Emily Oberg Talks Instagram Selfies and the "Expiration Date" of Influencers
SSENSE catches up with the Sporty & Rich founder in her new home, Los Angeles.
Since announcing her departure from KITH Women as its Creative Lead back in February, Emily Oberg has been spending time on herself and her own brand, Sporty & Rich. Known by many as a streetwear muse and fitness guru, the 24-year-old’s biggest interest actually lies in design. Just last month, the Canada-born creative launched the third issue of her passion project, the Sporty & Rich magazine, covering everything from fashion and music, to interior design and beauty. It’s an editorial extension of her beautifully-curated Instagram account, if you aren’t already following.
Having moved from New York to Los Angeles, Oberg who currently works as a brand consultant sat down with SSENSE to chat about what the Internet often associates her with: selfies, influencer culture, and of course, self-love. Read an excerpt of the interview below and head over to SSENSE for the full feature.
On her famous Instagram selfies:
“Sometimes it feels like a chore and a job. I’m like ‘Oh, I haven’t taken a selfie in a while.’ But it’s just because I don’t want to. You know, sometimes you just want to be doing something with your friends.”
On how she portrays herself on social media:
“I always want to set a good example, especially for younger girls because I know they look up to me, not to sound cocky or anything. But when you have a platform of course people are looking at you. So, I always kind of speak about staying natural. You don’t need to fix yourself or change your face to feel good.”
On whether there’s an “expiration date” for influencers:
“On the influencer? Totally. I mean, you’re even seeing it now. Brands are not looking as much at the follower count as the quality of followers, the quality of the photos. Who you are, what you stand for, what you believe in, your messaging. They’re kind of veering away from here’s a million followers and more towards, who is she. So, that’s good because I do feel there needs to be a lot more people out there who are standing for something and having a voice, especially in the time that we’re living in and what’s going on. How can you not?”
