The Face Behind Freak Deluxe: Cyrena Monique

We’re back with another Feature Friday post (yay!!) and I’m excited to share another #GirlBoss with you all! This week, I was blessed to interview Cyrena Monique who launched her blog freakdeluxe.co.uk ! You can learn all about Cyrena’s style, who she’s crushing on at the moment, natural hair, beauty tips and everything else in between on her lifestyle posts. You can even shop styles that Cyrena loves and/or owns! (I personally thought that was super innovative LOL) Enough blabbing… let’s get onto the interview!!

Tell us about yourself and why you started freakdeluxe.co.uk!

Initially Freak Deluxe was a blogzine, I reported on the latest and greatest, and up and coming things. I never wanted it to be about me, I didn’t really like talking about myself! People had always commented on my style and asked why I never put myself on there. When the blogzine became a bit too much for me to handle, I made it a personal style blog. Which has led to my Instagram feed, my YouTube channel, and some new found self confidence.

The people want to know… how did you come up with the name Freak Deluxe?

Well I love juxtaposition; the idea of mixing things that shouldn’t really work together, but do. So I came up with a few buzzwords and went from there. I think we all know what Deluxe means – high quality, luxurious, etc. It’s the Freak bit that throws people off; I chose it because it means unusual, different, unexpected. However it also means someone who is extremely interested in a particular subject or activity. So if I was called Fashion Freak or Style Freak it would be self explanatory – but that would be too easy right?!

Your Instagram feed is quite addicting and cohesive! How do you choose which photos to post and when?

Thank you; ideally I would have a plan of what I post and when, but that never works out. So I just post whatever I feel is right at the time. I hope to be a bit more organized and forward thinking in the future.

Speaking of photos… yours should be in a magazine! Do you have a professional photographer or use a high-end camera?

Wow!! Thanks babe! Well when I first started taking style pics, my friend Camille took my photos for me. My boyfriend then took over, and as a result got into photography himself! Now I take my own pictures; it was a bit daunting at first, but now I love it! I use a Canon DSLR camera, I also use that to film my videos.

You have a great following and a ton of interaction on Instagram. How did you find your target audience?

I used to post to Instagram and then do nothing; I didn’t really interact with many people on there. Then late last year I decided to change that, I interacted, I engaged, I followed, I liked, I commented and my following began to grow. I like to connect with people that are interested in things I like; black people, fashion, natural hair, tallness.

Has it been difficult balancing your blog and social media with everyday life?

No not really, I used to blog all the time; now I just blog as and when I can due to Instagram. I try not to let it dictate my life, I post as and when I can.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start a blog?

That all depends on what they wanted to do with it. One thing I would say is buy your domain name before you do anything, and start your blog on that domain (that’s what I did). Rather than building it on a blogging platform and having to move it later on. It’s not difficult at all. Generally in terms of blogging, I would say, don’t stray to far from yourself.

Name five products that you absolutely cannot live without.

• Sunglasses
• Lip balm
• Perfume
• Phone
• iPod

What’s next for Cyrena Monique and freakdeluxe.co.uk?

I’d really like to extend my photography skills to people other than myself; I can also DJ so I’m looking to get some industry sets under my belt!

Is there anything else that you would like for us to know?

Nope! LOL

To keep up with Cyrena make sure to subscribe to her blog  freakdeluxe.co.uk ! Don’t forget to follow her on YouTube @CyrenaMonique and Instagram @freakdeluxe ! I hope you all enjoyed this week’s Feature Friday post and look forward for more to come!

Until next time ASSASSINS. . . Stay Motivated!