Tonya Michelle is lifestyle influencer that is gradually rising in her career. She was born and raised in a small town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Driven by her passion for success, Tonya left her hometown to seek greener pastures. Sometimes, we want things to run smoothly, but instead, they turn otherwise. We may encounter multiple challenges that act as an eye-opener and change the trajectory of our lives. This is what happened to Tonya. In 2010, she moved to Miami Beach, and things did not go as expected. She lived a fast-paced and exhilarating life for three years.
However, Tonya was determined to build herself again and began using Instagram as a creative outlet. Content creators who remain consistent and offer valuable information have seen themselves rise to become established influencers with a massive fan base. Tonya started sharing her passion for beauty and fashion with her followers, steadily building up her following. “As my account grew, I found myself sharing more and more aspects of my life, from the joys of love and marriage to the struggles of infertility and endometriosis surgery,” she says.
Passion will help you skyrocket and reach your dreams against all odds. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tonya turned to TikTok as a source of light-hearted fun and connection with her fans. This didn’t go on for an extended period, as she realized her passion was sharing beauty content. Armed with determination to fulfill her ambitions, Tonya focused on creating content around the beauty world. To date, she has impacted the social sphere and has been ranked as one of the most notable social media influencers.
Tonya’s career path is undoubtedly paying off, and she has received several notable achievements. The Knot Magazine featured her as “one of the most influential weddings of 2018” and included her in their 2018 ‘Most Influential Couples’ list. Her influence in the social media space continued to grow, leading her to be recognized as a “Top Mom Influencer to Follow” by Life & Style Magazine in 2019.
In addition to these achievements, Tonya is among 24 individuals selected by Ultra Beauty to represent their brand across her country. “As a 2023 Ulta Beauty Collective Member, I’m thrilled to announce my year-long partnership with Ulta Beauty,” she says. As the business’s brand ambassador, Tonya will share her top beauty and skin care products and attend master classes with esteemed brands. She hopes her selection will inspire other mothers who wonder if they can balance parenting with their passions.
But also, Tonya’s journey to the top has had its fair share of challenges. She says the biggest hurdle was shunning naysayers. “I vividly remember the days when people ridiculed my Instagram posts, belittling my passion for sharing beauty and fashion shots. Their harsh words and mocking comments made it challenging to remain confident and continue posting,” she disclosed. To overcome this challenge, she began surrounding herself with people who supported and encouraged her to keep moving. Today, Tonya attributes her success to her perseverance and steadfast commitment to her passion. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Do what truly makes you happy. Find your tribe and never let them go,” she adds.
Tonya is hopeful that there is so much success awaiting her and is ready to embrace it as she approaches each day as it comes. She envisions making deeper connections with some of her favorite brands in the coming years. Tonya hopes to continue motivating individuals to pursue their passions and do what brings them joy. “My social media platforms serve as a source of inspiration for others while also providing a sense of support and encouragement,” Tonya concludes.
