We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mariana Mejia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Mariana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you manage your own social media?
Right now, I manage our social media myself! Social Hype Global actually started right after Covid with my best friend Claudy. At the time, she and I were diving into our own career goals—she was studying for the LSATs, and I was exploring creative storytelling—so we thought it’d be fun to mix her legal brain with our creative vision. She started learning about contracts while we looked into building a team with interns from local colleges.
We originally launched with a website, but expenses got in the way, so we shifted our focus to growing our Social Hype Instagram page. Life naturally pulled us in different directions—she’s focusing on her path, and I was leaving an editor role at a lifestyle magazine that unexpectedly turned into a mold inspection company (yes, seriously). That experience reminded me how much I love editorial work—especially in lifestyle and culture—and now I’m more determined than ever to continue down that path.
These days, I keep Social Hype going with the help of some amazing interns—many of whom are earning service hours from around the world. We’ve kept things more local for now so I can manage everything while juggling other jobs.
Lately, I’ve been brainstorming fresh ideas with my boyfriend, Enrique Mendoza, who’s a sommelier and just as obsessed with culture and storytelling as I am (plus, he knows a lot about wine—so that helps with the creative flow!). He’s been incredibly supportive and is now exploring ways to get even more involved in the brand’s growth. Honestly, my whole team has been made up of my loved ones—my mom, dad, best friend, and now my boyfriend. My parents are the definition of ride-or-die; they’ve cheered me on through every pivot and passion project. Claudy, my best friend, has always been my sounding board, and Enrique’s been bringing in fresh energy and new ideas. I might not have a traditional team—but I have a meaningful one, and that’s what keeps me grounded and inspired.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: don’t wait for the perfect conditions to build something you believe in. Managing your own social media teaches you so much about your voice, your vision, and your audience. It’s not always glamorous, but it’s always worth it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi! I’m Mariana Mejia, the founder and creative force behind Social Hype Global—a lifestyle-forward digital brand rooted in storytelling, cultural curiosity, and community connection. I’ve always had a passion for storytelling, but the road to becoming a lifestyle editor and digital creative wasn’t exactly linear. I studied communications, once considered law school, and even worked in student government—but everything always led me back to one thing: writing, creating, and connecting people through stories.
Social Hype Global was born just after the pandemic, when the world was craving connection more than ever. My best friend Claudy and I reconnected during that time, and after some creative brainstorming, we realized we wanted to build something meaningful that mixed her legal mindset with my love for editorial work. We launched with a website (which we later had to let go due to expenses) and shifted our focus to our Instagram page.
I’ll be real—the Instagram page hasn’t been touched consistently because I’ve been juggling multiple jobs just to stay afloat. I’ve applied for writing positions, but it’s tough out here. The industry is incredibly competitive, and while I know I have the vision and voice, breaking in hasn’t been easy. Still, I show up. I write. I create. Because it’s who I am.
What sets Social Hype apart is that it’s not just content—it’s heart. We’re about community, culture, and celebrating the stories that often get overlooked. I’ve had the chance to work with interns from all over the world—some who need service hours, some who just want experience—and while I can’t always offer compensation yet, I pour everything I can into mentorship, creativity, and connection.
Earlier in my career, I left an editor role at a lifestyle magazine when it unexpectedly pivoted into a mold inspection company (yes, a complete 180). That experience reminded me how much I love this work—lifestyle, writing, culture, food, wine, people—it all lights me up. And that’s when I knew I had to return to Social Hype with renewed purpose.
These days, I’m rebuilding with the support of my people—my parents, who have always been my biggest cheerleaders, my best friend Claudy, and my boyfriend Enrique Mendoza, a talented sommelier who’s helping me brainstorm new directions for the brand that blend wine, culture, and storytelling in a fresh, elevated way.
If I could put 100% of my time and energy into Social Hype Global, I know I could build something incredible. Not just for me, but for my team—and future team. I’d love to one day offer paid internships for college students, build a full-time creative staff, and truly scale this into a lifestyle media hub that highlights new voices, bold flavors, and authentic stories. But right now, I’m still in the struggle boat—figuring it out day by day, doing what I can with what I have, and believing that the right audience will find me.
