We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Yu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.

Alright, Danielle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I have a bachelors degree in Media Studies and have always loved the concept of filming, the creation of content videos to tell stories, and capturing beautiful moments through photographs. I’ve always loved being in front of the camera and when I began modeling and acting in college, I also wanted to learn about production, the work behind the scenes that many people do not see. If I knew what I know now, I would’ve started shooting content and utilize social media a lot sooner to gain audience and to share my creative ideas. I’m glad I learned the skills of editing, interviewing, and writing articles. Although I did not become a journalist, I am finding my passion in food blogger. Those skills from college definitely came in handy.

Danielle , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am someone who wears multiple hats and have many passions. I feel the need to express myself creatively to be able to share to others what I have to offer. I am a model, an actress, a yoga instructor, food blogger and I work a corporate job. It’s a lot of juggle but I am doing what I love and it fuels my soul. I have been modeling and acting for almost 15 years and I am fortunate to be featured in creative commercials and projects. Recently I shot a campaign for Virgin Voyages (the best cruise line in my opinion). Burger King, Publix, Rooms To Go to name a few. One of my proudest work was on set with John Cena for a national commercial!

Apart of acting, I also love cooking, eating at restaurants and trying different cuisines. I embrace and celebrate foods from different cultures and their unique ways of cooking. I am adventurous and love to try new things.

A little back story, when I was growing up I had issues with food, it was a love and hate relationship. It wasn’t that I didn’t eat much but I felt that I restricted myself and was too focused on staying thin. Being in the fashion industry, there was an image to live up to. As I got older and wiser, I began to allow myself to enjoy the beauty of food, the sweetness, the savory, the sauces. It felt like a treat for myself. Now don’t get me wrong, I am still health conscious so I maintain a healthy diet with nutrition value and keep active. I just don’t beat myself up if I indulge in “unhealthy” foods. Everything in moderation is key! Eating delicious food makes me happy!

I have been a Yelp Elite member for 4 years now and absolutely love the Yelp family. We have tons of events throughout the year to explore the local businesses. That’s what encouraged me to start food blogging on Instagram @litofoodie. I began to record and document my experiences on social media and have had the opportunity to work with different vendors and restaurants to showcase their menus. I love to support locals and to spread the word to the community. Everyone is unique in their creative take when editing their videos through their lens. I feel that I am able to add my bubbly personality to my reels and sharing my honest opinion. The foodie community is also very welcoming. We are supportive of each other. After all, food brings people together and makes people happy. I enjoy being around good energy!

How did you build your audience on social media?

Be true to yourself and do what you love. Stop with the self doubt and just DO IT! We can make up a million reasons why something might not work or that we might fail but if you don’t do it, you will never find out. Put your heart and soul into it. Find your passion and go for it 110%. Be that person you want the future generation to aspire to be. Always remember the WHY behind your work. What made you got into it in the first place. Find that inner child and embrace it. You can do it!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Some of my favorite books that I found impactful, some are self improvement, some are inspirational.

The Power of Habits by Charles Duhigg
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
The Power of Regret by Daniel H. Pink
You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
The Secret by Rhonda Bryne
Becoming by Michelle Obama
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle   

Contact Info:

• Website: www.myblueyogamat.com
• Instagram: @litofoodie @litodanii @myblueyogamat
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=dWCgdYPcafVOeCK0Tnc00Q

Image Credits
Alberto Oviedo, Mari Juliano, Trung Nguyen