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5 minutes with Mikan Mandarin

After meeting Mikan on the J-style stage at the Hyper Japan Chrismas Market last year, I found her on Instagram. I watched her transform into a more confident creative individual, and was able to grab her so she could answer some questions for me!

Hey Mikan! Thanks for agreeing to do this interview! You’ve been busy since we shared the J-style stage at Hyper Japan! How’s it going, did you enjoy the experience? Hi Mica!! I really did enjoy the experience but I think I was really shy to go on stage!! Maybe if I did it again I’d be less shy, but I think stage fright would still take over!

I noticed there was a sudden transformation on your Instagram, you started showing your face in your posts! Is there a particular reason for this?


I think just doing the same thing over and over got to me, I got bored and so I started to change up my content. Nowadays I lot more varied stuff so it keeps it more exciting. Plus, it means I get to be more creative with poses, which I’ve certainly enjoyed!



Taken from Instagram


Do you feel that this change has impacted the reaction you receive? Have you seen any difference in follows, comments and likes?


I think it really has affected the reactions I get!! At first people were really upset by it, they liked the content I had before and thousands unfollowed. This was fine and I completely understand, but it was a bit disheartening. Nowadays my engagement is certainly much lower, but I try not to focus on it too much. I have a lot of fun, so what more do I need?

You’ve got a crazy amount of followers so far! When did you open your Instagram account? How effective do you think Instagram is for creatives?  I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a crazy amount!! I opened my instagram just about a year ago and I’ve posted at least once a day since. I think it’s been amazing for me, the support I get from my followers and from stores has enabled me to continue to grow as a creator and I think it’s always fun to have people to share my work with.

What inspires your personal style? Other instagrammers! I follow lots of other fashion bloggers who I’m now friends with like Yuyu and Tsuruko, it’s fun seeing what they’re creating and gives me lots of fun ideas



Taken from Instagram



Who is your Kawaii or fashion Idol and why? My idol is probably Anzu, she truly inspired me to start an instagram and I always wanted to be a promoter like her!!

How did you get into modelling and representing brands? I got into modelling simply by posting my pictures on online portfolios which enabled photographers to reach out to me to book me. I don’t do it so often nowadays because work takes up so much of my time, but I recommend it to anyone who wants to do freelance!! Promoting brands sort of came naturally as my following grew, I definitely think I’ll make a YouTube video on my tips soon since people ask so much so stay tuned!

You’ve mentioned work a few times, what is your job on a day to day basis? My day to day work is pretty boring! I just work in an office doing general admin stuff. The reason you don’t hear about it much is just because there’s not much to say!


In your experience, what do you feel the pros and cons are of being an increasingly well-known face on Social Media? I think one of the pros is cute girls wanna talk to you!! I love having other instagrammers want to interact with me, especially when I once used to admire them from afar. Not only that, but you get a lot of support from your followers and from stores, which enables you to keep creating and encourages you a lot. The cons are pretty obvious, people can sometimes be extremely harsh and cruel and with websites like PULL it can be scary knowing how careful you have to be with the things you say. Sometimes I get really overwhelmed!!



Taken from Instagram


Finally, you recently started a YouTube and Patreon, is this part of your plan for world domination?

What is the overall goal? Where do you see yourself in a years time? My plan is to be world president and rule all of the lands!! Haha nah, I’m just seeing where it takes me. I don’t necessarily have a long term plan, sometimes I just wake up and think “you know what? I wanna start cosplay. I’ll make a patreon!” Even the people closest to me can’t predict me, so we’ll see!! I will say that I have quite a few cosplays ordered and on the way, which is my current project and I’m having tons of fun with.

Catch Mikan at Hyper Japan next month, and check out her Instagram and YouTube!

Lots of Love Cupcakers ❤

Stay Stylish xoxo

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