We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Zheng a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Emily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

It’s such a hurdle to put yourself out there on social media and learn in the public eye. However, I am eternally grateful for taking that risk because I love looking back on photos and videos from when I started, and I feel proud for all the growth I’ve had. If you love to create, then start the process. Don’t stop creating just because you are still learning your craft. At the end of the day, we’re forever learning and improving, and that is just the beauty of putting time and effort into something you love.

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

I’m Emily Zheng aka bycheznails! My weekend hobby of painting my nails took a life of its own during quarantine in March of 2020. Inspired by Simply Nailogical’s YouTube videos that taught me how to create at-home manicures, I took the opportunity of working from home to experiment with fun colors and designs that I would have typically not worn to a corporate office. The combination of loving the creative process, sharing my work online, and meeting lovely and supportive nail friends on social media propelled me to continue creating, and it’s been such an honor to have this platform to share my love of nail art.

Since nail art is my creative outlet, my looks span from neutral and minimal to 3D and colorful, depending on what techniques and polishes I want to try that day. I draw inspiration from everything, including fashion, new movies and TV shows, product packaging, perfume scents, and my fellow creators. My ultimate goal is to not only provide nail inspiration, but also be a resource for at-home artists who would like tutorials on how to recreate these looks at home.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Consistency is key! I have been posting multiple times a week, every week for the last four years. It’s not only a great way to practice creating content, but it also creates a portfolio so potential followers and brands know what to look forward to when they interact with your account.

If you do not know where to begin, you can start by taking inspiration from creators you love. Once you gain more skills and confidence, you can start developing your own style.

Last but not least, don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment. There’s always something to learn, an innovative technique to try, and a new product that is changing the game. Experimenting is important to keep things fun and interesting, and also push you to continue to grow creatively.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Taking the time to be creative is personally my favorite form of self care. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of every day with all our responsibilities. Art helps ground me and is truly so much fun. Plus, I am so lucky to have a close knit community that truly supports my art. It has also been a dream come true to work with brands that I have admired for years. I love the collaborative process to create content that feels true to their brand and also to my artistic style.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bycheznails/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bycheznails

Image Credits
Emily Zheng