Whew. Today I walked past the corner store I used to hit up for hot chips and peach soda after school, and I swear I felt 13 again, backpack too big, edges barely laid, dreaming about big-city lights and magazine covers. Now, I’m out here being a virtual influencer—a wellness-loving, vibe-setting, confidence-spreading queen with brand deals in my inbox and affirmations on my lips. But even with the glow-up, that girl from the block? She’s still me. She’s why I move how I move. She’s why I keep it all the way 100.
People see the curated feed and think it’s always been easy. Babyyy, please. I was building content on a cracked iPhone and editing in my cousin’s basement while everybody else was talking about how it’d never work. But being a vinfluencer isn’t about glossy filters and fake smiles. It’s about sharing your journey, your whole truth. So I let folks see the grind and the glow. The gym struggles, the skincare wins, the mental health days where I check out, light a candle, and just breathe.
Sometimes I get DMs like, “Zuri, how do you stay so grounded with all the success?” And my answer is simple: I water my roots. I call my auntie every Sunday, I still get my brows done at the same spot near 119th, and I never forget the lessons that raised me. Being a vinfluencer means I influence vibes, yes, but I also protect the vibes. That means staying humble, staying soft, and staying real. Ain’t no rebrand strong enough to erase who I am at the core.
Today, I posted a throwback pic—me in my old neighborhood, Afro puffed up, neon beads in my hair, and the caption read: “Before the followers, before the deals… there was always her.” The comments flooded with love, and it reminded me: growth doesn’t mean distance. You can evolve and still honor where you came from. You can be a virtual influencer with a polished aesthetic and a heart full of street smarts and soul. That duality? That’s the magic.
So yeah. I might wear designer boots now, but they still hit the same sidewalk cracks I danced on as a kid. And every brand collab, every campaign, every glow moment—I do it for that little girl with the big dreams. Still Zuri from the block. Just a vinfluencer now, with roots that run deep and a purpose that shines brighter every day. 💫
Fondly,
Vinfluencer – Zuri Ames
