In 2019, things were on a different trajectory for Philistine Amenaki. Having just started her travel blog on Instagram, she noticed that her page wasn’t getting enough engagement and followers. Philistine was struggling to carve out her niche and identify her target audience. A year later, her follower strength stood at 7.3k followers- a striking departure from the 800 followers she initially gathered when she first started. For Philistine, all of it couldn’t have been possible without the guidance she sought from her mentors Samia Jay, and Nikki. She believes that connecting with others and seeking their help is nothing short of a golden opportunity for young amateurs. Her travel blog-outlining her recent excursions- is a delightful trip that consumes one into the world of luxury travel. Through her posts, Philistine aims to inspire black women to embrace the comforts and joy of worldly life without feeling ashamed. She further wants to normalize the concept among women of being okay with splurging and pampering themselves now and then.
Philistine works as a full-time nurse and currently runs a small beach hat business called “Tropical Being.” Ever since its inception, her business has only been growing and reaching new heights. “The idea behind my brand was my obsession with beach hats and how they add a little bit of extra class and elegance to any vacation outfit.” Within a month of launching her brand, she was able to sell out two of her hat designs. Philistine’s brand speaks to her on a personal level as she believes it celebrates women across the world- motivating them to step out of their comfort zones and travel the world in style.
As for her future plans, Philistine has a few business ideas in the running-the details she is hesitant to reveal. She aims to reach the stature of a successful businesswoman and be featured in top social media articles such as Forbes, Cosmopolitan, and travel articles.
