Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Kim.
Rachel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The SparkNotes version is that I actually started off completely clueless as to what I wanted to do when I graduated college with my Creative Writing degree, but within the following year, I figured out a way to smoothly integrate that to a field and industry (fashion) that I had no prior work experience or schooling in. From there, I evolved and discovered new talents/interests that had never occurred to me before. You know how everyone talks a lot about “manifesting” your dreams? Even though it can be loosely or overly used, I do find that true to a great extent! I feel like I really did manifest the things I have today in the sense that I found a way to make it all come together, of course, with a lot of hard work and by nurturing/growing my relationships, friendships, and circle of genuine yet talented connections. Nobody’s going to just hand it to you. The term “where there is a will, there is a way” is pretty apt because I remember being so determined to find a way to make that all happen for me, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.
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?
I think for anyone, not just me, it’s never a walk in the park to get to where you are today because everything is a process that takes years of hard work. But that’s why every single one of your successes counts and feels amazing, no matter how small or big. I suppose if I had to point out one element in my journey that has been pretty “smooth” for me, is the plethora of opportunities that I’ve been blessed with over and over again throughout the years but I always put in the effort to put myself out there to find them, always do my homework, and I make sure to make the best of those opportunities.
I’d say the biggest struggle that I’m still facing even now is maintaining that work-life balance along with self-care (mental health in particular). When you have such a fast-paced, go-go-go-go lifestyle, it’s so easy to neglect yourself in that process, but that’s why it’s so important to take breaks in between to avoid crashing and burning out. In all transparency, I experienced a severe crash and burnout several months ago, last fall, and decided to take several months off and not work, just travel, and focus on healing myself physically and emotionally before diving back into the hustle. A reset once in a while is a necessity; our current work culture needs to normalize prioritizing taking time for yourself and well-being.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I touched upon this in a previous interview with ShoutoutLA… But I still, like so many other creatives in the industry, like to see myself as pretty multi-faceted in my skillsets and interests. Everything I do is innately integrated and compliments each other well, and at the end of the day, I’d say it’s all connected by my love for fashion. So far, my primary line of work and how I bring in my main income has always been through writing, but my other creative passions include modeling and content creation, which I’ve been enjoying, honing, and eventually monetizing over the years. So yes, even though I am a writer, I don’t necessarily want that to be my ‘sole’ identifier. But in terms of my writing career specifically, I started with a fashion start-up (The RealReal) as their copywriter before COVID hit, then moved on to the UK publishing company (The DailyMail) during the pandemic as a celebrity fashion finder. During those years, I’ve continued to evolve and come a long way with my branding and content on Instagram and established work relationships with brands and sponsorships. Then somewhere along the line from there, is when I unexpectedly developed an interest and knack in modeling, which completely took me by surprise but in the best way.
So, it’s been such a fun yet challenging trip managing all that, and I’m equally proud of every single milestone I’ve brought to fruition because it hasn’t been easy- whether that’s my published written works, paid gigs, creative projects for my portfolio, or IG deliverables that I spent hours editing and putting together. Most importantly, I’m proud of myself (and my friends) for just going after what I want and not giving that up despite the turbulent ups and downs! I’ve had this discussion with all of my friends at one point, so I feel I can safely say that most, if not all, creatives in every industry cycle through peaks of inspirational renaissances to creative blocks, productivity then unproductivity and stagnant periods versus winning streaks… but what keeps us thriving is taking charge of that momentum whenever it’s needed while ensuring our inner drive and passion stay alive, even if you need to take some time away to drag yourself out of a deep rut.
One thing that I like to think sets me apart (that I think everyone should also have) is my consistency in staying unapologetically “me” by embracing/utilizing what makes me unique and advertising that well – accepting both my strengths and flaws too. I think a lot of us can relate to wanting to “fit in” with the crowd at one point in our lives to the often rigid, one-dimensional societal standards, myself included. In my case, I just hadn’t really found myself, felt comfortable in my own skin, or accepted my differences for a long time growing up, but then quickly realized as a young adult that all this “fitting in” doesn’t get you far in your career or personal branding, especially as a creative. Another thing I’d say that might set me apart is my penchant for out-of-box thinking and emotional resilience because all the work ethic, discipline, innovation, and healthy habits you need to succeed truly depend on your mental strength and willingness to broaden your perspective.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I know for sure that not the only one who feels this way, but unless they’re close to me, people don’t realize the extent of my lows, ordeals, and mental battles I fight on a daily because I’ve gotten so good at keeping my composure and staying level-headed in front of others. They don’t know or see how much inner work, reflection, and tireless hours I invested to create and accomplish all the work I’ve ever done along with the confidence and work ethic I have now (that I didn’t always have). Needless to say, all this has forced me to adapt and grow into who I am and the way I carry myself today.
Oftentimes, when I talk to people I just meet about what I do for a living or show my work, portfolio, or socials, they think it all sounds and looks so “glamorous” and assume that I have it figured out. I suppose in a lot of ways this is true, but it’s certainly not always “glamorous,” nor do I always have it all together as much as some may think. My policy is transparency and not being afraid to be vulnerable at times without oversharing or complaining. All to say, virtually or otherwise, we all portray what we choose to publicize, but the truth is deep down, everyone has hidden struggles, and we’re just winging it in life the best we can.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/raeraekims
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-kim-sm/
Image Credits
Diane Zhao
Brandon J StJean
Mitchell Aragon
Matt Mendoza
Lyena Kang
