Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Kristina Toro @kristina.toro

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

Hello! My name is Kristina I am from Brooklyn NY and I am finishing up my final year at Connecticut College. I am a history major and the first in my family to go to college. I was a history major because I planned on becoming a lawyer but realized in the middle of my third year that I was pursuing a career I didn’t want and sacrificing the career I had always dreamed of. During my winter break I started using my instagram as a portfolio to build my career by posting singing covers, professional modelling images, and home-made “food-porn”. Everything I post is focusing towards building my brand and spreading my influence.

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

Body positivism / embracing curvaceous figures, learning how to cook healthful meals at a young age, positivity surrounding cannabis and canna-culture, building my singing career, feeling beautiful without covering all your “flaws”. Focusing on Diversity in representation!

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

I really like my given name 🙂

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

I really try to just get good lighting, either by natural sunlight or by standing near a good light source. I don’t photoshop or over edit my pictures, most posts I don’t even use a filter. I don’t think we should be focused on covering ourselves up so much, because it sets unrealistic standards for others.

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

@Jadah-Doll is a huge inspiration to me. I have been following her since we were both young teenagers and have watched how she has really built an amazing career for herself. I hope to follow in her footsteps while combating issues I feel passionate about.
@stefania_model / @iamiskra because they too promote embracing curvier figures
@bangkittybang because she promotes similiar canna-positive vibes, and also I really admire women my age that are building their brands!

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

fried oreos

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

MY favorite part about being an influencer is how much I learn and absorb about myself and the culture around me. I am learning so much about American youth, about myself and my emotions, not just my physical appearance. I love being connected to something larger than myself, I love being connected to so many people, and I love sharing my talents with the world, and feeling like people are recognizing the hard work I am putting into this.

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

Some of my top tips to brands would be to not be too afraid to try something you think won’t “sell” well for whatever reasons (ie the model is too dark, the model is too fat, can we have 2 people of two different races being intimate, etc etc) Sometimes breaking the rules changes the rules and we are at a very critical time right now where the people have more of a voice in terms of what they want to consume. We shouldn’t be manipulating consumers anymore, we should be trying to relate to one another, accept one another, and help each other shine.

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

I would say it is more important to think about being an original and quality person than focusing on what kind of content you are producing as an influencer. It is important to do some serious self reflection every day and think about what kind of person you want to be, what kind of person you want to embody, and what kind of person you want to show the world its okay to me. For me its okay to be a really intelligent but pot smoking, not-so-skinny, Latina supporting herself from Brooklyn with a really big and slightly terrifying dream.

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

Personally I like getting to try out so many different products, and seeing the way these products improve the quality of my life. I also like getting the chance to diversify the types of models people are consuming. It is time to start showing a wider range of bodies and skin tones, it is time to tell every type of person they can be beautiful. I like connecting with so many different kinds of people and so many different kinds of products.

Topics:

• Fashion
• Film, Music & Books
• Hair & Beauty
• Health & Fitness
• Photography

Country:

United States of America