Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Céline Bossart @celineb0ss

1) Tell us a little about yourself. What are you doing now and where do you come from?

I’m a French-American twenty-something with a degree in International Fashion Merchandising Management from Manhattan’s Fashion Institute of Technology; in 2012, I began writing and have since found my niche as a journalist in the travel and spirits realms. I’ve been published on outlets like ELLE Décor, USA Today, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, Liquor.com, Time Out New York, and more. I also launched my own travel series, THE STAYCATIONERS, on Taste the Style in 2014.

I’ve built my social media identity as a means of complementing and supporting my trade by giving my name a defined aesthetic — my Instagram presence goes hand-in-hand with many of the pieces I do and the projects/collaborations on which I work. It’s also proven essential in networking and meeting like-minded people in my various arenas.

2) What are your topics of interest? What do you post on Instagram the most?

My main interests are travel and liquor, and above all, the two together. I’d say the majority of my Instagram posts are either cocktails or stills from our shoots for THE STAYCATIONERS.

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

My full name is Céline Bossart, but that was taken, so I shortened my last name to “Boss” and used a zero instead of an “o.” It’s funny, because so many people think my actual last name is Boss…I get a ton of packages delivered that are addressed to Céline Boss. I’m not mad about it.

4) What are some apps you use to edit your photos? Share with us your photo-editing routine!

I’m VSCO all the way…I love cool tones and stark contrast. I’ll use either A6 or J2 filters in VSCO on all my photos (depends on the initial color scheme) and then will tweak a bit more in Instagram (up the brightness and bring down the saturation). You can make those same adjustments in VSCO, but you have more control in the Instagram app.

5) Any Instagrammers whom you really like? Which Instagrammer inspires you the most?

I love @johanna_mariel. She’s my girl, and her aesthetic is #goals.

6) If there’s one thing your fellow Instagrammers just gotta try now, what’s it gonna be?

Do your own staycation and take a bunch of photos for your feed/tag @THESTAYCATIONERS 😉

7) What’s your favorite part about being an influencer?

There are lots and lots of perks. I’m by no means that big on Instagram (and I’m definitely no expert either), but the more my account grows, the more incredible people I meet and the more opportunities present themselves. When you have a solid social media presence, it also gives clout to the work that you do, so I’m really grateful for that more than anything.

8) What are some of your top tips to brands for running campaigns? How do you maintain authenticity?

I think a lot of brands need to dial down the cheese factor, to be honest. And in that vein, I think influencers learning to be selective instead of saying yes to things just because money is on the table. I see so many contrived posts about random beauty products and shimmering liqueurs with captions that sound so forced, and that’s when both the brand and the ambassador/influencer start to lose organic appeal and authenticity — people need to think about how their posts will be digested by the end user, and brands should allow for the influencer to communicate the product in their own voice. I recently was invited to participate in a campaign for a certain sparkling water, and the caption copy was so cookie-cutter and awkward. That’s why I think it’s so important to align with brands that want you for you.

9) What would your advice be on the importance of quality and original content?

I think like any other element in life, you need to set yourself apart from the rest. Take food Instagrams, for example…how many accounts with dripping chocolate or melted, gooey cheese close-ups can one person really follow? You have to give yourself a differential advantage, whether that’s your content in itself or a platform backing your social media presence that gives it all a bigger purpose.

10) What do you like best about partnering with brands?

I’m always very flattered when I’m approached by brands that fall in line with my vibe and voice. It makes you feel like your hard work is validated and appreciated.

Topics:

• Food & Drink
• Photography
• Travel

Country:

United States of America