Meet Owin Pierson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Owin Pierson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Owin, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Success always looks different for everyone, and for me when I first started out my dream goals were a lot simpler to me. I just wanted to be my own boss and travel the world for work. Within 2 years of following my passion for photography and content creation back in 2016, when the term “social media content creator” and “influencer” weren’t really terms yet and taken seriously, I was very focused on just getting my name out there. When I started seeing social media as profitable and I started traveling, working with a variety of hotels and brands hosting events I could tell my mindset was shifting on what success meant. I was able to accomplish my dream goals in my mid 20’s and that was exhilarating as well as frightening, all at once. It made me truly reflect on what success is and also who I surrounded myself with. I truly don’t think I would have gotten to where I am today without the support of people who believed in me and what my brand represented. The chosen family I’ve gained and the brands that put their money and name behind me gave me such a boost in confidence and security I never felt growing up. The success of my brand really was built on the foundation of a lot of self-reflection, but also a lot of time to actually self reflect and not burnout like I was working for other companies or people. Working for myself, and enjoying that time of working 24/7 and pushing myself everyday to show up for my brand really helped create a mindset and shift in my life that ultimately gave me a platform to be able to full-time represent the LGBTQ+, AANHPI and mental heatlh advocacy communities I wanted to be a part of.

What should our readers know about your business?
Growing a business when you don’t come from generational wealth or support from your family is really difficult. I really spent a lot of nights questioning if this path was even worth it. Also you have to be so strong in your commitment to showing up for yourself everyday. Otherwise, relying on social media likes, comments and views can take a toll on you. It’s definitely not a career for people who aren’t passionate about their creative content they make. And definitely not for anyone who think it’s a quick and easy way to make money. I really had to rely on my Psychology degree background and also my ability to be able to talk to anyone and be happy and confident in my own skin(which is an ongoing uphill battle). For example, one year I just had broken up with my boyfriend, and my family was going through some really hard things behind the scenes, and I had to still show up for my audience and had contracted deliverables I was responsible for doing. It was a real conflict in my mind and I didn’t want to let anyone down. I remember taking a deep breath and calling some loved ones and one of them told me, “I am not responsible for everyone in my life. I am only responsible for myself and I can’t be there for others unless I first am there for me.” That really shifted my mindset and made me take it slower and not feel pulled in a thousand directions. My mantra for my brand and my personal life has always been, “I am the Author of my Own Story” and this rings true especially when building a brand. During that time after breaking up with my partner I also had something traumatic happen to me during my travels that I had to really stop creating content and get support. After that, I went to Bali and forget to book a flight leaving Bali back to the U.S., which was required with my visa to not just purchase a one-way ticket. So I booked a flight to San Francisco since it was cheap and I had friends there I wanted to see. After this happened I got an email from a big brand that asked me if I happened to be in San Francisco during the same time I booked my flight. I told them about my situation and they really wanted to work with me still, so they ended up reimbursing me for my flight and signed me up soon after for one of the biggest long term contracts I’ve had in my business. It felt like the universe was conspiring for me and that because I was focused on my path, the path lit up for me and gave me all the support I needed.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a really spontaneous person and am often the friend people have to check “Find My Friends” to ever know where I am. I love just searching on Instagram for the best eats and spots to check out. No matter what I do, I think it’s important for us to do all the “touristy things” on the first day to get it done and out of the way. Then, to do something culturally awakening, like an art museum or special tour to really learn about the history and people that built that community or were a part of the land way before us. Then, I really just like to casually walk around and explore and find all the cute small businesses to support and spend all day in. But also my best friends since they don’t get to travel as much, I’d let them take lead on what they’d want to do and be up for any adventure.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I give credit to my best friend, Junna Ota. She is an oncology nurse and we grew up together but didn’t become close until we both found ourselves in Las Vegas Nevada. She was one of the first people who sincerely reached out to me in 2017, the year I came out publicly and she asked me if I wanted to get boba. I was hesitant at first since we came from similar religious backgrounds, that I have since removed myself from, and I wasn’t sure her stance. But, when she congratulated me for coming out and we spent time together, I felt her immense love and support instantly. She has been my rock and someone who has seen it all. From the beginning she has supported my Influencer career and seen the low lows and the high highs, and treated me the same. She humbles me and checks my ego, but more importantly she loves me for who I am beyond the success.

Website: https://owinpierson.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owinpierson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/owin.pierson/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/owinpierson

Image Credits
Matthew Sherman, David Cano, Karen Obrist,