This week’s Influencer Spotlight is on @Brigittetruong, also known as B. T R U.
Brigitte is the Host of The Watchlist and the Pre Show Host for Cineplex VIP Cinemas. She’s also a Multimedia Producer, Digital Content Creator, and Co-Founder of Quixote Media, solidifying herself as a go-to Toronto Influencer for the latest trends in lifestyle, food and entertainment.
We sat down with Brigitte, and asked her a few questions so that all of you can get to know her a bit better!
Here’s what she had to say…
How Did You Get Started As A Creator?
B: Isn’t it weird that “creator” is a job title now?? Crazy, how quickly the landscape has changed!! I say this because I got my start 10 years ago when I got my first gig as an entertainment host and personality on television. That’s when I started getting creative professionally, putting out videos and written content for others to see, read, and critique. It wasn’t until 3-4 years ago did I expand my repertoire by adding “digital creator” to the mix. This was when I started creating content on my own terms on social media, independent from my clients. I was going through a really challenging time in my life where I had just left a 7 year relationship, my full-time job, and a house I had owned. It was the “what now” “who am I” period at 27. I saw social media, Instagram in particular, as a space for me to figure out the answers and find a community with like-minded people. I jumped on social media for personal reasons and somehow found a career in it! It’s been an amazing experience!
What’s Your Favourite Part Of Being A Creator?
B: There is no ceiling when you’re a digital creator. There’s no limit, no cap, no boundaries in who you create with, where you create, and what you create. That’s my favourite part about all of this. You create your own parameters and I don’t want any!
What’s Your Greatest Achievement To Date?
B: My greatest achievement to date is my ability to control and conquer my anxiety. I struggled with anxiety for YEARS (although it felt like forever) and it wasn’t until 2 years ago that I finally got it under control with the help of the right books (Brene Brown is life), the best of friends, and mindful exercises every day.
What’s On Your Bucket List?
B: There are so many! But in no particular order:
- Travel to Switzerland with my parents to see my dad’s old hangouts.
- Skydiving
- Ride in a hot air balloon
- Eat all the pasta in Italy
- Speak to students around the world about self love, determination and grit
- Be a part of a feature film
If You Could Live Anywhere In The World, Where Would It Be And Why?
B: I absolutely love Tulum, Mexico! But to live there for an extended period of time? You know, I’m going to have to stay true to Toronto. I’ve done my fair share of travelling and still have A LOT to see, so my answer could change once I do, but for now Toronto as my home base keeps me inspired and super happy!
If The 10 Year Old Version Of Yourself Met You, What Would They Think?
B: I can’t believe you’re 30, not married, and don’t have a full time job! Who are you??
What’s The Best Advice You’ve Ever Received?
B: I’ve received a lot of golden nuggets throughout my journey but my manager recently said to me, “Always post with purpose.” Sometimes you get caught up with the pressures of having to put out content consistently to keep your community engaged but that means nothing if the content isn’t any good. I want to spend the limited amount of time I have on this earth with purpose, and creating purposefully should definitely be a part of that.
Who’s Your Role Model?
B: My role model always has been and always will be, my dad, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t include every single one of my friends in this answer. They’re all so incredibly smart, hardworking, driven, kind, funny, pragmatic, creative, awesomely weird, with all the integrity in the world. I want to be just like them when I grow up! 😉
Favourite Restaurant In The City?
B: Oh no, you’re not going to make me answer this are you?! Food is life!! Look, Toronto is a hotbed of incredible restaurants founded by some of the most talented chefs in North America. To say that one is responsible for setting my taste buds on fire since I moved here almost three years ago would be an injustice to the food community! You can literally taste the world in one day if you really wanted to which is one of the reasons why I’m having a hard time answering this question and why I’m trying to buy time by rambling. Haha. That being said, if I had to recommend a handful of “must-tries” to a visitor or even a local, I’d suggest Byblos, Dailo, Union, and Akira Back which just opened.
Favourite Brand?
B: To be honest I can’t say I have one favourite brand. I have been super lucky in the past couple years with partnerships that have made me stop and think to myself, “Is this for real?!?! How cool is this?!?” I have however, always wanted to work with Dove! I was heading to university when they launched their “Real Beauty” campaign in the mid 2000’s, and it was one of the only times I remember thinking, here’s a brand that’s not trying to shove a product down my throat with another commercial. At that moment, I remember thinking how powerful a message can be, how impactful content can be. I didn’t care what Dove was trying to sell me. I cared about the story they were telling me because it was real and it mattered to me (A LOT) at that time. I’d love to work with them one day and build bigger/louder stories around self esteem.
If You Could Have Dinner With Anyone In The World, Who Would It Be?
B: I LOVE this question!
Okay …
Alive: Oprah, and I’d cook with her at her property in Hawaii using ingredients from her vegetable garden, listen to old records, and dance around in colourful one of a kind artisan aprons – if I had my way. In my weird fan-girl fantasy, we’d sit down after dinner and record an episode of Super Soul Conversations and we’d talk about purpose, shame, self love, and her inevitable presidential run. We’d laugh about the same things and create vision boards before we set out to change the world together. This would all wrap by 10pm, before we head out to Gayle’s for a night cap!
Dead: Frank Sinatra, and dinner would be held around Christmas. Obviously! We’d eat at a swanky restaurant tucked away in NYC with a piano in the back. The piano in the back is a must! In this fan-girl fantasy, Frank and I would critique modern covers of his biggest hits, sing The Impossible Dream followed by That’s Life, trade all the Rat Pack gossip, while I get lost his Ol’ blue eyes and take selfies of our long overdue hangout. Have I said too much?
There you have it ladies and gents! Be sure to follow Brigitte on Instagram and her blog to stay #inspired.