What I’m most proud of is the fact that I haven’t stopped. Even when people told me I wasn’t the “right kind of writer.” Even when mentors said my style was too “narrative” or “not to the point.” But isn’t that what makes writing beautiful? It’s a form of art. It’s a reflection of self. Every writer is a different kind of artist, and Social Hype is where that artistry gets to shine.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
One of my biggest personal experiences with resilience came not from a single moment, but from a series of challenges throughout my journey. Early on, I had professors tell me they’d pass me, but never truly see me as a writer. I was often told my writing was too personal, too emotional, or that I wasn’t “getting to the point.” Then there were the directors at TV stations who praised my style but told me it wasn’t what they needed because it told too much of a story. It stung at the time, because I felt like I was being told to abandon what made me unique.
But that only pushed me further to embrace my style, because at the end of the day, writing is a form of expression. Every writer is an artist, and every piece of writing is a different expression of art. I’ve always believed that writers should write how they like to write. Our creativity, the way we express ourselves, is what makes us stand apart. It doesn’t have to fit a mold or be “good enough” for others.
Even now, I face tough moments. I still want to work with other writers, learning from their unique styles and dynamics, so I can grow and evolve as a creator. I’m eager to work for other companies, learn how they operate, and understand the nuances of different writing environments. It’s all about soaking up knowledge from those around me to become better.
But the journey isn’t just about adapting to what others do; it’s also about staying true to my own voice. I want to learn from everyone, and I want to curate my own work in a way that feels authentic to who I am as a writer.
Resilience, to me, is about pushing forward, even when it feels like I’m still figuring things out. It’s about embracing both my uniqueness and the opportunity to grow. The road may be uncertain, but I’m committed to learning, evolving, and staying true to what I love.
How’d you meet your business partner?
Claudy and I actually go way back—to our college days. We were in several classes together and even served in student government, but we didn’t really click until a history class project on Desert Storm. As we dug into the research, we discovered that many soldiers had STDs like gonorrhea—and, well, we thought it’d be hilarious (and educational) to pass out condoms from the student center as part of our presentation. We nailed that project, and the laughter and late‑night brainstorming cemented our friendship.
After graduation, life pulled us in different directions and we lost touch. Then Covid hit. Feeling isolated, I reached out to see how she was doing, and it was like no time had passed. We started chatting daily, trading ideas, and realized we still shared that spark for building something together. In one of those “small world” moments, we discovered we’d actually gone to the same high school—our campus was so big we’d heard of each other but never met. Now, we just tell people we met in high school!
Fast‑forward to post‑pandemic brainstorming: Claudy was deep into LSAT prep, and I was exploring creative storytelling, so we thought, why not merge her legal smarts with my editorial vision? That partnership was the seed of Social Hype Global. She’s my go‑to for contracts and structure, while I drive the creative side. Even though life’s gotten busy—she’s on her path and I’m juggling multiple jobs—that foundation of trust, humor, and complementary skills is what makes our co‑founder relationship so strong.
And then there’s Enrique—my boyfriend and now key creative collaborator. We actually met at a family‑friends’ wedding. Our families have been intertwined for generations—my family and Enrique’s best friend’s family have been close for three generations—yet our names never came up until that night. I was the only non–bridal‑party guest at the groom’s table, a little tipsy on red wine, when I teased, “Hey, you’ve got greens stuck in your teeth!” We clicked instantly—bonding over my baking obsession, his sommelier expertise, and our shared love of storytelling. It felt like fate when we realized we’d also attended the same high school—just in different grades.
Enrique brings fresh energy, wine know‑how, and brainstorming firepower to Social Hype. Together, Claudy, Enrique, and I are building something that blends legal savvy, editorial creativity, and a dash of multi‑generational family magic.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialhypeglobal?igsh=MWMxZmhsZGZ6eHc0YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: Email: [email protected]
For any inquiries
Image Credits
All credits were by : Mariana Mejia
Some are from: the Wharf in FTL, you’ll see .