Now Reading: Q&A with Traveling Petite Girl: Exploring the Vast World

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Q&A with Traveling Petite Girl: Exploring the Vast World

January 21, 201910 min read

Travelling to various unique destinations seems to be a dream for many—to enrapture the beauty of nature-carved landmarks and to experience the diverse cultures around the globe. A valiant and venturesome 27-year-old traveller, Jojo Aquino, had been to many places that have enriched her curiosity for exploration, perceiving the breathtaking sights forever embedded in her memory. She founded her own company called Piña Social Media and now works there as a social media manager. A lot of people know her as a blogger at Traveling Petite Girl, a travel blog she created to share travel tips and guides with female travellers. Born and raised in Guam, who grew up in Manila, and attended college in Seattle and San Francisco, she currently resides in Guam but is making moves towards Okinawa. With a blissful disposition, Jojo answered my questions with solid and constructive responses revolving around her life as a travelling vlogger.

Can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog?

I’m a traveller and have travelled to 18 countries (and counting!). And in the last 6 months, I haven’t stayed in the same place for more than 3 weeks. I share travel guides & tips that inspire women to travel, live on-the-go, and get outside their comfort zones on my blog and YouTube channel.

Describe how did you first get into blogging?

Oh my. I first got into blogging when I was 13 years old, back when Xanga was THE platform. It just seemed like the popular thing to do, so I did it. Since then, I switched between different topics from personal to beauty to lifestyle to photography to now, travel. I started Traveling Petite Girl when I was 25 years old so my blog is now a little over 2 years old.

Before I began my travel blog, I had accumulated quite a bit of travelling experience that family and friends would come to me for travel advice. I’m a photographer and have a love for writing, so I started a blog which served as an outlet for creating, connecting with others, and travelling.

 How would you describe your blogging style?

My style is more like your sister guiding you on how to travel to specific places, how to avoid the mistakes I made, and how to live an on-the-go lifestyle. I love creating videos so most of my content is videos and it’s fitting for my style because it’s personable and makes my viewers feel like they’re travelling with me.

What would be your ideal working environment?

My ideal working environment is sitting next to a window, on a comfy chair with a sturdy desk, a powerful laptop, a bottomless mug of tea, and a blanket across my lap.

How do you manage time to run your blog efficiently while working?

Well… I’m still trying to figure that out. I own a business as a social media manager but in order for me to put out good work for others, I need to take care of myself and a huge part of that is expressing myself creatively through blogging. Without doing it, I start to feel exhausted, run down, and stressed. None of which do any service to me or others. It also depends on which is the higher priority at the moment, my business or my blog. Sometimes it’s 50/50, 80/20, or 20/80.

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CONFESSION TIME❗️I think I’m a commitment-phobe ? I never want to live in the same place for years. I get stir crazy and keep traveling if I am ✈️ I never liked 9 to 5 because I can’t leave when I want to. I like to change my hair every few months and I’ll never be seen with a tattoo. Romantic relationships are fleeting. “I’ll never be able to catch you,” said a guy after I told him I planned on moving often ? I even got legit anxious when my sis wanted to buy a TV because I thought that was locking me down ? It’s in my nature to start things and never finish them and I need to cut that bullsh*t if I want something stable & constant in my life ??? Maybe I like to run away? Definitely. Maybe I’m always looking for the next best thing? Of course. The vision of my future keeps changing. I’m ranting now but watch it, tomorrow I’ll love the idea of something lasting and eternal ? And then I’ll be a commitment-phobe the next day lol I love the idea of impermanence. Who feels the same way? ?? #birdlifestyle – ?: @runrowbang ?: @uniqlophofficial @zara

A post shared by Jojo Aquino ?Travel Vlogger (@travelingpetitegirl) on

How do you want to improve yourself this year?

As a blogger, I want to grow it further to the point of financial stability. That and posting videos consistently, 1 video per week. It’s a struggle because right now, my priority is my business, so I’m looking to find someone to edit and manage my blog and YouTube for me while I work on my business.

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Having an efficient photography workflow is key❗️ Here's mine: 1. Set up camera and shoot photos 2. Transfer photos into external hard drive 3. Import photos to Adobe Lightroom – On Adobe Lightroom ? 4. Organize and label photos 5. Post-process/edit photos 6. Export photos for blog & Instagram 7. Post photos on blog – For Instagram ? 8. Transfer photos from laptop to phone using Airdrop 9. Import photos to UNUM app to curate IG grid 10. Import photos to IG and edit a little more to optimize its look for small screens 11. Post photos according to schedule with captions and tags – For Instagram, I used to edit everything on my phone but it didn't work for me to edit on a screen so small. My eyesight is horrible enough already ? Plus I love creating my own filters on @lightroom! ? If you have questions about my workflow, comment below and I'll definitely reply! – For 5. Post-process/edit photos, I show you how I edit my photos on my blog "How to Create The Orange & Teal Filter using Adobe Lightroom." Link in bio. I hope it’s useful to you, tell me what you think! ?

A post shared by Jojo Aquino ?Travel Vlogger (@travelingpetitegirl) on

Tell me about your proudest achievement?

In my blogging career, my proudest achievement so far was a dream of mine. I got hired as a TV host that travels in and around the Philippines. A Guam-based TV station was looking for someone with travel experience to host the show, and they came across my Instagram page when someone they knew, who followed me, recommended me. My next goal is to be sponsored by Potato Corner, a popular french fry franchise in the Philippines. That’s when I’ll know I’ve made it.

