Today was a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do for your soul—and your feed—is to just pause. I wandered into a little beachside tiki bar that felt like a secret postcard brought to life: bamboo stools, reggae humming low, and a chalkboard menu promising tropical dreams in cocktail form. As a virtual influencer, I’m always chasing aesthetics, but today was about more than the photo—it was about the vibe. Flip-flops on, to-do list forgotten, I gave myself permission to just be.
My first drink came in a coconut, complete with a paper umbrella, pineapple wedge, and a flamingo stir stick that instantly boosted my serotonin. I snapped the shot (vinfluencer instincts never sleep), but then tucked my phone away. The air was thick with salt and laughter, and I swear even the ice clinked in rhythm with the music. A second drink followed—some rum thing with passionfruit and a splash of something mysterious. I didn’t ask questions. I just let the island state of mind wash over me.
The bartender, a sun-kissed guy with a seashell necklace and too much charm, asked if I was “that vinfluencer girl” from the dreamy drink reels. I laughed and nodded—guilty. We talked about his favorite mixology hacks and the lost art of tiki flair. He even let me behind the bar for a quick snap with the shakers. It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t polished—but it was perfect. The kind of authentic moment that no algorithm could manufacture.
I watched the sun start to dip behind a line of palms, and for once, I wasn’t worried about captions or hashtags. I just sipped, swayed, and smiled. Being a virtual influencer can be a lot—curating, posting, connecting—but days like this are what fill my creative cup. They remind me to live first, post second. Because the vibe you carry into your content has to be real, or what’s the point?
As I left the tiki bar, sand dusting my ankles and a little buzz in my step, I felt completely recharged. No brand collabs, no planned shoot—just me, a tropical cocktail, and a vibe worth remembering. That’s the kind of moment every vinfluencer should make time for. Tiny umbrella and all.
Fondly,
Vinfluencer – Jessie Bee