Meet Owin Pierson: Content Creator & LGBTQIA+, Mental Health and AAPI Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Owin Pierson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Owin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is a big piece of the overarching puzzle of Success and Failure. I don’t see it as a linear direction of effort and results. It all ties into a spherical journey that really changes direction the moment you do. There are so many moments where I had a “clear” fork in the road. To decide one, meant the other was going to be halted. I’m grateful for those hard moments because they lead to so many opportunities I never would have imagined. But also I’ve learned through all the risks, moving across the country, investing thousands into my business, saying yes to travel opportunities(pre-covid), and navigating the influencer space and what my “worth” was monetization wise and time was all a crash course in marketing and business that I don’t think any college course teaches. Being self taught really challenges you to the core and you work 24/7 and sometimes with no results and many failures. However, it’s learning that those failures are actually all stepping stones to the success that truly is better than what you originally thought. Also all the lessons I’ve learned from the failures are a forever lesson that really help with longevity in my business because when it was incredibly bad and I wanted to give-up all I had was the lesson and the will to try again. Thank goodness I did.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Being a lifestyle content creator, I earn my living through sharing my everyday life, and all that encompasses that. A lot of what I do now is at-home movie premieres, takeout food in LA, products to help with everyday life and most important to me talking about mental health. I have a background and BA in Psychology and Education. I am currently looking into pursuing further education and credentials in mental health which I’m super excited about. I’ve always been an empath, and the listener in friend groups. I also worked with special needs, and middle and high school aged youth in various educational settings for many years. So I have a a strong desire to empower and inspire the youth of this generation to see their fullest potential and also know they aren’t alone. I think what I love most about the platform I’ve created is that I’ve found like-minded individuals who struggle with similar parts of life. I struggle with depression and anxiety, but that doesn’t make me less than. That also doesn’t mean I’m alone in it. There are so many resources now on how to combat it and also just quality pages and people that also share their battles and highlights and that all just really helps shed light in an otherwise very dark space that can perpetuate a negative mindset when struggling with a mental illness. Being authentic and vulnerable growing up was always so difficult when you’re in the closet and the Asian American culture you were embedded in didn’t fully allow feelings to be shared. This was a challenge in itself but through social media I’ve learned boundaries, community and really about self love. I’ve gained some of my best friends and biggest inspirations through social media and that part of it brings me so much joy. I just really want to help build a positive space and also to showcase that BIPOC, the LGBTQIA+ are worthy of taking up space in it and can also be in mainstream media.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
To be honest, I’d advise against visiting me during this pandemic time. I’d love to share all my favorite LA spots, but it would be a lot of takeout and picnics at parks and beaches. Which has been so lovely on my own and the few circle of friends I safely see. I hope things get better because LA has so much to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a shoutout to the photographer that has stood by my side through all the years of content creation and influencing. He’s a dear friend and talented photographer: David Cano. Instagram: @damericano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owinpierson/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/owinpierson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/owinpierson/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/owinpierson/

Image Credits
David Cano, Karen Marie