Instagram is one bustling social media platform where everyone competes for attention. Even more, now, with a big surge of content creators rising every day, making it even harder for one to stand out. ALSO READ: Of content and unintended fame: Sol Solange shares experience Still, Sylvie Sugira, a travel content creator, has managed to up her following to over 98,000 followers in the space of two years. She insists that this is about more than just about pretty pictures—it's about the real stuff behind the scenes that she doesn’t shy away from sharing. More importantly, “it’s to post consistently, keeping your growing audience engaged and yearning for more, she said. Sugira, 27 years old, didn't plan to be an Instagram star. It all started with a click at Ndaza Escape in Musanze, in the Northern province. She had gone for a staycation, true to her love for adventure and exploration of new places, and of course, she took many nice pictures - which the owner stumbled upon, and pleaded with her, to show the world! ALSO READ: Actress Sandra Ishimwe on her first short horror film ‘Umubi’ She had to also be convinced to make her account public, which she did, after many hesitations, and boom, Sugira, the content creator, was born. Going from private to 98,600 followers didn't happen overnight, and many would go to extreme ends to pull those numbers. People are always curious to see what you're going to post tomorrow, and Instagram operates on the algorithm, she said. Reflecting on her first milestone, she humbly admitted, I never imagined I could reach 10,000 followers, let alone 90,000 and become a content creator. ALSO READ: Rwandan actress Jennifer Haylen talks career, homecoming However, she now envisions doing it full-time in the future. Currently, Sugira works as a human resource specialist for an agriculture and export company, waiting to someday take the big jump and quit the corporate world, for content creation. It is a scary big decision, but I hope to take it someday. For now, I need to work hard, to be able to afford my travel passion, she noted. She attributes most of her success to her first viral video, which featured people from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria, celebrating the unity of the African continent. Despite her growing success, she remains grounded and acknowledges the unpredictable nature of content creation, urging fellow creators to persevere and maintain consistency. Being a travel or lifestyle content creator comes with its own challenges. Any young person looking to tap into this new growing industry needs to understand that, you will still need to study and make money before you could even start to think of depending solely on this, she advised. While Sugira recognizes the potential for financial gain in content creation, she remains pragmatic about the current state of the industry. Unfortunately, for now, there's not enough monetary compensation in this field, she noted. Sugira's corporate job, although placing limitations on her travel frequency, allows her to afford her adventures. With just 18 days of annual leave, she strategically plans her trips, spending around six to eight days in each country. Also, she just finished a course on Psychology and Mental Health, all which she has to squeeze in the little time she gets after work. Despite the constraints, she has already explored destinations such as Dubai, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and Congo, with Dubai holding a special place in her heart as her most memorable destination. The truth is I'm not always traveling. Sometimes, I travel to a place for five days, but post content I capture there, for the next five months, she explained. Still, authenticity resonates throughout Sugira's content, where she candidly shares the behind-the-scenes struggles of content creation. For instance, waiting patiently for hours to capture a popular spot, tripping down a staircase, and/or making budgetary sacrifices for the love of travel. I don't shy away from posting moments of failure or the challenges I face to create my content, she said, aiming to demystify the glamorous facade often associated with influencers. The truth is the reality is far from the perfect posts we make. So I share the behind-the-scenes to make people understand that perfection is an illusion, she said, continuing, start small, identify your unique qualities, and work hard, by ensuring consistency. By being open and honest in her stories, Sugira wants to dismantle preconceptions and encourage her audience to chase their dreams despite the pressure to conform. Sugira's dream is to quit her 9-to-5 to become a full-time content creator. But for now, her corporate job remains the ticket to her adventures. Tourism policymakers and investors should notice content creators like her, who bring places to life, she said, her message being a heartfelt plea for their support of content creators, recognizing their crucial role in promoting destinations and experiences. Watch Full Interview for more about her: LINK (Video and Pictures by Mugwiza)
