From attending the chicest events to influencing the wardrobes of millions, fashion bloggers seem to lead lives of endless glamour. Their social followings earn them the respect of industry leaders as well as lucrative careers that include clothing lines, magazine features and—for the more entrepreneurial—multi-million-dollar businesses.
Take Aimee Song, for instance, whose Song of Style blog landed her a spot on last year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 list. With more than 2 million page views per month and 4.6 million Instagram followers, she dominates the fashion blog scene and has started work on her own jewelry and apparel collections. While she may appear to have it all, the blogger has her fair share of struggles. She addressed her not-so-perfect life in a heartbreakingly relatable vlog while attending the recent Haute Couture Week in Paris.
“The hardest thing about being a blogger or having my life out there is to always pretend like I’m happy,” Aimee says in the video before tearing up. “I actually don’t feel so happy. I think the hardest part is pretending like everything is okay when it’s not and trying to still work when I don’t feel like it.” She admits to feeling guilty turning down events for personal reasons, viewing them as missed opportunities—a common reaction in today’s rise-and-grind culture.
As a result, Aimee reveals, there are moments she has to put on a brave face. “I fake it a lot of times,” she says. “I don’t feel confident, and I don’t feel happy at all. Sometimes I feel so sad and so broke inside.” Wiping away tears, she adds: “I feel even more sad when I’m around people because everybody’s lives seem so perfect, but then again I realize that’s probably what you guys think about my life.” (Couldn’t have spoken truer words.)
However, she offers advice for those who feel the same way: “I remember that it’s going to pass. If you don’t go through something tough in life, how are you gonna appreciate the good moments? I think it’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to not feel confident. It’s something that I struggle with myself … [but] I have hope.”
It’s rare to hear a fashion blogger open up the way she does, and we’re more supportive of her work than ever because of it. Thank you, Aimee.
