AN ORIGINAL TRAVEL BLOG SERIES
Everyone has a story to tell. You just have to be willing to listen.
As I travel through France for the next two weeks with New York University, I will embark on an ambitious mission to “unpack” as many narratives (personal brands) as I can. Sometimes it’ll involve people and on others, I’ll explore places and/or things. Why am I doing this? Because who gets to tell the story matters.
I’ve witnessed this firsthand as a New York-based broadcast news and digital media producer with over a decade of in-house and agency experience. I’ve reported on a wide range of stories from political elections and social movements, to celebrity culture and entertainment headlines. Often, my coverage was from an outside and objective point of view. However, the goal of this travel blog is to dig a bit deeper and dare I say it, get personal. As a master’s student in Public Relations and Corporate Communication at NYU School of Professional Studies, I’ve learned that our personal brand- the stories we tell ourselves and others— can have a tremendous impact on our individual occupy space.
So why not use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel, connect with strangers— sometimes over Moroccan tea or a traditional Senegalese dish— and uncover more about the people and/or places with whom we share this pale blue dot?
Besides, sometimes a bit of travel, good food and wine, and not to mention great people, can unlock a treasure trove of tales!
So first up, my experience in Montmartre, Paris. Located in the 18th arrondissement, this famous Parisian district is home to the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur, as well as several cute cafes and street artists. Its rich artistic history also invites thousands of visitors annually from all around the world, including France.
One such visitor I had the pleasure of encountering was Samir Sabe, a 20-year-old artist, content creator, and fashion and social media influencer. The 20-year-old France native is also on-air talent for the popular French pop culture media outlet, MAD. Recently, he’s leveraged his personal brand to forge strategic partnerships with Balmain, Lacoste, Scandinavian skincare brand Mantle, and others. During a man-on-the-street style interview, Sabe and I discussed the growing social media beauty trend of "face tapping." We soon dived into a lively discussion on authenticity -- what it means and why it matters. During the chat, he revealed to me the pride that he has for his West African heritage- something which we both share. We also talked about our mutual love for my hometown, Brooklyn, New York. (As the saying goes, "hardly home, but always reppin'." Anyway, I digress).
Not a bad way to enjoy some of my time in France. In fact, here's the word which best describes my experience thus far: l'amour.
Until next time.
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