April 29, 2019

Conversations with the Inspiring Christine Marie Billones

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Marie Billones.

Christine Marie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley as an only child to an immigrant Filipino single mother. Growing up, I was very sheltered and I had difficulty associating my identity with anything other than doing well in school. My mom had raised me to be the source of my own strength and to always speak my mind (even though most of the time it would clash with my family’s ideals). The older I got, I realized how much I enjoyed creative writing and musical theater and expressing myself through style. Even though there wasn’t always money in the budget to keep up with trends like other kids my age, I was still very blessed to have a comfortable life in the 626. I also found my passion for empowering other women and leadership development.

I attended UC Riverside from 2013-2018 where I received my BA in Psychology. A lot of my extracurricular time was spent in a professional community service organization, Alpha Phi Omega, and I had the opportunity to be a part of the leadership development team for a quarter. I realized how much I enjoyed helping people become better leaders while giving back to the community and thought more about pursuing HR after graduating.

After graduation, I was lucky enough to get a job out in Orange County, but the 9-5 routine became very draining. I wasn’t pursuing any hobbies I enjoyed or expressing myself through any creative outlets. I thought life and style blogging would be a great way to get back into writing and learn more about content creating and start posting more styled outfits on my Instagram.

I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but I’m learning more every day and have already begun connecting with amazing ladies in the community.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’m still at the start of my journey so while it hasn’t been smooth I’m ready for more challenges to come. When I first started thinking about blogging or posting more on Instagram, I was full of fear-fueled thoughts like “I’m not creative or attractive enough to pull this off.” and “My engagement will never get to where I want it to be.” But I wanted to learn more than I was scared, and I just pushed myself to start doing what I wanted to do. I think it’s so much more fun when you don’t get things right the first time– it makes the pay off worth it in the end.

The best thing you can do is just start— even if you only do one thing toward your goal a day it’s still a step! As someone who has anxiety, I know how frustrating it can be when you know you’re what’s holding you back. Just be patient and understanding with yourself. You’re going to get there one day; failures are just lessons that help bring you a step closer to your end goal.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
While my life + style blog is very much in its beginning state, I post everyday outfits on my Instagram. My style usually ranges to girly and chic to sporty street style. I wanted to be able to post outfit inspiration with affordable prices that young women could incorporate into their own wardrobe. Trust me– as a recent college grad not living at home I’m always looking for a good deal!

The goal is to one day have my platform be a source of outfit inspiration and life discussions to empower young women every day. I also hope to be part of more representation in the Filipino-American community. While Asian-American representation is getting better it still has a long way to go. And so does representing darker skinned Asians. Honestly, if I can inspire at least one girl to have confidence when she steps out her front door for the day or realizing her goals, that’d be an accomplishment for me.

Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
I would highly encourage you to look for companies that will invest in you and your growth. I know not everyone has the time or resources to choose that. When I was job searching after grad, I was looking for the first job that would just help me pay the bills. But I was lucky enough to find a position within a company that keeps my career interests in mind and provides opportunities to take on more responsibilities.

Even if you’re not sure where you’re going to be in five years, Even if you’re not sure where you’re going to be in five years, think about what your strengths are and keep an open mind. Never say no to an opportunity to learn!

Contact Info:

Website: worldaccordingtochristine.home.blog
Instagram: Instagram.com/cbllns

Image Credit:
Jonathan Yoon, Jonathan Wong, Alexander Truong, Michele Elena, Lizz Veronica, Sarah G.N.

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