way for influencing to return to a more authentic, slower, quieter version of what we have today- at least I hope so!

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Michelle's avatar

Yes, I feel exactly the same way! Grateful for that chapter of my life, and equally grateful that I left at the right time for me. It's strange to realise that I no longer willingly share so much of my life, and so fun to discover how I like to capture memories now. And you're right! I think Substack is a good bridge.

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Aliena's avatar

I also had a blogspot era! Although I was not persistent with mine at all haha. I definitely looked up to girlies like you who had beautiful blogs and seemed to have your lives figured out! Thanks for highlighting the ups and downs - I was sad to read about your college experience with some colleagues but I think the success you had as an influencer speaks for itself!

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Michelle's avatar

Blogspot girlies >>>>

I am truly so grateful for that chapter in my life because it's shaped so much of who I am and how I approach things now. Learned a lot, experienced a lot, achieved a lot, grew a lot.

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TheCosyReader's avatar

Oh gosh, I loved this post, Michelle! I also was a blogger writing about beauty and lifestyle whilst at uni (eventually closing down the site in 2020) and it most certainly had its fun moments! This was very nostalgic. ❤️

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Michelle's avatar

Thank you!! Love that so many of us were in the same community ❤️ I truly loved it all: the Twitter chats, catching up via comments every night, getting to see everyone at press events! Gosh, it feels like another life.

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sumedha's avatar

I love that you got to experience the glamorous side (with its share of downsides ofc) before the influencer culture became the big thing it is now! I didn’t realize you did so much, would love to hear more stories of the time. Maybe I should make my way to older posts on your blog 😂

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Michelle's avatar

Thanks Sumedha! Honestly, it was a lot of fun and I feel so lucky and thankful for everything my blog achieved. In hindsight, I'm really proud! Perhaps I'll share a few more post-influencer pieces – after all, I probably have hundred of stories from all our shenanigans over the years!

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