No Niche? No Problem: Showing Up Authentically in a Curated World
I’ve often felt like I’ve been going through an identity crisis my entire life. Never quite knowing where I fit in, I’ve always considered myself too adaptable, or maybe even too easily influenced. Astrology enthusiasts might label this as being a Gemini, but I feel as though it goes deeper than that. While some say Geminis are “two-faced,” I’d argue that I’m not double-sided, I’m multi-dimensional.
On any given day, my interests, moods, and even opinions can shift dramatically. This adaptability has been both a strength and a struggle, especially in finding my place online. How do you define yourself when you feel like you wear all the hats?
The Ever-Changing Identity: Who Am I Today?
This fluidity is most evident in my music preferences and how I present myself.
Some days, I feel elegant, poised, and sophisticated. My playlist is filled with classical tunes or soulful jazz, and my wardrobe reflects timeless chic vibes.
Other days, I’m all about street style, bumping Lil Durk and EST Gee while sporting urban-inspired outfits.
Then there are the indie rock days when Twenty One Pilots and Yungblud dominate my headphones, and I’m rocking an effortlessly edgy aesthetic.
Switching up your music and style is all fine and dandy but the problem I have is that it doesn’t stop there! These shifts extend to my goals, interests, and even my ambitions. It feels like each version of me has its own personality, with unique dreams and aspirations.
The Social Media Dilemma: Which Version of Me Do I Share?
For a long time, this inner conflict paralyzed me online. I couldn’t figure out who to show up as on social media because it felt impossible to “niche down.” Should I focus on one version of myself? Should I split my personality into separate accounts (imagine managing 16 different Instagrams!)?
It made me question whether I could truly find a community that would embrace all of me: the elegant, the urban, the indie, and everything in between.
Redefining Authenticity: Why “No Aesthetic” Is an Aesthetic
In a world obsessed with aesthetics and personal branding, it’s easy to feel pressured to pick a lane. The rise of curated social media feeds can make you think you need to define yourself in one clear-cut way. But what if authenticity means not fitting into a box?
Maybe my aesthetic is no aesthetic at all. Maybe my niche is just showing up as my multidimensional self.
There’s something freeing about rejecting the idea of a singular identity. Instead of curating myself to fit a mold, I’ve decided to embrace every version of me, no matter how “inconsistent” it may seem to others.
The Plan: How I’m Embracing My Multifaceted Self
Here’s how I plan to show up as authentically me:
Ditching Perfection: I’m letting go of the pressure to have a perfectly curated feed or consistent aesthetic.
Being Fluid: I’ll create content that reflects how I feel in the moment, whether that’s elegant, edgy, or somewhere in between. Will it land with audiences? I don’t know. But that’s okay.
Telling My Story: I’ll use captions, blogs (like this one tee hee), and videos to connect the dots between my varying interests, showing how all these pieces make up me.
Engaging Authentically: I’ll focus on building a community that appreciates the real me, not a polished version.
Experimenting Without Fear: Trying new things, styles, music, content, without worrying about whether it “fits” my brand.
A Note to Anyone Feeling the Same Way
If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit into a specific niche, you’re not alone. The beauty of being human is our complexity. You don’t have to water down your personality to fit into a box. Show up as your whole self; quirks, contradictions, and all. Embrace the multi-dimensional you.
