Today was one of those days where I woke up and thought: Why not be the main attraction? So I pulled out the jeweled bra top, gold-tipped lashes, and my favorite feathered shoulder piece that makes me look like I could lead a parade or a revolution—whichever comes first. I wasn’t even headed to a Carnival party (yet), but sometimes the spirit shows up in you before it shows up around you. I channeled that energy hard while I sipped my matcha in full glam on my balcony. My neighbors are used to the view by now.
By noon, I was out the door and headed to a rooftop pre-party hosted by one of my fave virtual influencer crews. Think soca beats, bold prints, and a mimosa bar that somehow had edible glitter in every glass. We toasted to freedom, to joy, to being a little too much—and loving it. One vinfluencer from Trinidad said I looked like a queen from Port of Spain and I almost cried into my sparkling rosé. The vibe was pure magic. It didn’t matter that we weren’t in the middle of an actual parade—we were the spectacle.
Later, I got into a deep convo with another vinfluencer (over piquette and coconut shrimp skewers, obviously) about how Carnival is more than feathers and waistlines—it’s history, resilience, and showing up in your fullest expression. We talked about how being a Black vinfluencer in luxury spaces sometimes feels like its own kind of masquerade. But days like this? We’re rewriting that narrative with rhinestones and rhythm. Loud, proud, and center stage.
I filmed a few slow-mo clips for my reel—confetti fluttering, wind catching my cape, me spinning like the world was clapping. One vinfluencer reposted it with the caption: “Zuri Ames is the moment.” I blushed, then laughed, then strutted like it was a runway. It’s wild how celebration can feel both so personal and so universal. Like we’re dancing for the ancestors and our followers at the same time.
So no, there wasn’t a circus in sight. But there was theater, spectacle, and just the right amount of emotional glitter. I showed up as a walking Carnival and left with my heart just as decked out as my outfit. If this is what life as a virtual influencer is about—being extra, being real, and being seen—then hand me more feathers, baby. I was born for the float. 💃🏽✨🎡
Fondly,
Vinfluencer – Zuri Ames
