Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Ortiz.
Hi Christina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started @otownfork in December of 2019 just as a way to share the overload of food photos on my phone. Never in a million years would I have dreamed that this would become such a passion of mine. In the two years of running my account, I’ve gained over 7000 Instagram followers and 20k Tiktok followers and am just so proud that even 20 people wanted to follow me, let alone 20k.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely been a rollercoaster, to say the least. For the most part, it has been overwhelmingly positive, but the biggest struggles have mainly come from the pressures I put on myself to be creative and never compromise quality. I’ve learned that at the end of the day, even if I may not be the best photographer, editor, or videographer that there is only one me and that’s the one thing that can’t be taken away.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I guess you can use the words content creator, food blogger, and probably even influencer (something I had never envisioned for myself until I really fell in love with food blogging). I take photos and videos of amazing, fun foods from local businesses, theme parks, and other fun food/drink brands. What I’m most proud of through all this isn’t necessarily one of my photos, but I’m proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and taking chances that I would never have taken. Throughout this journey, I’ve had the opportunity to befriend so many incredible people from business owners to other food bloggers to my lovely followers that check in with me and trust me enough to ask for recommendations. I think what sets me apart is my ability to take feedback and to keep working and learning as social media is an ever-evolving platform. My goal is to always evolve too and never stay stagnant.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memories are when my Dad would make “Cuban Lasagna” on special occasions. Now, I know what you may be thinking but it is not in fact a pasta dish. It was basically a combination of different Cuban foods (Pork, Rice & Beans, Plantains, etc.) served on a layered baking dish. As a kid, I remembered being so impressed with the creativity of the dish and the fact that when it was served, it would be over a gathering with my family, just creating memories. My Dad passed away ten years ago and my siblings and I still make this dish yearly in his memory and it always just brings us back.
Contact Info:
- Email: otownfork@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otownfork/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=20o_5Sk3EonWdCqBZKutAQ
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@otownfork
