Everyday Minerals Spotlight: Meet Michelle
Hi Love, tell us about yourself!
My name is Michelle Manco and I'm a fashion girl from Florida now living in New York City. I'm currently working as a marketing manager for a luxury fashion brand and also create fashion, beauty and lifestyle content for fun. I graduated with my master's in Strategic Communication from Columbia University in 2018 and have been living in NYC for 5 years with my cat, Ollie. I love traveling to new places, reading, wandering museums, listening to music music and thrifting in my free time.
How did you get into beauty & fashion?
I've been working in marketing and communications for about 7 years, but didn't start working in fashion until I moved to New York. I was born and grew up in New Jersey and would frequently visit the city with my parents when I was a kid. I always knew deep down that I wanted to live and work in NYC so I worked my butt off until it became a reality. I had no experience at all in fashion, so I decided to start a blog to show it was something I was genuinely interested in. I started out by sharing my outfits and linking product recommendations for readers to buy. I also volunteered to do social media for my local Dress for Success chapter, which is an organization that provides women with professional attire and helps prepare them to enter the workforce, as well as volunteering for any fashion shows that were happening in my area.
When it came to moving to New York, I didn't have a job lined up and kind of went through a mid-twenties crisis, so I decided to go to grad school. I didn't go to a fashion school, but I tailored all of my projects to focus around fashion and brands so I could learn about marketing and communications within this space. While I was in school, I landed a part-time job with a boutique PR agency that represented fashion, beauty and lifestyle clients, which was my first taste of working in the industry. While agency life taught me a lot, I knew I wanted to work on the brand side after graduation, so I kept applying to jobs until I landed my first full-time gig in PR with THE OUTNET.
How would you define your personal style?
I would describe my personal style as timeless, minimal and classic. I'm very into neutrals because they never go out of style and like to pair elevated basics with luxury accessories and bags. I've also been very into thrifting lately and have been able to find a ton of vintage pieces that align with current trends now, but were bought at a fraction of the cost!
The best piece of advice you've received...
Someone once told me to stop envying what others were doing, and instead of thinking "I wish I could do that," change your mindset to, "I know I can do that too." The only one holding you back is yourself, so who says you can't have your dream life and more? I shifted my way of thinking after hearing that and ended up accomplishing everything I've wanted to accomplish since moving to NYC. Of course, there was a lot of hard work involved, but having a more positive outlook really helped me get through it all.
What does your most ideal evening look like?
My ideal evening at home consists of taking a long bubble bath, lighting every candle I own, doing my skincare routine and curling up with a good book in bed. I'm always on the go, so when I actually have a chance to relax and do nothing, I try to make the most of it.
Where would you say your passion comes from, for the career you now lead?
My passion comes naturally because I genuinely love what I do. My job is a lot of hard work, but it has its perks and is very rewarding to see some of the projects I've worked on come to life. In a nutshell, I plan events, develop and implement marketing strategies to support my brand, work with celebrities and influencers, dabble in media buying, partnerships and more. I worked hard to get to where I am now and it's something I'm really proud of. I'm a true believer in following what you love and the rest will fall into place after.
Describe what you believe to be your unique 'Soul's Purpose'.
My soul's purpose is to help and inspire others, whether it's by mentoring someone in marketing or fashion, or simply giving them the courage to wear an outfit they never would have thought to wear before. I love to learn from others and if at least one person is able to learn something from me that can change their lives or the lives of others, I'm happy!
Follow Michelle on Instagram! @michelle.manco
SHOP WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN MICHELLE'S BEAUTY WARDROBE:
