We were lucky to catch up with Dena Hussain recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dena , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

When learning how to create content, a lot of observation and practice were required. I’ve always watched other vloggers on YouTube and followed other modest fashion creators on social media. I’ve noted which editing styles I like from other creators and through editing hundreds of vlogs, reels, and posts, I’ve developed my own kind of personal style. I like my vlog-editing style on YouTube to tell a story and to always be entertaining and engaging; I want people to look forward to continue watching. On Instagram, I see it more as an artistic craft and put a ton of intention into what I post and how often. I also pay attention to how my grid looks. However, I feel like I’m still in the process of “perfecting” my social media strategy.

To speed up my learning process, I believe taking a course on how to use certain editing softwares could’ve helped. I use Premiere Pro to edit my vlogs and reels, and it’s quite a comprehensive and detailed software. So, coming into vlogging and not knowing how to properly edit (aside from in iMovie), I think some education could’ve been helpful. But honestly, looking up whatever I didn’t know online and continuously putting out new vlogs weekly taught me so much.

The most essential skills to creating my content were and continue to be; having my vlog camera, having a cameraman to take my fashion photos, capturing the right angles and lighting, knowing social media strategy (when to post, how often, what content, etc.) and being disciplined and consistent.

The biggest obstacle that comes in the way of learning is not having a strong network. Through my time as a content creator, I’ve been on a solo journey where I don’t know a ton of other creators who I can ask questions to or network with. In any other job or even as a student, one usually has peers or people more advanced in their careers to ask questions to or get advice from. My biggest help has been resources on the internet. As I continue in this industry, I plan to connect more with other content creators to learn from each other and to form a community with.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Dena and I’m a Modest Fashion and Lifestyle Content Creator. Before being a content creator, I was working in a corporate setting right after graduating college in healthcare. Although it is a meaningful industry, I felt very trapped and uninspired in my specific role. I really needed to light my fire. I had always toyed around with the idea of vlogging, especially considering that I’d been watching YouTube for nearly a decade, but never thought it was the “right time”. I was already kind of creating modest fashion content on Instagram, but I finally put out my first YouTube video in December 2022. By March 2023, I decided I’m gonna go full swing.

Since then, I’ve put out hundreds on vlogs and really curated my Instagram to be like my modest fashion moodboard. I’ve also gotten opportunities to work with brands that I truly love and use to create content for them. I’ve discovered my love for editing and telling a story through vlogging. One of my favorite aspects of this whole journey is to be able to romanticize my normal life and encourage others to do so through my content.

I always value quality over quantity. With vlogs, I really try to be intentional about making them wholesome and bringing viewers along the motions of my day without letting it get dry and tired. With fashion content, I always try to stick to my own original style and not adhere so much to trends. I feel like through these strategies, my content always stays authentic to my own self and therefore sets me apart as a creator.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Although reaching certain numerical milestones or getting brand deals is a driving factor for many content creators, I always strive to be a role model or big sister to other women in a similar life stage as myself. If I can encourage my viewers to be their most authentic self, to push themselves to realize their goals, and to move through life being able to not seek validation from anyone but themselves, then I feel fulfilled.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

For content creators at least, engagement in their content is really the best way to support them. Whether that is commenting, liking, sharing, or clicking a link, those small acts can really promote their content and help them grow in their business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/denahussain
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denahussain_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@denahussain/videos
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dena_hussain