TODAY’S North Coast Blogger has something that I think any successful blogger, writer, artist or creative needs in bucketloads: Passion. It takes passion (and guts) to put yourself out there into the world and each time you press publish on your blog; add your byline to a story or exhibit your art it is a leap of courage.
Mel Carrero blogs her own way. From the first time you see her blog’s name, The Chubby Fashionista, you know you’re in for a unique experience. She is a self-taught photographer who started a blog about a passion and then had the confidence to exhibit her work and go on to build a career from styling and photographing for fashion labels and promoting her hometown: Lismore. The result is a distinctly nostalgic, laid-back North Coast style that showcases what Mel loves most about this region: Its diversity of people.
Here is the story of Mel Carrero’s blogging journey:
My name is Mel Carrero. I’m a marketing manager / stylist on the side and my blog is called The Chubby Fashionista. I reside in the under-rated and quaint Lismore.
My blog tells the story of a girl who doesn’t fit the fashion mould – so she likes to dress up others.I registered the blog in 2008 but only began blogging regularly in 2010. My goal was to give a fashion opinion and a different voice out there for fashion – basically a little spot for me to rant. It changed into something quite different!Blogging has allowed people to see my styling portfolio and seen me recognised as a photographer and stylist. It has also helped me achieve other career goals and helped me get jobs.One thing that I really enjoy from the photography and styling side of the business more than anything else is the models – discovering a new face or helping someone get further in modelling. I have had a few scouted from my blog!If you are thinking of starting a blog my advice is commit to it. Find a niche that no one else is doing. I use other social media to promote my blog. No one would have read my blog without Facebook. I also use Instagram heavily and Tumblr occasionally.The most challenging part of blogging has been earning money while finding the time to really do it. It is still a challenge for me as I also hold another full time job. Since taking on a full time and full on role, blogging has kind-of taken the back burner.
Right now, I am excited about a few things. I got to work in my “real” job on a magazine which I probably wouldn’t have been able to pull off without my blog. I’ve been working with some local labels on their look-book shoots, and I am just going to dive heaps into the styling side of the blog as much as possible.
In the near future I plan on revamping the look of the blog again. I have been super-lucky that since I started the blog I have been able to hold an exhibition of my styling and photography work, which got a lot of media coverage; I have my own fashion page in the local rag, The Northern Rivers Echo, and have had some pics published in some online and print magazines!
