Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyanna Watts.
Hi Tyanna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I had always been in love with nerd culture and the culture surrounding eastern media such as anime, K-dramas, and manga, but I no longer wanted to just be a participant. I wanted to be a part of the conversation. My journey starts in 2018 when black people within this budding online community of nerds were few and far between. I had a strong desire to talk about nerdy things and I wanted to showcase black people and people of color in the nerd community. I pondered for a few days on ideas and starting points and after a while, I decided, I start a blog under the name Blaque N’ Kulture. I remember sitting extremely giddy at my computer desk as I designed my very rudimentary logo and strung together to buy my domain and host website for what I could imagine would be the hottest blog in town. However, no one told me that when you get started online, you’d be spending a lot of time posting to digital crickets. And for nearly a year, that’s kinda what I did, but I was constant and resilient.
As I rounded my first year online as Blaque N’ Kulture, I realized that maybe blogging wasn’t my true calling. I had always considered myself to be a fairly talented writer, but with my exciting audience of only two followers (shout-out to my OGs by the way), I realized that maybe I needed to expand or try something else. So, with the little bit of change in my pocket called a paycheck, I decided I’ll become a cosplay photographer.
So begins my saga of photography. Surprisingly, I was good at it. I took a few courses online and YouTube university’s some of the other details and began hunting for opportunities to get anyone in the scope of my lens. Which turned out to be all of nobody at first. I needed to get my eyes on me. I needed someone to see that I was good at whatever I was trying to be. After much deliberation, I decided that I would build an audience on Instagram. But I wasn’t done there; I continued by launching my very first large-scale project, ‘This is What Nerds Look Like’, which was inspired by Quirktasic’s ‘This is What a Geek Looks Like.’ I created a sign-up list, and a bunch of local nerds came together to do a photoshoot around Orlando showcasing the diversity in nerds.
Needless to say, that was my 1st big success and my big pivot away from blogging. I now knew that I wanted to do more projects like this; I had more creative vision and direction in me. So, I continued to create more elaborate projects and consistently posted to social media. My small following of two had grown to around 300-500 followers. I was in the zone. Honestly, I figured if I got this far on doing a few projects, let’s pick up more opportunities. So, I started expanding into providing press coverage for local events. When I started wasn’t very good, but I was determined to pick us steam. I created a YouTube channel and began posting there. The growth was slow by my passion was on fire.
Until 2020. Everything hit the fan, the floor, the driveway — honestly things hit the house and nearly destroyed it. Events got canceled or delayed, everyone was getting sick or passing away, and I couldn’t do anything about anything. Before the pandemic, Blaque N’ Kulture Finally seemed to be thriving, but at its height, I kinda thought my little passion project was over. I was stuck in the house, scared, sad, and unsure of my next step.
But then, I decided to do something really wild. I sat down and created my first piece of video content, my 1st YouTube video. It didn’t do half bad, either. I started focusing on cleaning up my branding and making my page more homogeneous. I worked on business strategies and spent hours on social media planning and listening to tips and tricks of social media videos. I may have been stuck in the house physically, but I was going to get my name out there on the interwebs. Widely enough, I was getting noticed. People were interacting with me. I continued to do projects and people were liking and shared my content. I wasn’t going viral, but I was finding my niche and creating a stronger brand identity. It was the 1st time I felt like Blaque N’ Kulture was gonna blow up.
Fast forward to 2022-2023, and I feel very happy about where I am. I may not be a viral hit, but I am doing some amazing things in the Orlando and Online nerd communities. I’m working with comic book creators, creating my comic book with my family, I have a podcast, I have successfully provided press and media coverage for a few large local events, and I have a growing TikTok. I just landed a few brand deals with a few companies, and I have some cool projects I’m working on in the background. Blaque N’ Kulture is growing as a brand and voice within the nerd community every day and it’s so exhilarating to watch. It makes me so proud of my resistance, perseverance, and continued determination as I make Blaque N’ Kulture a leading voice in the nerd community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Blaque N’ Kulture’s progression has been rocky as ever. I had to pivot a lot when things weren’t working out. That coupled with the fact that to this day, I still work a full-time job and take care of a household. Managing a 9-5 and budding career can really be a juggling act. Especially when the pandemic hit, I was very overwhelmed with maintaining my family’s well-being bills, long hours at work, and trying to keep the dream of Blaque N’ culture alive.
Even now, as the pandemic often is in the back of people’s minds, the stress is still on. With our current social and political climate, the way employment is looking nationwide, the way money is looking globally, and how mental health has changed — I would be lying to say none of these things hasn’t affected me and my ability to work on Blaque N’ Kulture.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My name Is Tyanna of Blaque N’ Kulture! I am a content creator and micro-influencer on social media who focuses on creating educational, engaging, entertaining, and unique nerd and otaku content across all social media platforms. My goal has always been to showcase, educate and entertain people about nerd and otaku culture and the BIPOC voices within the community.
I am most proud of all of my work. I cannot say I can pick just one thing I’ve worked on. Well, if I had to pick, I’d actually say I am most proud of the community I’ve built. I love how inclusive, unique, fun, and full of passion it is. Everyone is rooting for everyone.
I think what set sets me apart from others in my niches is my presentation and personality. I feel a brand of educational entrainment media that is all my own with a brand identity that stands out from the rest.
Alright, so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to work with me is to contact me via email at blaquenkulture@gmail.com. If you’re looking to support me, like, share, and follow me and my content on all social media platforms. Comment under my videos and engage with me online; I love to chat and talk with people in the community and to educate those new or interested.
Contact Info:
- Website: blaquenkulture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blaquenkulture/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/blaquenkulture
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGD9YBhrjbKusPFn5030nCQ
- Other: https://www.fiverr.com/blaquenkulture https://www.tiktok.com/@blaquenkulture
Image Credits
Blaque N’ Kulture
