Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andy Burns . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Andy , appreciate you joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
Absolutely! That’s why I created The Unconventional Black Hottie brand! As a black woman, I know firsthand how society overlooks and underestimates the struggles of black women. Unfortunately, this often leads to pressure for us to conform to certain stereotypes and expectations. And it’s even worse for unconventional black women who don’t fit into society’s traditional mold. People often see us as a threat to the status quo and judge us as too outspoken, too independent, or too ambitious. Sometimes, we’re even told that we’re not “black enough” or “feminine enough”. It’s frustrating and annoying.
It’s important to recognize and support unconventional black individuals, and that’s why I created a safe space for black individuals to navigate the world with community, resources, and confidence. Growing up in Baltimore City and then moving to a prestigious neighborhood gave me experiences my city friends didn’t have. However, it also left me feeling stuck between two worlds. I wasn’t quite traditional enough for some or unconventional enough for others. Finding a tribe of like-minded individuals who understand and accept me for who I am was a challenge.
But I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way. The most important lesson is to be true to myself. I’ve learned to embrace my individuality and be proud of who I am. I’ve also learned to be open to learning from others and recognizing that everyone has something valuable to offer. That’s why I decided to move my brand name to a gender-neutral term to include all African-Americans who align with this struggle. It’s time to dismantle the stereotypes and expectations placed upon the black community and acknowledge that our community is not monolithic.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Andy! A Baltimore Maryland native. I’m the creator of The Unconventional Black Hottie, a brand focused on supporting and empowering black individuals who defy societal expectations. Living overseas for 4.5 years allowed me to flourish as a woman. I didn’t have the societal pressures I had here in America and I was able to easily navigate and become “Andy”. I was able to be authentically myself without the stress of conforming to society. I wanted so badly for every black individual to experience this “freedom” I was able to have.
In America, I struggled to balance expectations from different social groups and society itself, which inspired me to create a safe space for those facing similar challenges. My goal is to promote authenticity, inclusivity, and community to encourage open dialogue among black individuals who align with this struggle.
When I created the Unconventional Black Hottie, I wanted to provide a community worldwide and resources for individuals to connect within the black community. I understood as a black woman it can come with its unique set of challenges, and I want to create a space where individuals can find the support and encouragement they need to thrive and navigate that space. I started creating digital content with the unconventional hottie in mind, featuring diverse voices and perspectives on a range of relevant and meaningful topics. Representation matters to me, and I strive to showcase the beauty and diversity of black individuals through this platform.
I began hosting round table live talks called “Twisted Talks” with our sister/partner blog by Cymber Clay called “The Quirky Black Professional” to discuss the struggles and provide a safe place for viewers to share their stories and experiences. Our ultimate goal is to create a community of support and understanding for the black collective and provide resources and support for those who are struggling. I am proud of the commitment to creating a community for those who were searching for “their tribe.” It’s the most rewarding experience to hear “Thank you for helping me connect with like-minded individuals” or “YES! This is me thank you for building this tribe”!!
As a digital content creator, I find it incredibly rewarding to use my creativity to create something that can be shared with the world. It’s an amazing feeling to know that my work can be seen and appreciated by people from all walks of life. What’s even more satisfying is the ability to use my skills and personal experience to create something that can make a positive impact on the world. I have the opportunity to create content that can be used to educate, inform, and entertain, and that’s what drives me to keep doing what I do.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a digital content creator is the ability to create something that can be shared with the world. As a digital content creator, I have the opportunity to create content that can be seen and enjoyed by people from all walks of life. It’s incredibly satisfying to know that my work can be seen and appreciated by so many people.
I also find it rewarding to be able to use my creativity to create something that can be used to educate, inform, and entertain. As a digital content creator, I have the opportunity to create content that can be used to help people learn something new, or to provide them with an entertaining experience. It’s incredibly satisfying to know that my work can be used to help people in some way.
To be able to use my skills and personal experience to create something that can be used to make a difference in the world and, have the opportunity to create content that can be used to raise awareness about important issues or to help people within my community It’s incredibly satisfying to know that my work can be used to make a positive impact on the world.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building an audience on social media for The Unconventional Black Hottie was a long and winding journey. It took a lot of trial and error, but eventually, I was able to create a strong and engaged community.
I literally hopped on TikTok and stopped trying to post “trends” and just used it as a diary and people just started gravitating to my content it was literally amazing!
I focused on building relationships with my audience I wanted it to feel like you’re on facetime with your homegirl. I reached out to influencers who had a similar audience to mine and asked them to collaborate with me. This helped to increase my reach and visibility, as well as to build relationships with people in my niche.
My advice for those just starting to build a social media presence is to focus on connecting with your audience we are over the fake reality of social media and want more relatable content. Post regularly and engage with your followers, as this is key to building an engaged audience. Also, use hashtags to help your content reach a wider audience and build relationships with influencers in your niche. Finally, be patient and find sustainability if you post every day that is what your audience is going to expect if you post once or twice a week same thing your audience will expect that. Do what’s sustainable. I know that advice may go against social media manager laws but, social media can be draining, and setting boundaries and doing what’s sustainable early will make things easier in the long run. Be patient as it takes time to build an audience on social media and likes aren’t everything! Even if I don’t get as many likes on certain content I am just glad it reached SOMEONE.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unconventionalblackhottie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunconventionalblackhottie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnconventionalBlackHottie
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/andeee3000
- Email: hello.info@
unconventionalblackhottie.com - Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andeee3000 and https://www.tiktok.com/@unconventionalblkhottie
Image Credits
Lexie Peterson- Lexi Peterson Photography
Hairstylist: Destiny Kaa
Wardrobe: Xandria Steward