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You’ve listened to her covers, watched her vlogs, and probably even copped one of her outfits. But beyond her content, you (and millions of her other followers) stayed on today's rising influencer Mika Salamanca throughout the years because of one reason: She keeps it real.
From her beach pics to her silly food posts, anyone who stans Mika would know that what you see is what you get. And in the world of social media where pretty much everything seems to be staged, it’s totally refreshing to see somebody like her advocate for true authenticity.
The Cosmo team knew that we had to get to know her more. We sat down for a chat with her to learn more about her work, what inspires her, and her latest partnership with TECNO Mobile.
The 21-year-old was born and raised in Manila, and her passion for the arts, performing, and being in front of the camera began in her childhood. “I was always that kid who would pull out a video cam and record herself singing, doing skits, or just anything random,” she recalled, before joking that her younger self might have had an inkling about her future as a content creator.
“The first few videos that I uploaded on my Youtube [channel] were travel vlogs,” she said. After all, Mika’s family moved to the US, where she eventually attended high school. When she tried her hand at vlogging, her intention was to connect with her friends at home. “I felt very homesick [for the Philippines] and when my family moved to America, I had to find a way to cope.” For Mika, vlogging became her way to stay in touch with her roots.
Today, Mika has over 4 million subscribers on YouTube, and 3.2 million followers on Twitter and on Instagram. “The reality is when you put yourself out there, [your followers] also see the not-so-good parts of your life,” she shared, emphasizing the value of being vulnerable and sharing your story with others. “When you choose to just focus on the bigger things, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. So celebrate yourself when you can and look at things from a different perspective where a little bit of light shines.”
What started out as a little project for friends definitely grew into something bigger, but for Mika, she sees her followers as a larger part of her friend group. “Being authentic is what matters most to me,” she answered when we asked her about her brand. “What I always say is, if you don’t like what you see, then you don’t have to look at all.” Most definitely, Mika’s magic lies in her courage, conviction, and commitment to herself.
For Mika, it’s the ordinary moments that are special. “I love filming my everyday ganaps. I grew up watching lifestyle vlogs...like I said, even when I wasn’t a vlogger yet, I would just film myself doing whatever. It’s mainly the mundane moments of life that I love capturing.” Mika also loves doing collab videos with friends, and she looks forward to doing travel vlogs again in the future.
Since she creates content about her life, Mika has to use a device that’s easy to use on the go. “Right now, I am super impressed with the TECNO Mobile CAMON 18 Series,” she said, sharing how it’s helped her film important moments in her life. “It’s not easy to carry around equipment all the time...so I’m really happy that I now have the ‘movie master’ in my pocket.”
For content creators like Mika, the ultra-steady and clear camera of the TECNO Mobile CAMON 18 Series is the perfect companion. After all, it features a 64MP Ultra Clear Portrait camera for capturing gorgeous selfies, a 60X Hyper Zoom to help take snapshots of even the smallest details, as well a stabilized gimbal camera that helps you record life’s moving moments.
“I’m not gonna lie, style is so important to me,” she also said, lauding its sleek, lightweight design. “Lastly, battery life and storage. How else can I produce lengthy videos if my equipment doesn’t last long. Imagine, those 40-minute videos you guys watch, they come from hours and hours of footage!”
“Don’t go with the flow. Go against it,” Mika advised, when we asked her about how to navigate the online world. “You’re allowed to discover yourself in the process, but make sure it is the voice inside you that you’re paying attention to.”
Mika stands for authenticity also because it informs her creativity. “My personality comes out through my craft and as long as my content still feels like me, I’m good with that,” she said, saying how expressing her true self is part of her being truly imaginative, artistic, and original.
Although much of her work involves creating online content, Mika also had her fair share of challenges during the pandemic. Still, she does her best to stay grounded and mindful of the other people around her. “I always try to remember [that all of] us are going through [the pandemic]. It’s not just you, no one saw it coming too, and we all just had to cope the way we can.”
Staying grateful is what keeps her grounded. Mika still tries to find the best in the situation, no matter how difficult it is. “Even when things get tough, even when it’s extra hard to see the good things in a sea of bad, I just try. No matter how little that thing is, the way you wire your brain is what’s important.”
“In life, you will go through shaky times,” she said, noting that difficulties and hardships are necessary for growth. She wants her fans to know that having a clear vision and a stable outlook can help you get through the hardest, shakiest moments in life. “Your perspective will save you.”
Still, just like everybody else, there are still moments where Mika struggles to stay true to herself. “Whenever I feel like I’m changing too much to meet other people’s expectations, I make sure to take a break,” she said, suggesting the importance of self-care. “Pretending drains all of my energy and I don’t want that to keep happening just so I could prove that I’m ‘someone.’”
Her advice for aspiring content creators and her fellow Gen Zs is to focus on what you can do for now. “Don’t try to control the future and don’t try to look back and check where you went wrong.” In other words: stay in the present, take the lessons that it teaches you, and grow through it!
Mika Salamanca is the brand ambassador of the TECNO Mobile CAMON 18 Series, a lineup of smartphone cameras known for its ultra-steady and clear camera, aka the Movie Master. It features a stabilized gimbal camera feature, which helps you take quality videos and #SuperSteadyShot. The device is also built with Helio G96 Extreme Performance, 6.7” Dot-in FHD+ AMOLED Display & 120Hz High Refresh Rate, and a 4750mAh Big battery & 33W Quick charge, allowing it to last all day. And with its 256GB+8GB Large memory, you can feel rest assured that just like Mika, you can create content and stay productive all day.
Shop the CAMON 18 Series at the TECNO Mobile Official Store on Shopee and Lazada. For more information about the CAMON 18 Series, visit TECNO Mobile’s website or follow the brand on Facebook.
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Art Direction: Bacs Arcebal
Production Manager: Jamie Baui
Writer: Cathy Dario
Editor: Deb Austria
Photographer: Andrea Beldua
Logo Design: Cye Calderon
Makeup Artist: Nicole Ceballos
Hair Stylist: Grachel Mande
Set Stylist: Alanis Manantan and Lalaine Padua