Exploring Near and Far

McKenna Mears

 

@MCK6NNA | AMAZON.COM/SHOP/MCK6NNA

 

Get ready for friendships, travel, fashion, and a lot of sunshine when you explore this influencer’s pages. Meet McKenna Mears, a lifestyle influencer based along Scenic Highway 30-A in Florida who loves to take you around the world with her, from impromptu beach picnics or biking in the Ozarks to helicopter tours above the Gulf Coast or boating around Spain. Her life is full of color, and she is always up for a new adventure. Follow along below as she shares more with us about how she got started in the wild world of social media and what’s kept her going.

 

VIE: How did you start using social media as an influencer?

 

McKenna Mears: My journey as a social media influencer started when a single TikTok video featuring my friends enjoying a beach picnic went viral. Until then, I had always seen social media as a way to connect with friends. It then hit me that my beachy adventures were not only loads of fun but also incredibly shareable. It was a playful way to document my lifestyle, and it felt natural to keep doing it.

 

VIE: What is your favorite part about your job, and what is your least favorite?

 

MM: Easily my favorite part about being on social media is the friendships I’ve created, like the close-knit group I recently traveled to Spain with, where we had a blast creating content. It’s given me countless career opportunities and a creative outlet.

 

On the flip side, my least favorite aspect is the amount of time I spend on my phone. The digital world offers incredible rewards, but finding the right balance between online and offline life can be challenging.

VIE: What is a highlight moment you’ve experienced as an influencer?

 

MM: A definite highlight as an influencer was attending New York Fashion Week events with my friends. It was a glamorous whirlwind of fashion, creativity, and unforgettable memories.

 

VIE: What words of wisdom would you give someone interested in becoming an influencer or starting a brand?

 

MM: My advice would be simple: Start! Take that leap of faith. I firmly believe in the “fake it ’til you make it” approach, and that’s how I began. I answered questions that no one really asked, shared content that may not have seemed necessary at the time, and explored my passions fearlessly. It can be intimidating, no doubt, but it’s incredibly rewarding. The beauty of this journey is that it’s on your terms, and if it’s a way to shine a light in the world, why hold back?

 

VIE: What are you currently watching, listening to, or reading?

 

MM: I recently started reading The Silent Patient, and I must say, I love thriller books because they’re so gripping. I often find myself saying, “Just one more page.” Before I know it, I’ve finished the book in one or two sittings. The suspense and intrigue just keep me hooked!

 

VIE: Besides your phone, what’s one thing you can’t leave home without?

 

MM: A bathing suit, for sure! I keep one in my car just in case the beach beckons unexpectedly. You never know when you might want to take a spontaneous dip.

VIE: What’s your top travel destination for fall?

 

MM: I absolutely love the anticipation of an upcoming trip, mainly because fall means chilly weather where I live. As much as I’d love a cozy cabin in a fall wonderland, I confess that I’m a beach girl at heart. I have a trip booked to Mexico next month, and I couldn’t be more excited about the sunshine, cuisine, and culture!

 

VIE: What is your favorite fall trend?

 

MM: My favorite fall trend has to be what I’ve seen dubbed as “flat shoe fall” on TikTok. I’ve never been much of a heel girl, so I’m loving the idea of comfortable yet trendy footwear.

 

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