Today we’d like to introduce you to Kahlia Konan.
Hi Kahlia, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My story begins in the spring of 2021, anticipating considerable changes in my life, graduating high school, moving to LA, exploring romantic relationships, and building a life outside of what I knew seemed exciting but scary. My resistance to these changes brought more obstacles than any of the current challenges I had faced during that time, which I hadn’t realized until now. We were in the middle of a global pandemic that changed the entire trajectory of everything, so any foresight I had became obsolete. Fast forward to December 2021, the resistance manifested into a mental illness, and before I knew it, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Whew. What a time that was! I was knee-deep in all of these changes happening within me and around me, and all I wanted to do was run and hide from the world. Forever. I’d learned that my resistance was a weak attempt to control things outside of myself. Amid the chaos that was my life at the time, one thing always found its way back to me: Traveling. In the summer of 2022, I was privileged enough to explore the wonders of the Mediterranean. Traveling has always been an integral part of my life (since I was ten, to be exact). Through every breathtaking monument, energetic excursion, and unique culture I had experienced, one thought persisted: ” I wish I had a friend to share this with.” That’s when it hit me: I should vlog this entire experience, from the preparation to the flight back home. The next day, I bought a camera, and Classx_k began. I can think of the many times I’d failed to capture quality footage. I’d encounter problems like lost audio, filming in lousy lighting, and shaky footage. Who would’ve thought the cobblestone streets of Florence made for a killer leg workout but were not optimal for the average vlogger? It was rocky (no pun intended), but my love for traveling and history overpowered the minor hiccups along the way. In November 2022, I expanded my social presence on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. It has been a very fruitful experience so far; I’ve collaborated with many creatives who are just as passionate about bringing their art to life as I am, established myself as a travel blogger and a fashion and food blogger, and built a community of 599,000 like-minded people across all platforms. I’ve accomplished a lot in the past year and a half, and being a part of Voyage LA is no small feat. I want the world to know that dreams can come true.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Developing an online personality takes work and a considerable learning curve. One of the biggest struggles was learning and understanding the algorithm. People gravitate to many things online, whether they’re as helpful as a ‘How to change a tire’ video or as silly as a ‘Chubby Bunny challenge’ video. I quickly learned that the algorithm only sometimes favors creativity, and it’s not about who does it first but who does better, and by better, I mean in a more engaging and captivating way. I grappled with finding new ways to be creative and stand out in this already over-saturated market, but in the end, I sacrificed my consistency and time. Once I figured out my special sauce, I struggled with over-generalizing myself and putting out work that satisfied my viewers but not me. I’ve talked to many influencers, and they share the same sentiments as I do. Many digital creators need help to balance consistency and stagnancy because humans are multifaceted. Sometimes, we only sometimes want to do what works for the algorithm. It can be pretty humbling when you’ve come up with this fantastic idea and put it on paper, only for the algorithm to hand it back with a huge D- on it. Another struggle I experienced was putting myself out there initially; I feared being seen, but it wasn’t the been seen part that scared me because I wanted my voice to be heard, my jokes to be laughed at, and my content to inspire. It was my fear of what people thought of me. Still, even today, I struggle with posting things I don’t think people would care for, but that’s the fun in all of this. What makes content creation so unique is the discourse in the comment section. From a viewer’s perspective, I look forward to reading the comments after watching a video to know what people think. It is also the beauty the interconnectedness of social media brings. That’s not to say people don’t abuse their keyboards. I’ve received my fair share of hate comments, and those I never look forward to reading or having displayed in my comment section because of their vulgarity. People always say, “That’s what comes with being a content creator,” or “Everyone has a right to their opinion,” but that doesn’t mean I have to accept being an emotional punching bag. People have a right to their opinions, but I also have a right to my platform. The number of seconds it takes for some to leave a hate comment is incomparable to the number of hours it takes me to create the content. I’ve learned not to take it personally because if they hatin’, you ain’t doing something right.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Modeling: I began my modeling career in February of 2023. I started simply with simple backgrounds, poses, and outfits, but then I added themes to my shoots to make them more intentional and compelling. I did a shoot in the poppy fields inspired by a dream of wearing a yellow dress. I did a Grace Jones-inspired shoot; I shot a picture of me time traveling in a TukTuk in Thailand. Most importantly, I prioritized collaborating with primarily women; I’ve worked with many female MUAs, photographers, stylists, and creative directors. Having a female-driven team behind me made me feel seen, heard, and understood.
Online comedian/entertainer: I’ve always loved to make people laugh and found a way to incorporate my humor into my content. Through my funny captions and exceptional comedic timing, I hope to put a smile on a person’s face and make their day. I’ve recently started getting into skits and collaborating with other influencers!
Actress: I’ve been performing for most of my life. It started with dancing and cheerleading. I got into theatre in high school; since then, acting has become my new passion. I’ve done community theatre and recently shot and been a part of a series on YouTube. I’m also taking acting classes to hone my craft and pursue commercial and TV acting.
Full-time student: I’m a business economics major
Content Creator: I’m a full-time travel, fashion, and food content creator. My travel content is mainly on YouTube in the form of vlogs. I talk about the historical significance of the monuments I visit. Through these vlogs, viewers see what it is like traveling with me. I love fashion, so it’s no surprise that you’ll find try-on hauls and “GRWM” on my platforms. I’ve made content for one of my favorite eco-friendly high-fashion companies, Rent the Runway, which allows you to rent high-quality pieces for a fraction of the cost. I’m also a big foodie who reviews local restaurants around LA. These food reviews serve as another outlet for my humor to shine through. I also make UGC content and have collaborated with Pinterest.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Networking can be complex. I wasn’t good at it the first time I tried, but I’ve always had an extroverted personality to make up for the awkwardness of meeting new people. To successfully network, you must have these three things: Competence, Confidence, and Consistency. The competence comes in the form of your work. Whatever you do, you need to be actively working towards or close to being a pro at it; that way, you can have the confidence to pitch yourself to the people you want to work for. I remember this networking event I attended; I talked to a director of a small indie film company, and I talked her ear off for the whole night. Finally, I got her contact information and told her I would send in my resume, which I never did. The reason was that I didn’t feel comfortable with my acting capabilities then, so I chickened out. Confidence is vital when pitching yourself. Yes, imposter syndrome sucks, and we all go through it, but nobody wants to hire someone who doesn’t believe in their capabilities. That’s a liability; you don’t want to be a liability to any brand or company because time is money. Consistency is one of the most critical aspects of achieving anything in life. You only get better when you are consistent because you’ll be able to catch your mistakes quicker, and you never regret the lost time because there wasn’t any to begin with. If you post a video today, you’ll never regret not posting the next day; if you finish the assignment now, you will not regret finishing the day before the deadline. It’s all about what you genuinely think you deserve and acting upon it. That’s why I’m taking acting classes, posting regularly, and investing in myself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @classx_k
- Youtube: youtu.be/vI6KRmk31lU
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@classx_k03?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Jamal-Akil Marschall
Denise Medina
Isabe Jarvis
George Lambriodes
Liz Bezler
Chris Paul Thompson
Bex Marie
Isabe Jarvis
Poppy Fields y
Breana Otey
Jason Rivera
