Today we’d like to introduce you to Aida Toro
Hi Aida, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Aida M. Toro, and my story began on April 6th, 1990, the day I was born. I always knew that if I could make it in New York, then I could make it anywhere. As cliche as it sounds, here’s my story!
I am a Colombian-American born and raised in Hudson County, a territory entailing of municipalities that are a view away from Manhattan. As a kid, I always went to New York City with my parents and older brother, whether for dining, visiting a museum, visiting the library, watching operas, or just strolling around the city’s neighborhoods. Manhattan always stuck like glue to me because it inspired me to create stories in my head or on paper. I’d get lost in the New York Public Library because all I wanted to do was peruse through all the bookshelves and read every book I found interesting through every nook and cranny. With this in mind, my dad was my first-ever teacher, as he taught me how to read at a young age with a program called “Hooked on Phonics.” I was just four years old when I learned how to read, and once I hit Kindergarten, I knew my love for reading and writing was the truest. In addition, fashion was always something I had an affinity for since both my parents and my brother always had a sense of style, not to mention that my mom would subscribe to “Vogue,” “Cosmopolitan,” “Vanidades,” “Interview,” and other magazines that sparked my interest due to the creative and out of this world editorials I’d find between the pages. As a result, I’d write my stories in a marble notebook and draw characters with killer outfits to the best of my ability just so my stories could look like a chic literary fashion magazine. I did this for a few years and immediately knew I wanted to be a Fashion and Lifestyle Journalist.
Fast forward to my teen years, and my parents would enroll me in summer programs where I could get my feet wet in the journalism industry. As I went off to college, I went full-time and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in English in Journalism at New Jersey City University (NJCU). I graduated in May 2012 at 22 and didn’t find my first real job out of college till 2016 over at the North Jersey Media Group, where I started as a Local News Writer. I worked there for a year till I was laid off. That’s when I decided to be a freelancer. However, I wasn’t as hungry and driven during this time because I was down about losing my first-ever opportunity as a journalist due to the layoff and issues I was having in a long-term relationship I was in. I obtained a couple of freelance lifestyle writing gigs, but they didn’t pay as much as I’d expected; however, that didn’t matter to me because all I wanted to do was write about things that meant a lot to me, like fashion, art, food, and prominent personalities. I even wrote for free so that I could build my portfolio.
Once the pandemic hit, I experienced a crazy heartache from my eight-year long-term relationship coming to an end. So, to top it off, I wasn’t making much money, and I was going through a breakup, which wasn’t fun but was one of the greatest blessings of my life because I really wouldn’t be the person and professional I am nowadays. During the pandemic, I got my feet wet in public relations but figured it wasn’t for me because I wanted to do something more than pitch story ideas to journalists, as I am a journalist myself and always aspired to be one. I did learn a lot and still wrote while working in PR because you can write press releases and other materials when working with publicists. I did this for a year until I connected with two amazing women (Natalie Steger & Ellen Swandiak) in the creative industries who were seeking fashion and food writers for each of their platforms. These were fairly paid gigs, which I was excited about because I’d be writing about topics I was always passionate about. Fast forward to 2022, I have already written cover stories on celebrities for a couple of independent magazines and have gotten what we call my writing “mojo” back, and landed a freelance copywriting gig for Schutz Shoes, which I am still doing on a “permalance” (permanent freelance) basis along with my other lifestyle writing for prominent outlets like Real Homes, Edible Manhattan, Business Insider and more.
It took a lot of tears, soul searching, a change of mindset, support from my parents, brother, immediate family, best friends, mentors, and more to be the person and writer I am today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road was a bit bumpy because, as I mentioned before, I wasn’t making the money I wanted when I decided to freelance. I was getting rejection after rejection every time I applied to roles I wanted at specific publications. Although I was fortunate enough that my parents were always financially stable and were able to provide me with unlimited resources, I was too prideful to ask for help after my layoff to pay bills and such and went through a massive depression because I thought I wasn’t going to receive the opportunity to write for major outlets that I dreamt of and get rewarded with the pay I’ve always wanted and knew I deserved.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance lifestyle and brand copywriter. I write for various outlets, such as Hobnob, The House Magazine, Real Homes, Edible Manhattan, Business Insider, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, and others. I am also Schutz Shoes’s brand copywriter.
Many know me for my authenticity in storytelling. I love to tell a good story, whether about a celebrity, an up-and-comer, a brand, a restaurant, or more. I believe authenticity is essential when writing, especially nowadays, because, through social media, we don’t know who or what is real. My journey from lifestyle journalism to becoming the brand copywriter for one of the biggest shoe brands in the fashion industry is a testament to my determination and talent. I never imagined my writing would take me this far, and I’m proud of my strides. What sets me apart is that my personality matches my writing style, whether for an article or a product I am writing copy for.
I always go by this quote I’ve seen in one of my favorite romantic comedy films, “Life or Something Like It,” which reads, “One thing I learned, in my career and in my life, is you always gotta be yourself.” This is a quote I seriously live by because being yourself is exceptional, and it’s something many should own in every aspect of their life.
What matters most to you?
To me, kindness, integrity, and work ethic matter.
When you give kindness without expecting anything back, some might take advantage of you, but you know better than to expect anything back. Giving with kindness is a great feeling because you don’t know how much you can brighten up someone’s day.
When you have integrity, you’re honest and have strong moral principles. This starts within yourself and then with everyone around you, whether it be a family member, friends, colleagues, and the list could go on.
Lastly, a work ethic is essential because you must hustle to achieve your heart’s greatest desires. I grew up watching my dad being such a great success due to his work ethic, and I couldn’t have been more blessed to have obtained this quality from him because I wouldn’t be successful at doing the work I do nowadays.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aidamtoro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidamtoro/?hl=en
Image Credit:
Jana Schuessler