Mode Around the Globe: Isabelle Heikens

Isabelle Heikens
@isabelleheikens

Royalton Antigua
www.royaltonresorts.com
@royaltonantigua
Special Thanks to Beach Bound Travel @beachbound

Photographed by Monique Yelvington @roughhgem
Videography by Katie Medoway @k_medow

When did you start your career as a content creator/social media influencer?
In my last year of undergraduate studies in 2021 all the universities in Ontario were shut down and everything was online only. Since I wasn’t stuck in a lease, I decided to move home to live with my mom to save money. My friends however, were all stuck in their leases and went back to their university towns. Even though my mom is my best friend, I found myself back home with nobody my age around. I missed getting dressed up to go out and do things so I decided to start sharing the outfits I wanted to wear online. At the same time, I thought it would be a fun idea to document on TikTok what it is like growing a social media from nothing and how I was trying to do it. This ended up being what resonated with people and helped me grow a following on TikTok, w hich turned into a following on Instagram. My goal was always 10k followers, I never even dreamed I would come close to where I am today.

Do you have any advice for young women who are hoping to pursue a career as a content creator/social media influencer? Is there anything you wish you knew before?
The hardest part, at least for me, is overthinking what to post. You just need to start. It is so easy to get caught up in brainstorming content ideas and think “I will wait until things have slowed down at work/school” or “I will wait until the weather is better to shoot content” etc. It is great to think ahead and have ideas but you really won’t know how things will perform unless you just go for it and start posting consistently! Also, it is also important to know that yes, it is an oversaturated industry. There are endless girls with amazing style, makeup skills, funny personalities, etc. doing this. But you are the only you. Lean into what you love, what you are good at, and show your personality as that is the only way to stand out. There are a ton of people in this industry but also tons of room for new creators.

What are you most thankful for at this stage in your life?
Overall the opportunities that have come from social media and being able to make an income by sharing things that I love! I never thought this would turn into a way I can support myself, it still blows my mind. But also my Mom. She is always supportive, a voice of reason and one of my favorite people to spend time with. It’s fun getting a bit older because I have started to realize how similar we are, it feels like she cloned her personality with me.

Do you have any exciting upcoming projects that you can share with our readers?
I am coming out with an e-cookie book for the holidays! In addition to doing fashion content, I also do a lot of cooking and baking tiktoks/reels. It is all recipes I have been making for years so it is a special project for me!

City getaway or island getaway?
Ideally both! I went to Portugal this summer and loved having the balance of the city in Lisbon and the beach in Lagos. Would love to do more trips like that in the south of France, Spain or Croatia.

What was the highlight of your time in Antigua with Modeliste? Any funny stories you would like to share?
When we did the boat day a few of the girls got off the boat to walk along the beach. We saw a ton of hermit crabs and were looking at shells and then went swimming. It just felt like a group of girls who had been friends for so long, but we had only known each other less than a day.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
No idea. I am a very type A person, and thought I knew my life plan since high school. Only in the summer of 2022 did I start to realize the opportunities I have in social media, so it all feels new and for the first time I don’t know what is next.

How do you balance your work life and your personal life?
I don’t, but I really should. Social media is unique because your personal life is your work life. I am always trying to find ways to create content around whatever I am doing, even if it’s just for casual Instagram stories. Maybe that will be my New Year’s Resolution for 2023.

Any current trends you will NEVER partake in? If so, which trends?
Micro mini skirts, and most of the Y2K trends. I am big on practicality, and genuinely wonder if anyone can wear those in public? How do you sit? Go up the stairs? I don’t get it.

What is your current skincare routine for winter? Do you have any favorite products we must try?
I am pretty picky with my skincare, I don’t see a difference with a lot of products. But I just started using the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum and Magic Cream and it is the first time I have seen a huge difference in my skin! It feels so glowy and moisturized when I use those!

If you weren’t in social media, what would you want to be doing for work?
I studied Biological and Pharmaceutical Chemistry in undergrad and started a Doctor of Pharmacy in 2022. I have always been a really studious person and enjoy learning. My plan has always been to become a pharmacist and work in a hospital setting to find a way to focus on the senior population. I deferred my PharmD for a year starting in September 2022, but plan to return in 2023.

What makes you feel most confident?
When I love what I’m wearing! I have some staple outfit formulas I like to follow that make me feel like myself which makes me feel more confident.

If you only could have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Bibimbap! Especially if it comes with all the side dishes.

Choose one place in the world you have always wanted to visit but haven’t.
One place is hard, because there are so many places I haven’t been. I would love to go to Italy with my mom and take a local cooking class.

What would you like to say to your fans/followers?
Thank you does not really seem to cut it. But I always want to encourage them to DM me, especially if they have things they want to see more of! It has been so fun getting to know some of them because I feel like a lot of them are so similar to me. There are some people who have been following me since I had 1000 followers, so I feel like we went through this journey together. But any support/ like/ comment/ save/ share really means so much. I hope I can keep proving you all the outfit and cooking inspo so don’t hesitate to reach out!