Before the school year had completely unfolded, I had the opportunity to interview one of my biggest role models for blogging, life, and a myriad of other things: Brenda Liang, author of her phenomenal blog Brenda Liang. Just a quick scroll through Brenda’s website will prove that her blog is nothing of the ordinary. As Brenda puts it, her blog is an “open, genuine, and authentic space for everyone (I mean everyone.) to cultivate confidence and thus, self-love and empowerment through the means of music, fashion, and introspection.”

Wow.

The thing that really sets apart Brenda’s blog from others is that every single post exudes Brenda’s bold and genuine attitude. She is focused on being herself and disregards any negativity that comes her way. That is the quality that I admire most about Brenda, and it’s also the quality that I believe is the hardest to attain.

From monthly playlists, to mindful posts about individuality, to current beauty favorites, every post is unique and expertly crafted into a way that is engaging to the audience. I’m so excited to share the interview with you guys can you can get to know Brenda better!

Why did you start blogging?

I grew up reading and browsing through a lot of personal blogs and editorial magazines so from a young age I was exposed to a lot of different styles and perspectives, shaping mine today. I think because of my mentality and long relationship with blogs/magazines I just wanted my own platform to embody what I’ve learned over the years. Plus, it’s kind of my own space to design, interact, and write whatever I want, acting as a documentation of my personal growth through some of my most formative years.

What inspires your unique attitude and tone in your content?

I don’t consciously try to exude a certain attitude or tone in my content, I genuinely write from the heart but I think my attitude has come from 17 years of exposure. Like I said before, I spent pretty much my entire life reading different articles and nosing through people’s perspectives and backgrounds and I think that just made me into a curious and openminded person. I think I’ve grown to be incredibly openminded and that translates into my writing.

Your content is very true-to-self and raw. Have you ever gotten any unfavorable feedback about your site? If so, how did you cope with it?

Absolutely! In sophomore year some guy texted me a paragraph filled with racial slurs and insults about my blog because he thought it was stupid. It really stung in the moment because it was the first time someone explicitly shot me down but I got over it in an hour because I realized that my blog meant something to others, he just didn’t get it. But after he saw me thriving, he apologized, so that also taught me that success is the best revenge. Besides that, a lot of people have offered backhanded compliments about my blog because they didn’t get the point of it. As corny as it is, it’s just important to know that haters are going to hate no matter what, especially when you’re making yourself virtually vulnerable.

Do you plan on expanding your blog in the future and possibly making a career out of it?

For sure, I knew I wanted to grow my blog into a brand from the moment I started it. Not sure what direction exactly, but the courses I’m planning on taking in college are all geared towards making that dream come true.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

That you should never suppress who you are. I never had too many problems with embracing myself, but I always suppressed myself so I wasn’t too “unusual.” But the thing is, never fear what makes you different, and I wish I was able to whole-heartedly grasp that earlier because a lot of opportunities come to you when you are 100% authentic. You would think that people only judge you when you’re different, they do, but they also really admire you and your ability to be comfortable with yourself. It’s cool to be different and cultivate that to the maximum, so don’t overthink your identity. Just be what you are and don’t look back.

Thank you so much Brenda for giving me the opportunity to interview you! Don’t forget to check out her Instagram @brendaliang and her YouTube channel.

Ciao for now.

Katie