Today we’d like to introduce you to Loren McDaniel.
Loren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am 27 years old, and I’m from Arlington, TX. I played college basketball at the University of Tulsa. I earned my Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
I believe that every person has a unique gift that’s instrumental to fulfilling one’s purpose. If we spend our entire lives neglecting that gift, forgetting to nurture it– you’ve failed. What are you really here for?
From the highest, most philosophical place, my vlog is an attempt to tap into my purpose. I want to post with purpose in everything that I do.
The ultimate measure of success is to be 90 years old, reflecting on my life, and know that I made a difference.
I want to leave my mark on this world.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No. There are so many life lessons to be learned in this experience.
For one, I am not a go-with-the-flow type of person. I like being in control of my own successes and failures. But… when you’re working with other people’s schedules, you have to be open to change. You have to be flexible and possess a capability to let the small things roll off your back.
When I did my first shoot “Colorism Be Like,” for example, I had three dark-skinned models cancel. I wanted to cry and freak out, but in the end, it happened just the way it was intended to.
My Mother’s Day shoot was outside. Not only did one of my photographers cancel on me, but it was also supposed to rain. And, my car got stolen a few days before. But, the video and photos turned out great.
Unlike most people that step out and do their own thing, my biggest obstacle hasn’t been “support.” It’s been teaching myself to be adaptable and be fluid.
Also, it’d help if I were sponsored by someone!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a woman of many interests and talents. And, I especially love anything to do with words— poetry, writing, blogging, motivational speaking, and sparking good conversation. These talents made me a very interesting person (with a lot of incomplete projects). I’d start a poem, get 75% done, and was on to my next passion.
Recognizing this as both a gift and cure, I told myself, “if I could ever find a way to blend all my interests and skill sets, I would go all in.”
“But until then, I’m a just kick it and enjoy life.”
After about two years of being a hippie, partying with my girls, and spending time with my family, I decided to start my vlog.
Queen Me.
Queen, Me is a brand designed to spark conversation around four key topics:
• Female Empowerment
• Career & Professional Development
• Love & Relationships
• Intellectualism
So…
Once a month, I’m grabbing folks in the black DFW area and creating content that touches one of the four domains, leveraging photography, videography and the writing style of my choice. My goal is to capitalize on our social media-driven, hyperconnected era, and learn from each other by sparking conversation.
This allows me to do all my passions in a creative and expressive way.
Right now, I most notorious for my Wine Wednesday that occurs in my Instagram story. Each week, I’ll mix videos from popular movies, pop culture, music videos, current events, etc., post a prompt, and invite my followers to participate in some healthy discussion by submitting their comments or record themselves answering the prompt.
Here are a few of my favorite Wine Wednesday topics:
• How much is too much feminism?
• Is the workplace more challenging for the black male or female?
• Could you make things work with an unfaithful partner?
• How can you apply Nipsey Hussle’s teachings to your everyday life?
What were you like growing up?
Haha, Okay.
One thing that a lot of people don’t know about me is that I used to be extremely shy. I was the kid that got left on field trips (at the amusement park) because the camp counselor didn’t recognize my absence from my presence.
I was always super quiet.
My friend from high school would say, “All you ever did was stare at people.” And all my coaches (AAU to college days), would say, “I need you to be more vocal.”
That’s why me, using my voice to inspire and spark conversation, is such a beautiful evolution.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 817-721-2826
- Email: mcdanielloren@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenme__blog/
Image Credit:
Ashlee Warren with Vision Fancy Photos
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.
