Life and Work with Francesca Murray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Francesca Murray.

Francesca, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started One Girl One World five years ago, in 2014! At the time, travel blogging was still relatively new and the travel space was overwhelmingly white and male. I studied abroad in Italy in college and was obsessed with travel, but never saw TV hosts or travel writers that looked like me. I’m passionate about representation, especially in media, so this bothered me. I knew that I loved storytelling, and because I noticed there was no one sharing my perspective I decided to start One Girl One World. It was my way to “be the change you wish to see in the world!”

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been worth it! I’ve had some incredible experiences around the world and met some of the kindest people. That being said, being a woman of color in the travel industry is an uphill battle. I’ve had brands agree to work with me based on my “phone voice” and pitch, but then once they see my website or social media and what I look like they back out. There is still a certain perspective of what a traveler looks like. If you don’t believe me, pick up a travel brochure or browse a few of your favorite travel Instagram pages. I’m trying to change the perception and the work has been very rewarding this far!

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
There are many things that set me apart from others. The main one being that travel is truly a passion of mine and not a checklist “for the gram.” I’ve lived abroad multiple times, and have picked up French and some Spanish along the way. My mission is to inspire women to explore the world fearlessly and engage with the local culture as they travel!

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
Absolutely! The influencer space, in general, is very female-dominated, and it’s amazing to see so many women coming together to effect positive change through their social platforms. There are so many women ran businesses that started on Instagram, and the amazing thing is that you no longer need permission to start!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.onegirl-oneworld.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/onegrloneworld
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onegrloneworld/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/onegrloneworld
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/onegrloneworld

Image Credit:
Willy Joseph Louis Photography

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