Who has impacted you most in blogging and how?

My family, friends, and boyfriend. They know how much blogging is important to me, so they make sure I’m always posting, help me shoot content, and give advice on how I can better expand my presence to others.

What do you do in your spare time?

I spend time with my family & friends. Being a blogger, social media manager, and TV host takes up a lot of time, so I like to spend extra time with the people I love.

Can you name some of your favourite bloggers and explain why they are your favourites?

My favourite is The Blonde Abroad. She’s been travel blogging for years and travelling for even longer. I like her because even with all the successes she’s had, she’s still humble, approachable, down-to-earth, and vulnerable with nothing to hide. She’s herself without trying to look good because she knows she doesn’t need to.

How do you motivate yourself to keep the blog up and running?

It’s a mix of “I have a life worth sharing about,” “no one else has a voice like mine so no matter what I say, I’ll always be different,” and wanting to be famous.

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Wahoo I’m over 30k followers! ? Thank you so much for your support and sticking by my side ? I’d like to introduce myself again with 6 more facts about me! ⠀⠀ 1. I’m 26 yo, Filipino, born & raised in Guam ?? ⠀⠀ 2. I went to elementary and high school at an international school in Las Piñas, Philippines ?? and went to college in Seattle & San Francisco ?? ⠀⠀ 3. People find it interesting that I have the mannerisms of a Filipino, like being respectable of people’s spaces, but speak like an American, like being straightforward w/o regards to your feelings (but I do it in a sweet way ?) ⠀⠀ 4. Some people found me snobby, weird, off-putting in high school because I barely said a word. Now I can’t stop talking ? ⠀⠀ 5. I love to travel because I like the idea of running away ? that or I don’t like being committed to one location and at one point, to relationships too #travelho ? ⠀⠀ 6. While I travel solo, I meet people along the way and choose if I want to hang with them based on their aura and reading their face ? This is an extra precaution I take traveling solo as a woman. So far, I’ve met really amazing people ? ⠀⠀ Now enough about me, tell me something about you! ? ?: @ralphjamin . . . . . #tasteintravel #welltravelled #passportexpress #openmyworld #goplayoutside #planetdiscovery #roamtheplanet #doyoutravel #worlderlust #welivetoexplore #exploreeverywhere #keepitwild #exploretocreate #optoutside #shetravels #girlsjustwannatravel #explorerbabes #nomadgirls #travelgirlsgo #outdoorwomen #prettycity #instaguam #createyourhappy #creativehappylife #creativeentrepeneur #creativepreneur #communityovercompetition #creativebiz #seekinspirecreate

A post shared by Jojo Aquino ?Travel Vlogger (@travelingpetitegirl) on

In the future where do you hope your blog will take you?

I hope it will support me financially! That would be great right? Having a successful blog is just the first step– I want to write a book and be a speaker. Right now, I just need to continue living an inspiring life, so it’s worth writing a book and speaking about it. So far, so good.

You are known for your travelling videos. Who was your first inspiration?

Michelle Phan. It’s amazing to have watched her exponentially grow since the time I first followed her during her Xanga & Myspace days, then to YouTube, then to watching her businesses grow, all while supporting & spending time with her mom. She’s also an artist and I love how she mixed both art & business to be successful.

What would you say that is the greatest satisfaction of being a lifestyle blogger? (Invitations to events, interaction with people, gifts, etc.)

I mean, the free flights & accommodations are definitely a perk! But unless I make connections or impact people, it’s not fulfilling. I’m one of these people who highly value deep conversations and connections over anything.

What is your advice to those people who are striving to be the best version of themselves?

Put yourself in situations where you’re scared and vulnerable. Like travelling solo, starting a business, talking to a camera or negotiating a salary. That’s the best way to grow. And remember, the first time is always the hardest, everything is easier after that. And it doesn’t matter what the result is, what matters is that you did it.

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I look so happy don’t I? ? ⠀⠀ I had to let go of the fact that there was a giant rip on the back of my skirt ? ⠀⠀ Not everything will be perfect but the show must go on right? ??‍♀️ What a perfect day to have worn a thong ?? ⠀⠀ And if you we’re one of the people who saw my butt hanging out? Well then… ⠀⠀ You’re welcome ? ⠀⠀ Better to keep things positive than to get embarrassed ? Carry on!??‍♀️ ?: @thewanderingdorks . . . . . #traveldiary #theglobewanderer #mytinyatlas #aroundtheworldpix #forahappymoment #travelersnotebook #travelbug #travelwithme #traveljournal #travelandlife #dametraveler #wearetravelgirls #girlslovetravel #girlsvsglobe #outdoorwomen #femmetravel #girlsthatwander #travelingchicas #shetravels #darlingescapes #sheisnotlost #sheexplores #nomadgirls #ladiesgoneglobal #girlaroundtheworld #globelletravels #girlsabroad #girlsjustwannatravel #thetravelwomen #visualwanderlust

A post shared by Jojo Aquino ?Travel Vlogger (@travelingpetitegirl) on

 

Featured Image Via Traveling Petite Girl’s Instagram

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Ron Rocky Coloma

Ron Rocky Coloma is a student at Stanford University. He has a knack for interviewing celebrities and writing about entertainment. At Affinity Magazine, Coloma is a journalist and a part of the social media team. He was the former editor of The Scoop at The Guam Daily Post.

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