You know all those glamorous photos on Instagram through which you browse every day and marvel with open jaws, wondering who’s behind those gorgeously arranged accounts. Today, I have the enormous pleasure to present you one of the most humble, genuine, and inspiring people who is a proud owner of such an account.
She is an Instagram influencer and she hails from Romania. Oh, and she is the epitome of beauty. Without further ado, I present to you, Luminita V Jones.
- Take a seat at the hot chair, Luminita, and let us know what you do.
I have created my personal blog ‘The B L O G’ (The Beautiful Life Of Glamour) out of my passion for travelling, style, fashion, and everything in between. I am fortunate to travel a lot, so this endeavour is my view of the different corners of the world.
I love working with people and making a difference, so I believe sharing my choices, my style, and tips of what to do, where to go, what to wear, or what to pay a closer attention to would make a difference in others’ choices.
I rely a lot on my instinct, impulse, and passion to create a unique blog.
- What’s your take on competition? Is it essential for success?
Competition can be good, and it can bring the best out of us – if it is taken in a constructive and positive manner. I am more about supporting each other, and I am a firm believer that working together brings more to the table, rather than judging ourselves against others and putting ourselves down.
- Do customers seek you or you contact them? How does the whole process go?
It really depends. I usually do not contact companies unless I am travelling, and I consider that a collaboration with a specific hotel would bring value to my followers.
Some of my influencer friends do contact companies, though, and it works perfectly for them, so I think it is a personal choice.
I know in the beginning it can be frustrating to keep waiting and checking your mail all the time. However, the companies will eventually contact you, and the emails will keep on coming. Good, consistent content and patience are the keywords here.
And my advice is:
When you do get offers, don’t be tempted to accept them all.
I believe it is very important to stay true to what you stand for and only accept collaborations that reflect yourself and your personality.
- You must be a very busy lady. How do you juggle all your daily tasks?
We live in a world where everything is urgent and important, so it is vital to know how to prioritize.
I am never afraid to say ‘no’ if I feel that something doesn’t bring me value.
It is crucial to identify one or two tasks every day and work towards completing them. I pretty much share my days with my followers, so one of my priorities is to maintain my presence online.
- Lumi, do you have a role model? Why co-operating with him/her would make for a splendid joint venture?
One of the women I admire the most is Diane von Fürstenberg. She needs no introduction for all the fashion lovers out there and she’s one of my most favourite designers ever. But then, she is so much more than that.
I admire her determination and her involvement in supporting women leaders in areas of economic empowerment and human rights. Through her TV shows, we see all the discipline it takes to build and run a fashion empire. A collaboration with her would be a dream come true since I cannot have enough of her iconic wrap dresses.
- You are Romanian, but you trot the globe frequently. What are your favourite destinations?
I have been fortunate enough to be born in the absolutely gorgeous city of Sibiu, which was the European Capital of Culture for 2007. In Forbes’s “Most Idyllic Places to Live in Europe”, it took the eighth spot. I highly recommend visiting it.
And the fortune continued with having called Dubai and Singapore home for six years. Again, I’d say both destinations are a must on a traveller’s list.
Very recently, I fell in love with Montecarlo di Lucca – a small yet magical place that can’t be missed if you are in Tuscany.
High on my beach destinations are the Seychelles, Bali, and the Maldives, all for different reasons. And I cannot not mention Paris… OK, you need to stop me…
The truth is, when you visit a place you love, it stays with you forever, and I appreciate beauty whenever I see it. I believe we live in a magical world.
- Your Instagram profile is truly admirable. How have you grown it and how does it help you with what you currently do?
Thank you, much appreciated. It all started out of my love for social media, and then, I was amazed by how quickly it elevated to the next level. Before I knew it, it turned into a full-time job. Engagement is key, as are relevant posts.
If I consider that my content is not aligned with my followers’ expectations or would not bring any interest to them, I simply do not post. Quality over quantity, always.
I am keen on being truthful to my choices in order to maintain my credibility. In my opinion, followers choose you based on your credibility and originality. I am very motivated by the feedback I get, positive and negative.
I have the most amazing followers. They send me so many encouraging messages – that’s what makes me feel I’m going in the right direction.
Instagram helped me build strong professional relations and meet some wonderful persons who became close friends in real life.
- No entrepreneur can function without a proper rest. What’s your typical way of unwinding?
When you love what you do, you don’t feel like taking a rest.
I am quite dynamic and the more I do, the more motivated I feel. I charge my batteries taking long walks in nature, enjoying a beach, reading a good book, or watching a romantic comedy with a big jar of Nutella in my hands.
- Do you believe in regrets? So far, have you had any?
Regrets have no place in my life.
I have none so far. I did all I did because it was what I wanted at one point. I think we have to be responsible when we make a decision, take the positive out of everything, and cherish the memories.
Rather than regret it, be happy it happened. Of course, we get disappointed here and there, but take any experience, good or bad, as a lesson and try to make a mistake only once.
- What would be your tips for individuals who aim to travel a lot? How do you do it? Any piquant secrets?
One of my favourite quotes is:
Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.
Getting to know new places and cultures is extremely rewarding, so I encourage everyone to have a bucket list based on their interests and passions.
Once you decide on the destination, try to do as much research as you can so you don’t miss on those hidden gems. It is totally worth the time. Social media makes it so easy these days, so reach out and ask any questions. And try to stay away from the typical tourist traps that you find close to any main attraction. Sometimes, walking a bit further, you find those places where local people go, and you get the real experience.
When I go to a new place, I love to simply observe people, so I find the most popular café in the city, have loads of lattes, and just do people watching.
These last tips were so simple yet incredibly valuable. Thank you very much for allowing us to peek into your beautiful life of glamour, Lumi.
Dear readers, if you are a keen Instagrammer like I am, you can follow Lumi’s BLOG on Instagram. I really recommend watching her stories as she frequently takes us, her followers, to hidden gems that make our days brighter. She is also starting her Facebook Page, so don’t miss that one either.
A beautiful life of glamour truly exists. Thank you for showing us your world, Lumi.
Have you read my previous interviews with young entrepreneurs that take the world by a storm?
If you are one of those exceptionally motivating people, let’s have a chat!