Laureen Uy Was a Travel Creator Before We Called Them Creators

Laureen Uy was a content creator long before being one was a thing. “I started in 2010,” she tells Allure Philippines. “It was literally the rise of blogging. I started with Lookbook and then I created my own blog.”

Her blog Break My Style, where she documented her outfits and her life, became a hit. Laureen has always loved fashion, influenced early on by her older siblings, celebrity stylist Liz Uy and creative director Vince Uy. “Growing up with them, my eyes were opened to the world of fashion, not just styling, but how, when you wear the right makeup, when your hair is on fleek, and when you wear whatever you want, you become more confident.”

Kim Santos

Just six months after she started her blog, she was invited on a press trip to Cebu. “I said, ‘Oh my god, I can travel because of my blog?’ What is this? Honestly speaking, when I started it, I really didn’t think I was gonna make a career out of it because I was really doing it purely out of passion and I just wanted a visual diary for myself.”

And she has made a successful career out of it. Over a decade later, she remains one of the country’s leading content creators, resonating with her followers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

For Laureen, travel and fashion are inseparable. “I always try to research the places that I would go to so I can match them. I get so inspired not just by what I see but also the clothes that people are wearing there. There are cities that are more laidback but still cute and there are fashion-forward cities. I plan ahead when I travel.”

Laureen travels a lot, around four to five times a month, for work and leisure. “Some work trips are so fun that they still feel like a vacation. I think that’s the beauty of it.”

It may look glamorous but it’s a lot of work. “I’m a one-man team. I fix the tripod and set the camera and think of the angle. Of course, we also need to be fresh in the video. So even styling and putting on makeup, I do everything by myself.”

Kim Santos

Laureen is a pro at documenting her travels but she also knows when to slip out of creator mode and simply be present. “There are so many moments during the trip where I put down my phone. I feel like I’ve already mastered when I need to film and when I need to put it down. That way, I get to share beautiful things with my followers and, at the same time, still experience it fully for myself,” she says.

She values keeping some moments to herself, away from social media. “I balance it with things that I do just for myself. As much as I love sharing things online, I also have so many experiences that I keep just with whoever I’m traveling with.”

Laureen juggles content creation and running her ventures Hungry Homies, which is known for its smashburgers, and Flo All-Day Drinking, a cafe and bar in Makati. She handles marketing for both. “I have a very small and hardworking team with me,” she says. “I schedule meetings with them weekly and we discuss everything that we need to do. We also do shoots for them. And then on other days, I shoot my own content. I really try to save my weekends for family and friends.”

Burnout is something a lot of content creators have to deal with. “It’s just like any other job. I feel like burnout is when you overthink and when you’re too stressed,” she says. “When I get caught up in those moments, I pause and I do things I love and I unwind. I go offline. And the next thing I know, I’m recharged and ready to go again.”

Kim Santos

What do you love about traveling?

So many things. It’s an overall experience. It’s being able to get inspired even more with fashion. It’s trying new food. It’s getting to experience everything with family and friends. You create new memories that will stick with you forever.

What are you drawn to when you travel?

I always have to eat good things and I have to shop. When I travel, I prefer staying in an area where, when I go down, there’s something happening already. I usually try to look for an area where there are a lot of cafes and sights to see. I research museums that we can visit. My husband usually researches really good restaurants we can try. We merge our itinerary. We always try to reserve one day with no plans so whatever may happen can happen.

What are your favorite places to travel to?

I personally love LA. It’s me and my husband’s favorite.  I love the overall vibe. I feel like it’s so chill and it’s so pretty and there’s a lot of good food. I also love Japan and Korea. In Korea, the skincare and makeup is amazing. The shopping too. In Japan, food. The food is amazing.

What are your favorite places in the Philippines?

I love Palawan. It’s also where we got married. So it has a special place in my heart. Iloilo and Bacolod also.

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

It’s really Coron, Palawan where me and Miggy got married. That’s the most memorable.

What’s on your travel bucket list?

I want to visit Iceland and see the lights. I’ve been to Copenhagen once, but I’d love to see it with my husband.

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

Fast forward to December. I want to experience Christmas markets in Vienna, Austria, Germany, with snow and mulled wine in my hand. I did tell my husband that one day, we’ll do that too. It’s part of my bucket list.

Is there a place you’ll never go to?

I’m very much open. I feel like I want to see everything. 

Kim Santos

How would you describe yourself as a traveler?

A smart packer. I can do a two to three-week vacation in Europe and just have one medium or large luggage with me. It’s really styling. I encourage people to re-wear and re-style. You can wear a white t-shirt with a jacket and jeans or with a skirt with a polo underneath or over it. It really depends on how you style the pieces. When I travel, I have full-on outfits prepared and I still have allowance for shopping.

Do you prefer a packed or a slow itinerary?

I say a mix of both. I used to pack my itinerary from day till night. Now it’s more about just going with the flow.

Who’s your favorite travel companion and why?

My husband. Everything that we do together, we love.

What are your travel essentials?

A power bank. My lipstick. My sunglasses. White sneakers, very important because they can match anything. A black dress, because you can wear it as is or layer it; you can style it differently when you’re traveling. A book. During flights, I love reading books. I’m super into Freida McFadden, very thriller vibes. Before that, it was Colleen Hoover.

Window or aisle seat?

Window.

What’s your most used travel app?

Google Maps.

What travel tips or secrets would you like to share?

Before we got married, my husband and I had a joint account and every month, we’d add money to it. When we traveled, we used it. It’s very helpful, especially if you’re on a budget and you’re saving.

Photography by Kim Santos. Makeup by Lala Flores, assisted by Raquel Rocha. Hair by Cats del Rosario. Art Direction by Sacha Mancera.