What It’s Like Vacationing With Your Influencer Crush

Ever wondered what it’s like to spend a week at a dream destination with someone you have looked up to on social media? Let the guests of trend45 events tell you.

Photo by Serafim Mazurs

How often is it that you get to meet influencers that you’ve known and loved for years? Probably not often, and if it is, it’s probably for a minute or two at a meet and greet.

Now think about this, you get to spend a week with that person. Really get to know them, really have them get to know you. Oh, and did I mention that it would be at a luxurious vacation destination? This is made possible with the trips planned by TREND45.

Coming on this first trip with the TRENDteam has opened my eyes to how much influence a person that we have only ever seen online can really have on us. And in a good way. I had the opportunity to spend two weeks with Shallon Lester - Youtuber, Podcaster, Writer, Instagram queen, and strong woman - and I also got to see how much she impacted the lives of those who follow her. Several of the people on this trip came solely to meet and hang out with her, and I loved getting to hear all about their experiences.

I have to admit, I didn’t really know much about Shallon before this trip (I just did a quick stalk through the Instagram), but after seeing the reactions of the guest when word broke that she had first arrived, I knew that she was really impactful to many people’s lives, and how big of a deal it was to have to opportunity to meet her. “I’m so nervous,” one of the guests told me.

“She was the one who mentioned the trip, and then I was like ‘that sounds fun,’ and I want to meet Shallon Lester.”

The Shalligators (Shallon’s fan group) on the trip raved about how comfortable they felt with her once we were all settled in. One of the girls even told me “she treats me like a sister.” And this I’ve seen first hand.

One afternoon when we had down time we simply sat around the pool and gossiped about boy drama (of course). We were all sharing advice with one another, we felt like a group of long time friends just hanging out. Throughout the week this trend continued with casual selfies and dance parties. It never appeared to me that the guests felt uncomfortable or intimidated by Shallon. She simply fit in with the rest of us.

I picture how I would feel if some of the celebrities I have been following for years were on this trip with me. I’m sure, just like the other girls when they first met Shallon, that I would be nervous, but it would soon ware off. I think the people on this trip who came for Shallon will leave feeling like they got the experience of a lifetime, becoming friends with someone they have looked up to for so long. I know I would.