Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Pham.
Monica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I look back on my life, I can see the pivotal moments which I really grew. There were times, when I was forced to step onto a new level and I didn’t like it. I was uncomfortable, vulnerable and wanted to stay stagnant. It took God closing certain doors, which forced me to take a leap of faith. Unbeknownst to me, I was stepping into my divine purpose. Sometimes, when life seems uncertain we pray against the very thing God has ordained; things God sets into motion for His own glory and we have to trust it. God will also remove certain people from our lives because he knows they would become a crutch; that codependency to others may be the very thing that keeps us from our true destiny.
A few years ago, I went through several personal and career changes before I really found my purpose in life. It was through those life experiences that I became “fine-tuned.” Regardless of the highs and lows, it all eventually led me unto this path: my calling. I’ve always had a passion for the culinary arts. I love to eat, cook, bake and do photography. I enjoy traveling the world and meeting new people from all walks of life and my love for food is how I connect with others from different countries, cities and islands. I’ve essentially taken my passion and turned it into a business, built my own brand, became a self-made social media influencer. It pays well, fulfills my wanderlust and gives me a chance to help people. I want to change the world one meal at a time.
I started “Food With Monica” on July 22, 2016. I honestly had no idea what would come from it all but I had a clear vision. Sharing my journey to the world digitally would prove to be revolutionary because I knew how to instinctively capture an audience. I have an innate ability to pick up on a mood and with compassion, sound reasoning and a little wit, I can find a common ground solution.
Within 2 weeks of creating my first Facebook page for “Food With Monica”, being active, uploading pictures of food and daily travels, I gained over 3k followers. Shortly thereafter, I turned my personal Instagram account into another “Food With Monica” page, too. Even though, my Instagram didn’t grow as fast as my Facebook page, the response to my content was getting positive reviews.
During the early years, I couldn’t afford a fancy DSLR camera, so I had to make the best use out of what I had, my Galaxy s7 camera phone. However, lack of equipment didn’t stop me from experiencing new cultures and people. These days, I capture attention for “Food with Monica” through a better camera but I am humbled for how I started.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Ha ha, no! There’s no magic wand capable of turning someone into a social media influencer overnight. Influencers are made, we are not born. That being said, if you take your craft seriously and create something of value, success will come regardless. I’ve spent years working very hard to get to where I’m at today; I’ve also spent my own resources to create social media campaigns targeting audiences in my area. Attending global leadership summits to learn how to become a great leader, reading books about the industry, directly engaging with my audience, taking photography and marketing classes, have all proven to be beneficial. The first phase of “Food With Monica”, was spent working on honing my skills, defining my niche, establishing my identity as a public figure, and building up my following. It was vital to practice these skills of gaining visibility, and then “showing love” back to my followers. I also took time to identify brands who I felt was an organic fit for the brand. Obviously before I could command a fee I first had to create external value for my brand.
Food With Monica – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
“Food With Monica” focuses mainly on building a connection with people by finding the best food spots in town. My page is one of the most diverse, it showcases mouth-watering pictures, locally found delicacies and unique samplers from abroad that cannot be found anywhere else. In addition, you can see my personality come through as my pun intended descriptions make you laugh as you savor the flavor. I use my social media presence to try and improve the lives of others with positive messages and have noticed that quite a few restaurant businesses and other brands appreciate my reach into new audiences when they are featured.
I’m not your average blogger. I don’t just take a random picture of food or things and upload it to my social media for likes. I go above and beyond to make each individual feel like they are with me at the event or restaurants. Every month, I also randomly pick at least two of my most loyal followers in my city or will travel to theirs to explore new things together and get to know them as a person. I enjoy building connections with people both online and offline, which sets me apart from the rest. Jim Carrey once said, “The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is” and it’s so true.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define success as living my true purpose and having a positive impact on the lives of people. My story of success is a result of commitment, perseverance and divine favor from above. I’ve learned that success is not merely a piece of paper on a wall but rather defined as doing what you love, from the heart. I am here to inspire others while floating on this big rock called Earth, a place where the office can be anywhere and everywhere, as long as there is food.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 817-901-0283
- Email: foodwithmonica@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instragram.com/foodwithmonica
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/foodwithmonica
Image Credit:
Jessica Serna, Northside Drafthouse & Eatery, Sprinkles Cupcakes
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
