Linh Truong’s journey began in middle school with Instagram posts about books, driven by a lifelong passion for storytelling and art. Her early interest in the arts evolved into YouTube mini vlogs, culminating in a breakthrough in 2020 when her Animal Crossing and small business videos went viral. Now,  (she/they) as a dynamic content creator based in Washington, D.C., juggling college life at Georgetown University and a burgeoning career in social media.

Her content covers fashion, college life, art, and travel, naturally emerging from her passions. She openly discusses her identity as a nonbinary Asian American. ‘I have a lot of fun creating lifestyle and commentary videos, especially putting my unique spin on them. My experiences and identity also intersect with my content; I talk openly about identifying as nonbinary and how that affects my relationship with clothing. I’ve also made videos about going to a predominantly-white institution as an Asian American,’ says Truong.  This raw, candid approach resonates deeply with her audience. Linh openly acknowledges the challenge of balancing academic responsibilities and content creation. 

 Despite the stress and tight deadlines, taking a gap year to focus on mental health and personal interests was a transformative decision.’ In all honesty, I do not have a good work-life balance. I’m constantly pushing work deadlines, oversleeping my morning lectures, and working up until 11:59 PM to submit assignments. During my sophomore year, there was a time when my shoulders were tense 24/7 from the stress and sleepless nights.’ But despite saying this, she believes in decompressing through extended breaks to avoid burnout and to have the value of a supportive network of friends and family. For most college students, this is the much-needed advice they need to hear.

As Linh’s creativity continues to soar, she found Pinterest to be a limitless well of inspiration for her favorite media, art, and daily university life by documenting precious moments and turning them into unforgettable vlogs.’ According to Linh, her entire production process is a one-man team. ‘I choose to be a one-man force, so I do all the creative brainstorming, pre-production, filming/photography, editing, graphic design, posting, etc. Depending on the video topic and the workload, I either integrate it into my daily routine or set aside entire days and weeks to produce the content.’

 Her daily vlogs involved her carrying a camera and mini tripod everywhere, which made the memories all the more memorable and exciting.

Even when days were long after filming, she could still put more energy into creating a long-format video that would often take 40 hours’ worth of work. Her dedication to creativity, however, permeates through her commitment to social justice. If you’ve seen any of Linh’s videos, you would know that she uses her platform to discuss important issues and encourage community activism and the power of grassroots movements. 

Linh’s work ethic set her up for success and helped her become a successful content creator. Her advice includes taking creative risks, focusing on quality over quantity, and prioritizing breaks to avoid burnout. Authenticity, she notes, is about maintaining creative freedom and staying true to one’s voice amidst the pressures of social media.

While the word authenticity is thrown around to describe many things nowadays, in Linh’s eyes, this word defines the meaning of creative freedom and resisting the commodification of the “authentic” label on social media. She strives to ensure her content remains true to her voice and mission, providing a space for future creatives to pursue their dreams and encouraging solidarity across diverse communities. 

Her advice for the ones at the beginning of their content creator journey is, ‘Start putting yourself out there! When I posted my first YouTube video, I hesitated and doubted that what I made was “good enough.” Like many art forms, you have to make bad and good art to figure out your style and who you are.’

For more on Linh, follow her on YouTube and Instagram: @withlovelinh