Today we’d like to introduce you to Sany Nguyen.
Sany, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hi! I am a California native and moved to Chicago in 2013 to pursue law school. I was always into blogging and began as a Yelp Elite blogging my experiences with businesses (mostly food) since late 2009. In my early years living in Chicago, many of my friends back home were showing interest in visiting Chicago because they finally had someone here that they knew. Other than a few iconic spots in Chicago and being known for deep dish pizza and hot dogs, they didn’t know much else of Chicago. I used to send them to my Yelp page to help plan out their trip but soon realized an Instagram page was more practical and convenient.
In late 2015, I began an Instagram page (formerly ‘CaliMeatsChicago’) and began posting my food adventures around the city. I would direct my friends to that Instagram for help. While posting on Instagram, I began growing a following from people I didn’t know about. I continued to post-primary food but within a little over a year, I realized that as a transplant I was doing so much more than just eating my way through Chicago. I was attending a high number of social events, sports events, food and music festivals, not to mention I was getting more into photography.
This prompted me to change my Instagram handle to what it is now, Sany Delight because I wanted to share with everyone my love for food, fitness, traveling, and life. Just shortly after, I expanded my Instagram to demonstrate my love for all of those and eventually created my own blog at sanydelight.com. Then, after that, I got into videos and now I produce and host my own series called #WatchSanyEat, where I film my experience with food, restaurants, and events!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Becoming Sany Delight hasn’t been easy. It takes a lot of time and commitment. Having content that is organic, helpful, entertaining, all while representing me takes a lot of work. I work full time and managing Sany Delight and all of my platforms is practically another job. there is a lot of time and effort that is put into my content. Not to mention, the need to always have content is very difficult too, especially because this isn’t my full-time job. If you want to stay relevant, you need to push content out.
I struggle a lot to find a balance between living my life and doing things that I love, all while squeezing in attendance at food events, shooting content, blogging, posting on my platforms, and communicating with businesses, just to name a few. However, I must say that, having these platforms have also been one of the most fulfilling hobbies I’ve gotten into. It can get overwhelming sometimes but I am so thankful for all the opportunities that have come my way. They say when you do things you love, it doesn’t really feel like a job and I find that absolutely true. I love going to these events because I get to meet new people, try new food, or experience something that I may not had it not been for my platforms.
If there is advice I can give, stay organized and make sure you find balance! I understand good content and having content often is major, but you also want to make sure that you aren’t doing this just for the business benefits, do it because you love to and want to. Saying no to things is ok, but also don’t be afraid to say yes to things that you haven’t experienced. You never know where it would lead you!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Sany Delight – what should we know?
So Sany Delight is basically a brand that represents me. I have a strong interest in food, fitness, traveling, blogging, and lifestyle. When I reference lifestyle I think more of events, socializing, things to do, some life hacks, health and wellness, and photography. I do also occasionally dab into fashion and beauty too. It just really all depends!! But for the most part, I create content that centers around my interest in those areas and companies, brands, people, or events that fall in line with my interest. While some brands have a niche or two, I am very expansive and showcase a variety of things.
I think that enhances my brand because like all of us, we are more than one dimensional. I have my own little saying on my caption “Finding Balance & Delight in all I see, eat, and do!” which I truly stand behind because living life is all about finding balance with all that we do and finding happiness and meaning in it. When I post about it, I like to give some information about the post to lay foundation why that post made it on my platforms. I have even expanded beyond that and incorporated videos frequently on my page.
As Sany Delight, one thing I am most proud about is my incorporation of videos! I love shooting videos for multiple reasons, 1) unlike a picture, we can’t entirely hide from the camera, 2) I get add more of my personality into it, 3) I love that video can engage the audience in a different way than a picture 4) I have more creative authority, and 5) it is another way to blog and I love blogging. I think my videos set myself apart from others because a lot of people don’t do it. It is another time-consuming method to shoot content, and it isn’t for everyone.
For me, I don’t mind being silly, and I am ok with showing my imperfections. Again, that’s life and what you see with Sany Delight is me.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The creation of Sany Delight didn’t come to fruition all through my own hard work. I want to thank my foodie friends, my fitness community, my photography friends, my videographers, photographers who reached out to shoot me, businesses who have partnered with me and put trust in me to bring exposure to their products, family and friends, and last but most important, those who follow Sany Delight.
It is a real rewarding feeling to know that people enjoy my content. I love getting messages from people, whether it is alike, a comment, tag, or direct message me and share their stories. Having meaning behind this platform also brings me delight!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sanydelight.com/
- Email: sany.delightblog@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sany.delight/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sany.DelightBlogg/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sanydelightblog
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4utmlHsj6_BxCBpezdNIUw
Image Credit:
Robert Banez and Gigi Baith
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