Daily Grind: Nakita
A social media marketer, content creator, and writer, Nakita Vang is a woman of many talents. Read on to learn more about Nakita.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background (where you’re from, if you were born in the US/or in another country, if you went to college,tech school, self learner, etc. Whatever you want to share, as an intro).
I was born in MN, as the eldest child of three. I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a self-design degree in Mass Communication, Comm Studies, and Fashion Studies. But I am a self-learner of life, and love challenging and growing through self-improvement and reflection. My dream is to be an established Hmong Writer, offering pieces on self-love, healing, and Hmong experiences.
What are the three qualities that got you to where you are today?
Resilence, Dreamer, Go-getter
What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid?
Fashion Designer
Do you currently have a 9 to 5 job on top of what you’re doing now?
No, I am currently a full-time self-employed social media marketer & content creator.
What inspired you to start doing what you do now?
I've always loved being creative and telling stories, particularly through social media and video.
Where do you get your inspiration for your work?
I'm inspired by influencers like Jenn Im, Lavendaire, and Xandria Ooi for content and design work. But I love minimalist vibes.
How did you come up with your business name?
Originally, my name was "Nakita: Social + Content," because I struggled finding a name that embodied everything I loved to do from marketing and content creation for small businesses and video creation and blogging for myself. But now, I am proudly going to just brand myself with my name "Nakita" because that just is who I am -- someone who loves to do many things.
Is it just you or do you have a team?
I just have myself, but my sister, Kalina, is a great backbone and assistant to my work.
Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
Probably Argentina because the lifestyle was so different from anything I had ever seen. Time goes so slowly there and people really live in the moment.
What’s your favorite time of the day?
I'm drawn to 2pm because I feel like the sun shines the best at that time.
What hobby would you get into if time and money weren’t an issue?
Designing more Hmong-inspired clothing and putting on fashion shows.
What skill would you like to master?
I would love to master the skill of controlling my own thoughts, making sure I organize positive and negative for better mental health.
What are some small things that make your day better?
Kind messages from readers, clients, friends and family.
If you got a free check for $5,000, how would you use it?
I'm pretty sure I would save it right away. I'm a dreamer and builder, so knowing me, it would probably just be added to my fund for something I want to make happen.
Who inspires you to be better?
My family. I want to be better for them everyday.
What’s one thing that you are exceptionally good at?
Probably planning and organizing.
What’s one thing that you are epically bad at?
Not overthinking for sure.
What’s a favorite book of yours?
I'm in search of a new one -- please recommend any! But The Late Homecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang will always be one of my favorites because it was seeing my family's reflection in a book.
What do you like most about where you currently live?
The community. I love that we're close knit.
If you could live in a foreign place, where would it be?
Probably Thailand because there's still Hmong people, but there are a variety of places and lifestyles to experience within that country.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
It's okay to slow down and have fun. Your dreams will happen and there's no need to rush. Enjoy all the small moments. But mostly, know you'll always be enough.
What advice would you give someone who wants to follow their passion and start their own business?
Someone out there needs you and your business in the way that you would do it. There may be a million others in your industry, but no one like you. 9-5 jobs will always be there, but the shot to start your own dreams might not. It's better to live knowing you tried!
What change would you like to see in the Hmong culture?
I would hope we could adapt to new systems, values, and traditions that would better serve all individuals in modern times, but at the same time, will still keep our identify as Hmong.
What is your favorite thing about being Hmong?
I love our resiliency, in not only keeping our identity alive, but striving despite our history. I am so proud of our community, our achievements, and connectedness without having a country.
You can stay connected with Nakita via:
Instagram: @nakitavang
Facebook: Nakita
Website: NakitaVang.com
- The Story Cloth Shop Team