“Yeonghyang” means influencer in Korean, and our August #CalyxtaGirl, Andi Manzano-Reyes, is undoubtedly one of the most pertinent influencers of today—garnering over half a million followers on Instagram, nearly three hundred thousand followers on Twitter, and with over two million fans on Facebook!
It isn’t a surprise how she’s reached this level of eminence though. A naturally beautiful face coupled with an eloquent way of speaking; not to mention the most charming and grounded personality—it’s a no-fail formula that inevitably drew people in.
She lives a lifestyle we all aspire, traveling to beautiful cities with her adorable baby in tow, yet maintains a down-to-earth aura that still makes her relatable. And it’s not just among moms, but even among young professionals who wish to one day get married and have their own family. Andi paints the perfect picture of it.
In this week’s cover story, where Andi’s K-Pop look is leveled up further with a thick red wing on her lids as compared to last week’s Blue Eyebrows, we dug deeper into how it all began for the yeonghyang—and you’d be surprised at how she didn’t even try hard as it all progressed innately!
How did it start—you being a social media influencer?
I don’t know. I’ve always been active online. I don’t know when it actually started. I think it just increased more when I became a mom. You know—because people grew up with me on radio, to being on MTV, and then later on, I got married. And now, I have a kid! So I guess slowly, people started relating to me by following the things I do as a mom and all that. It just slowly grew.
Do you like being recognized as a social media influencer?
I find it weird. I find it really weird. Like, “Hey, you’re the top parenting influencer for moms!” I just post online, you know? It’s like—whatever happens in my life, I just share it online. It’s nice also that people get advice from me—whether it’s breastfeeding, travelling with a toddler, or anything like that. I get to make friends online and I’m also very active when it comes to responding to moms or anybody really.
Do you follow a certain aesthetic for your Instagram feed or do you post
whatever you feel like posting?
Before, I was conscious because my sisters would be like, “Why are you posting this? It’s not bagay with your feed!” They’re the real millennials so the feed matters to them. And every time, I always say, “You know what? It’s different when you’re a mom.” You can’t just be like, “I’ll save this for later,” just because it’s not perfect for your feed. You just want to share. You don’t want to miss out on the moments. So now it’s just like, “Whatever!” As long as I have a filter I use to keep my photos looking consistent.
Do you use any apps?
Yeah, I use a lot. Thanks to my sisters, by the way. It’s Snapseed or VSCO.
How did you get into vlogging?
Well I started blogging before, and it was fun to take photos. But I hated writing. I mean, it’s not for everyone. I have a hard time. Every time I try to write, GP always has to proofread it. So I said, “You know what? I’ll just do a vlog. I like editing. I like doing videos.” So I tried it out and it was just for fun, you know? Sometimes, I feel pressured because people are like, “Where’s your new video?!” and I’m like, “Waaait!” You know, it’s no joke to edit a video while I’m being hands-on with Olivia.
So you’re a one-man team?
Yeah! I edit all my videos. Especially in Singapore, it was just me. Oh my god, it was the hardest. Usually, like in Palawan, I have my sisters with me. But when it’s international trips, it’s just me alone. I’m holding the camera while taking care of Olivia. It’s fun, but challenging.
What advice can you give those aspiring to get into blogging or vlogging?
I guess just be yourself. I think people will see anyway if you’re forcing it or faking it. Especially in vlogs now, you can be OA and people can be like, “Ugh.” They get turned off right away.
What do you enjoy most about being an influencer?
Free stuff. Joke. (laughs) Yeah, free stuff! You’ll be surprised that Olivia’s room is full of stuff and it’s mostly from people that send us gifts. Like we rarely buy clothes now, because it’s all gifts. And most of our trips are free! So those are the perks really.
How do you maintain your authenticity?
I think once your confident with who you are and you know yourself, it will just shine through with whatever social media platform you have. You don’t have to pretend to be a hands-on mom if you’re not. I mean, diba? There’s no fault if you’re a working mom. It’s okay. I think people have accepted that already. People are more accepting nowadays. People are open also to whatever person you want to become. Especially when it comes to being a woman.
Text by: GRETCHEN GATAN
Videographer: ANDREW APUYA
Photographer: DIX PEREZ
Makeup: JIGS MAYUGA
Hair: JET BABAS
Fashion Styling: KABBIE ALIPIO
