Meet Yana | UGC Creator

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

Hi Yana, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I think the question isn’t really whether to keep going or give up. It’s whether you still want it and whether it still aligns with the life you’re trying to build.
As a content creator, I’ve definitely had moments where I questioned myself. Some content performs well, some doesn’t, and sometimes it feels like you’re putting in so much effort without seeing immediate results. But I’ve learned that growth isn’t always visible right away.
When things aren’t working, I try changing my strategy before giving up on the goal itself. I ask myself, “Do I still want this?” If the answer is yes, then I keep going. Maybe I need to learn something new, adjust my approach, or be more patient, but I don’t quit just because it’s difficult.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I create content mainly around beauty, style, and lifestyle. It’s really centered on everyday inspiration – things I actually wear, use, and do in my real life.
What I try to focus on is keeping things authentic and relatable. I like sharing beauty routines, outfit ideas, and little lifestyle moments in a way that feels easy and natural, like something a friend would share rather than a perfectly curated “highlight reel.”
Getting here wasn’t really straightforward. I moved countries and had to rebuild a lot of things from scratch while also figuring out my direction as a creator. I think the biggest lesson for me so far is that you don’t need everything figured out to start – you just need to keep going, stay curious, and improve as you grow.
Right now, what excites me the most is that I’m building something that can grow into real opportunities with beauty, fashion, and lifestyle brands – including bigger global companies I really admire. It feels like I’m slowly moving in the direction where my work can open doors and connect me with brands I genuinely love, and that’s really motivating for me.
I’m still building and evolving, but I’m excited to keep growing my platform and sharing content that feels real, inspiring, and true to my style and everyday life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d mix beach, aesthetic food spots, views, and a bit of nightlife – very “soft luxury LA” vibes but still fun and relaxed.
Day 1 – Venice + Santa Monica (classic LA start)
We’d start easy with a beach day in Venice, walk along the boardwalk, maybe rent bikes to Santa Monica.
Brunch somewhere around, then sunset at Santa Monica Pier. Very golden-hour, very cinematic.
Day 2 – Malibu escape
Slow morning, drive up the coast, beach stops, ocean views.
Lunch at Nobu Malibu — that kind of “you’re in a movie” spot.
Just beach, music, and sunset.
Day 3 – Beverly Hills + Rodeo Drive
Cute coffee morning, then walk around Rodeo Drive, shopping, photos, aesthetic content day.
Dinner somewhere pretty and chill, just soaking in the vibe.
Day 4 – West Hollywood night out
Daytime is slow — maybe Erewhon run at Erewhon Market, gym, or pool day.
At night: dinner and drinks at Catch LA followed by cocktails on one of the rooftops with a nice view.
Day 5 – DTLA creative day
Explore artsy spots, coffee shops, rooftop views, vintage shopping.
Very content-heavy day – shooting outfits, lifestyle content, city vibes.
Day 6 – Hiking + views
Morning hike at Runyon Canyon or Hollywood Sign and then Griffith Observatory for sunset.
That LA skyline moment is a must – very grounding but still iconic.
Day 7 – Chill reset day
Brunch, beach walk, last coffee run, slow packing day, maybe back to Venice for one more sunset to end the trip where it started.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d dedicate my shoutout to my family and the people close to me who’ve supported me in small but meaningful ways while I’m building my path as a creator.
And honestly, I also get a lot of motivation from books and movies that remind me to keep going even when things feel uncertain. One book that really stayed with me is The Alchemist – it’s that idea of trusting your path and continuing even when you don’t see the full picture yet. It’s a simple reminder that everything kind of unfolds step by step.
I’m still early in my journey, so I really value anything that keeps me inspired and moving forward.

Website: https://www.kanashulya.com

Instagram: hello@kanashulya.com

Yelp: Yana Kanashko

Other: IG @kanashulya