Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Taliaferro.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a 25-year-old, I am currently a fashion/lifestyle blogger and online boutique owner, both of which have been dreams of mine for years! It’s crazy to say I’m doing everything that I love, and still pursuing even bigger goals, but it definitely came with the time, effort, and money!
So backstory: I went to TCU and got my degree in Fashion Merchandising and Business, because I knew at some point I wanted to own my own clothing line, and I absolutely loved it! After college, I moved back home with my mom for two years and worked at a local boutique, learning every aspect of the business that I could! I worked in Warehouse Management, Retail Sales, Styling, and Visual Marketing and Social Media, so let’s just say I gained a ton of knowledge! Then, I moved to Dallas and continued doing social media for a bit before I decided to start my own business and do the Boutique thing for myself! It was a HUGE leap of faith, a lot of risks, and a lot of money! I’m now almost two months in, and slowly but surely growing!
As for the blogging world, I’m currently at 13K followers and still at ground level, so lemme tell ya both industries are very tough and competitive, but it’s all about consistency and content! I started my blog on October 2017, and up until this point I have only done brand deals that are trading for trade: content for free product! I am working hard to keep putting out unique posts and stay true to who I am while growing my engagement. It is a lot of work, but I know I’m going to get to the next level and it will all be worth it! I also just LOVE the opportunity to have a platform to make a positive impact on others, even if I never make a dime! I honestly just love supporting other women and creating relationships!
Everything that I do, I do with a bigger purpose, and that is to shine a light for Jesus! Social Media can be a very dark depressing place for so many, and I just love to show up as my real, raw, honest, vulnerable self! People NEED that! And to me, the blogging and the clothing line will always be so much more than an income! It’s about the women on the other side of the screen, it’s about creating friendships, and investing in others!
Great, 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?
Both growing an online platform and starting a business have come with multiple struggles and obstacles, but also so rewarding! To have your personal life out there on social media for all to see and to keep gaining followers and engagement, you have to show up consistently! That means if I really just feel like taking a weekend away from social media, my engagement drops and I lose followers. Or if a post doesn’t perform as well, and the analytics weren’t good enough to meet the brand’s request, then I most likely won’t be working with them again. And if your content isn’t creative and new and exciting, then people aren’t going to stop scrolling and like or comment. So, what I’m saying is, sometimes it can be draining to always be putting in so much effort, but you’ve got to remind yourself of your WHY! WHY am I doing this? What’s my ultimate goal behind all of this work? My WHY is because I want to inspire and encourage other women to be their absolute best self: physically, mentally, and spiritually. Therefore, I need to do my best to represent all of those things in my own life and on my social media. It’s not to conform and to be like everyone else, or for fame and success, or even for wealth. My WHY is strictly to help others and make an impact. To pay my bills as well is a goal I’m working towards haha!
And then starting my business… wow, where do I start? Lol, I had roadblocks in the beginning mostly applying for a loan to start and getting all the legal paperwork together. For the most part, everything else I already knew and had experience with: shopping at the market, creating a website, modeling the clothes, social media, email marketing, etc. BUT did that mean it was easy? No. Now I’m running two brands full-time while working a part-time job to pay my bills! No one ever said it would be easy, but I know it will be worth it! And I honestly love all that I do, so the hard work is purposeful! Anything worth having or doing in life will most likely require some time, hard work, and self-discipline. But if you hold on to your WHY and your vision, you will reap the reward!
Please tell us about Truly Tiff Blog and TALIAFERRO the label.
I believe what sets me apart from others is my authenticity! I feel like most bloggers and fashionistas seem to have a perfect life on Instagram: hair and makeup always done, gorgeous new outfits, beautiful big houses, perfect husbands, and a puppy haha. And all of that is so great and honestly who wouldn’t want that lifestyle? But I just like to take it a little deeper and show my normal day to day life, whether thats me sweaty after a workout, on my way to work, tired and unmotivated, whatever it may be. People are attracted to that perfect pretty lifestyle, but it’s also just not realistic. So I believe people also appreciate someone who is genuine and shows good, bad, and ugly. I want to create an atmosphere where women feel safe and comfortable and free to be themselves and to relate to one another in a sisterhood type way! Like High School Musical – We’re all in this together! We all go through rough stages in life, and so I try to just be encouraging and different in hopes that it helps meet someone where they’re at and know they’re not alone!
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I think in today’s society and especially in the fashion/blogging industry, the biggest barriers are comparison, competition, and lack of confidence! I see so many people with big goals and dreams, but they’ll never go for it because they don’t believe in themselves, or they are too worried about someone else doing better. Especially girls are bad at comparing to one another. We think if we can’t be the best, we don’t even want to try and fail and embarrass ourselves. So, I truly feel like so many will never step into their purpose just because of the fact they are afraid. Afraid of how they will look, afraid of what others will say or think, and afraid of failure. I just wish more women had the confidence in who they are and what they have to offer! You will never know unless you at least try! I am one of those people that would much rather try and fail than to always wonder “what if”?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taliaferrothelabel.com
- Email: taliaferromgmt@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiff_taliaferro/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffany.taliaferro.3
- Other: https://trulytiff.com/
Image Credit:
Anthony Antwine
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