We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruya Kirac and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ruya, what do you attribute your success to?
Transparency. The moment when I started sharing my real experiences and challenges that I’ve faced in life with my followers, that’s when my business began to grow and a level of trust was established between my followers and I. Plus I was able to reach a whole new community of people that shared the same struggles as me. Being real and genuine is so important – it’s the best way to stand out in the chaotic world of online content!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my fashion blog in 2013 while living in a small city – at a time when there was very few fashion bloggers and monetizing content online was almost non-existent. I was juggling college full-time and a part-time job but I was looking for something to do creatively and was a huge fan of bloggers. If they could do it – why can’t I? It’s actually A LOT harder than it looks! I invested in a professional camera and started creating content on the weekends. My brand is focused on my feminine style, reviewing beauty products and sharing lifestyle posts (such as exploring Texas or sharing my favorite coffee!). At first I didn’t really know what I was doing but I was constantly doing research, trying new things and taking risks (even if it made me look dumb). Six months later, I landed my first partnership with Garnier! It felt like a dream to be sent free product and to get paid to review it and create content around it! That first partnership sparked my love for blogging and social media and I’ve been doing it ever since. The journey hasn’t been easy but it’s worth it! I started when I was 19 and I’m 26 now and I’m still going strong! Some of the challenges that I’ve faced is lack of inspiration and motivation – it can be difficult to continue creating content (especially in 2021!) when it feels like everyone is doing the same thing that you’re doing and you might not be getting the. best results. My best tip to overcome this feeling is to stay true to who you are, be transparent with your community (don’t be afraid to open up and share your honest experiences!) and question if YOU enjoy your own content. You have to fall in love with the process of content creation in order to succeed at it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a foodie and love any place with gorgeous aesthetics! We would start the day by grabbing coffee and brunch at Grinder’s Coffee Bar and wandering around the shops at Rice Village. A must is creating your own lipstick at MYX Blend Bar or getting a facial at Face Haus. Later, check out the Museum of Fine Arts (I can spend all day in there) and end the day with dinner and drinks at Emmaline.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My professor from St. John Fisher College, Arien Rozelle! She was the one that inspired me to take the first step into a career in blogging and social media (at a time when the industry was still so new!).

Website: http://www.sweetshortandstylish.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ruyakiraccc

Image Credits
Credit: Jackie Rivers Photography

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