Camille Co-Koro Built a Career Traveling the World—But Travel Gave Her Something More

Camille Co-Koro has been traveling her whole life.

“I’ve been fortunate to have parents who made sure that we got to experience traveling from a very, very young age,” the OG content creator told Allure. “It’s always been part of my life.”

But while she enjoyed those family trips, it was a four-month foreign exchange program in France that changed the way she saw the world, and herself. “It was my first time to truly get out of my comfort zone,” she says. “I’m the youngest in my family so I was very, very protected and I was in a bubble. When I started traveling as a university student, that’s when I really got to see the world on my own terms.”

Kim Santos

Soon after graduating from college, Camille began sharing snippets of her life online. She posted her outfits on fashion platforms Chictopia and Lookbook before eventually launching her own blog in April 2011.

“To be honest, I didn’t know this was going to be the journey that I’d be on,” she says. “Everything felt accidental.”

She started posting her outfits online because she wanted to sell her designs. “It was really more of a means to an end. But I ended up falling in love with posting the things that I love like fashion, beauty, travel. And then it just kept going on and on without me realizing, ‘Oh my God, this is actually already a career.’”

Today, Camille continues to post about everything that she’s passionate about, and that includes travel. “Every time I travel, I would always make it a point to share all these different spots and different experiences that I had. I basically take you with me.”

Kim Santos

There are so many things she loves about traveling. “I’ve always said this: the things that you learn when you travel, you can never learn at school. The growth that you get from traveling is something that you cannot replicate anywhere else. You are able to learn and open your mind more when you travel, see new people, and experience new cultures.”

Shopping is something she enjoys when traveling, of course. “But I’ve noticed that the experiences that really stick with me are the cultural and more intimate experiences. For example, on my recent trip to Peru, my favorite was when we got to spend an entire day with the Huama community. We were just experiencing their life: how they farm, what food they eat, their rituals, their beliefs. It was such an immersive experience.”

Over the years, she’s gotten better at handling the pressure to document and post. “I super duper felt it before. Before, I always felt like, ‘Oh my god, this is such a great place to shoot, let’s shoot it. Let’s do this and let’s do that.’ Now, because I’m of a certain age, I’ve learned to reward myself. I’ve learned to condition myself to think, ‘You know what? You’ve done enough.’ Not everything needs to be posted online. And I’ve learned that that’s actually the best luxury, when you get to enjoy things offline.”

Camille used to travel a lot more. “When I was still single, I couldn’t stay put in Manila. I still feel like I travel more than the average person but compared to before, it’s so much more tame now. And now, if it’s for work and it’s a place that I’ve traveled to before, I take the last flight in and first flight out because I want to be with my kids.”

Her two young daughters have changed the way she travels. “Now, I follow their schedule. That’s why I always tell new parents [that] you should manage your expectations. Know that you can no longer travel the way that you used to travel once you have kids. The moment you accept that, the more that you’ll enjoy the new pace.”

Kim Santos

What are your favorite places to travel to?

Japan, of course, because my favorite cuisine is Japanese. And it’s also very easy, very safe. The weather is great. I also really love traveling back home to Finland. My husband Joni is Finnish so we try to go home at least once or twice a year. I love it because it’s such a change of pace compared to life here in the Philippines. My husband and I also really love Barcelona. It’s like equal parts city, equal parts nature.

What are your favorite places in the Philippines?

Now that I have kids, I’ve come to appreciate Boracay more. I think it’s the most family-friendly beach that we have. We really like beach destinations. We like Palawan, El Nido, Boracay. We’re also really starting to like Cebu. Joni is actually campaigning to move there one day.

What’s an unforgettable travel memory you’d like to share?

When we went to South Africa and we went on safari there in Port Elizabeth. I knew I would love it but I didn’t think I would love it that much. To go on game drives three days in a row, twice a day… You get to see animals in their natural environment and you respect their space. You come to understand how they behave and move. I learned so much.

What’s on your travel bucket list?

So many. I have to admit, we like luxury. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it’s the experience, the comfort. I really want to experience all these design hotels that are situated outside the normal tourist spots in Japan. I have a list of those bookmarked. I also want to do an African trip. I’ve only been to South Africa, so I really want to do Kenya or Zimbabwe. Joni and I want to do a road trip around New Zealand with our family. The list goes on and on. My sister and I were supposed to go to Nepal, hopefully, one day, we can still go.

If you could be anywhere else right now, where would you be?

The Giraffe Manor in Kenya. I fell in love with giraffes on our trip to Africa. They’re just so unique to look at and they’re so graceful. I found them so interesting.

Is there a place you’ll never go to?

Countries at war.

Who is your favorite travel companion?

My husband Joni. I get to be a passenger princess: travel edition.

With my friends, with my sister, it’s always me who’s navigating. With Joni, I get to turn my brain off. I just tell him, ‘Okay, we’re gonna go here, here, here, here.’ Then he navigates. And I feel so much safer when I’m with him.

Kim Santos

How would you describe yourself as a traveler?

I’m a comfortable traveler who knows what she wants. I think I’m done with the backpacking days. I have to make sure that I experience the place, the people, the culture, the food, and the scenery. I used to follow the travel books, all these iconic places that you need to visit. Now, I want to see the ‘it’ neighborhood. Where do the creatives go? Where are the local designers? Where are the local craftsmen?

Are you a good packer?

Yes. I have friends who are in constant awe as to how I’m able to have all these outfits and yet, my luggage is never overweight. You have to pack smart. I think it’s always good to pre-style. I’ve noticed that if I don’t pre-style, that’s when I overpack. Try to stick to just a few pairs of shoes. It doesn’t make sense to bring a pair of shoes for just one outfit. Make sure you have versatile pieces there that you can use more than once, like a good pair of jeans and a good blazer. I don’t understand people who don’t transfer their toiletries to smaller containers. Sayang yung space.

What are your travel essentials? What can’t you leave home without?

Universal charger. I’m not an extension cord girly, I’m a universal charger girly with all the ports already attached there. What else can I not travel without? My skincare. I’m very particular with the products that I use on my face because I have very sensitive, reactive skin. What else? Kaya kong walang camera. I feel like if I’m not a content creator, I would have very few photos. I would not remember to take photos. My vitamins. Ang hirap mag-travel na nagkakasakit, diba? My credit card. My phone, for sure. When I’m traveling by myself, sobra kong clingy to my family. I FaceTime them all the time. So I need my phone with me all the time when I travel for sure.

Window or aisle seat?

Window.

What’s your most used travel app?

Google Maps.

What travel tips or secrets would you like to share?

Never look like a tourist, especially when you’re in Europe. Try to look as sure of yourself as possible so that you’re not a target. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re a female traveling alone. Never let your guard down because, let’s face it, these are the times we live in. Always check out discount coupons online. Don’t put all your money in one place; make sure that you have some emergency money stashed somewhere else.

What has travel taught you about yourself?

I’m brave pala. I come from a Filipino-Chinese family and most Filipino-Chinese families are very strict, very conservative, very traditional. I was really sheltered. I had a curfew until I was married at 31. When I started traveling, that’s when I realized, I can do things on my own pala. I know how to think for myself. I know how to fend for myself. I know how to be smart; not just intelligent but street smart. I know how to be resourceful. I really got to know myself better because of travel.

Photography by Kim Santos. Makeup by Emman Magpantay, assisted by Nicolas Magpantay. Hair by JA Feliciano. Art Direction by Sacha Mancera.