Vicky Wanka: Fulltime fashion blogger in interview

Vicky is a full-time blogger and reports several times a week on her blog Vicky Wanka about her outfits, new beauty discoveries and her travels. With more than 27,000 followers on Instagram and over 5000 fans on Facebook, the Hamburg-based blogger has built up a huge community in no time! We talked to her and got some super interesting answers.

FIV: Vicky, what do you love most about blogging? How did you come to your passion?

I started blogging in September 2010 – but not in the form my blog exists today. At that time I was still working at a well-known radio station in Hamburg and a colleague had the idea that I could blog for the station’s homepage. At first I found the idea a bit hard to get used to, because I really had nothing to do with blogs. But, hey, that’s the way it goes. Because I quickly realized that blogging is a huge passion of mine. What I especially like about it is that you can follow your instincts every day.

FIV: How do you set yourself apart from other bloggers?

I’m always told that I’m very authentic compared to other blogs – that’s probably my USP. Besides, I just wear what I feel like wearing, rarely do I consciously go for trendy pieces. Of course it happens that I wear current trends, I often get the feedback from readers that I combine current things totally individually but still suitable for everyday life.

FIV: Several times a week you give the readers an insight into your wardrobe. What are your fashion must-haves and why?

I personally love to wear jackets with patches, cool jeans and lace-up sandals. Simply because I feel totally comfortable in them this summer and you can’t do much wrong with these trendy basics, the look is cozy but still very stylish.
FIV: You love to travel and invite us all to dream. What are your top 5 beauty essentials that you would never travel without?

I am a big fan of thermal water to spray from the can, I have only recently discovered for me and definitely always with me. The spray is handy and refreshes perfectly. I also always take a supply of my favorite Bioderma toothpaste with me wherever I go. Additionally, I’m totally hairspray and dry shampoo infatuated. And my top 1 is a light sunscreen for my face. Without the light protection 50 I do not go before the door and then it must be of course a suitable product for the face, because the usual creams are much too heavy and too greasy.

FIV: In your diary you share special moments with your readers in your honest and likeable way. What does a perfect day look like for you?

What a nice question! I have two alternatives to offer: A perfect, “normal” day starts for me when I wake up on my own, feel super well-rested and have everything in the house for breakfast. Then I eat in bed, watch my series, preferably take a nap before watching another eight episodes of my series, and then sleep for another 12 hours. You see, I’m actually quite easy to make happy! The second alternative would be a day in Australia, relaxing on the beach with my friends and lots of dogs, and then watching the sunset in the evening at a BBQ by the sea.

FIV: You talk about your former figure problems and give tips for healthy living, which you can confirm from your own experiences. Will you tell us your best fitness tricks?

I used to have about 10 extra pounds on me and found it incredibly difficult to stick to a healthy eating plan. The best trick sounds simple: stop thinking of exercise and healthy eating as “punishment”. I really used to have to force myself to go to the gym or eat salad. Get into the mindset that you are doing something good for your body and you are doing it voluntarily. Becoming “weak” doesn’t feel like “failure” and you will notice a much more positive attitude towards your body.

FIV: Which interesting people have you met while working with newspapers, TV, etc.? Who were you particularly impressed by?

I saw and met some people up close, including Whitney Houston or Naomi Campbell. However, I was most impressed by Eveline Hall. This woman radiates such contentment and is a great inspiration to me. For example, she started modeling late in life and debunks one of the biggest life excuses ever, which is “I’m too old for…” or “Now I can’t do XY…”.

FIV: How important are well-maintained social media channels for bloggers today? How active are you in social media and how far do you share impressions from your private life?

Social media became incredibly important a few years ago. Well-maintained channels are like a business card and you should run them by the motto: Do it right or don’t do it at all. I’ve been very active on Instagram since last year and got almost 30,000 followers in one year, and the trend is rising. I also notice that this impresses and engages clients and that it sometimes even almost “doesn’t matter” how many clicks you have on the blog – the actual core of my work. This can be both a curse and a blessing. When social media is “up and running” it’s certainly an asset. But if the blog is doing great, but you only have 1000 followers on Insta, for example, it distorts the impression you get of the blog.

I like to share impressions from my private life mixed on all channels. Sometimes I write an honest text about my breakup on the blog, sometimes I write on Instagram what’s on my mind, I even spontaneously burst into tears on Snapchat once. It’s hard as a blogger to draw a line to the private. Basically, I’m very open, but I still try not to offend anyone around me with my texts when I write or report about certain topics.

FIV: What advice would you give to other bloggers for starting their careers?

Be diligent, don’t let others get in your way, keep going!
FIV: What kind of person are you in private? How would your friends describe you?

I’m always good for a laugh. Not because I’m necessarily the typical patter, but because I’m a bit scatterbrained and clumsy. Some days especially and that is very funny for others but also for me. In addition, my friends would describe me as determined, eager to travel and someone who always has advice.
FIV: Do your family and friends support you in your job as a blogger?

I get a lot of encouragement and compliments, although I don’t think my grandma understands 100% what I actually do for a living.

FIV: Dear Vicky, thank you for the great interview!