Reindeer sledding in Norway, gazing at the Northern lights, and interacting with wild monkeys in Ubud are just a few experiences that Mariana McDonald has under her belt. Originally from Rio, Brazil, Mariana has created a name for herself as a travel influencer on Instagram. Her passion for immersing herself in new cultures and meeting new people has allowed her brand to grow exponentially. Beau Monde Traveler has had the opportunity of speaking with Mariana to learn more about her brand as a travel influencer.

Mariana’s key interests lie in fashion and traveling which she combines to create stunning visual content for her followers. Her social media brand consists of photos and Instagram reels showcasing her various travels. As her brand continues to grow, plans for a blog could be in the works. Regarding a future blog, Mariana’s goal is to allow her followers to see the entirety of her trips to foster a closer connection with them.

Mariana’s passion for traveling blossomed after she moved to the United States from Rio, Brazil at 20 years old. Moving to a new country was a big leap for Mariana but this leap was important. As a result of her move, Mariana was able to immerse herself within a new culture. After she became settled in the U.S., Mariana started following travel influencers on social media. As a result, Mariana’s world was opened up a potential career of traveling and sharing her experiences with others. She decided nothing was stopping her from becoming a travel influencer and started her brand’s social media account. By teaching herself lightroom and editing skills, she was able to grow an online following which now reaches 100k followers.

Immersing Herself into New Cultures

The biggest takeaway from speaking with Mariana is the true passion she has for immersing herself in new cultures. Before any trip she plans, Mariana makes it a goal to try and learn the language of the people she will be interacting with as well as their customs. She even takes it a step further by having an open perspective and a willingness to try new things which shows a level of appreciation for new cultures. One instance in particular that highlights this is a trip to Norway that Mariana took where she tried whale meat. Even though she wasn’t accustomed to eating whales, her openness to try a dish that’s native to Norway allowed her to connect with the culture surrounding her. Taking the time to learn about the people and the history of the location she was visiting giving a new perspective on each trip she takes.

Solo Traveling

Recently, Mariana has delved into the realm of solo traveling. Traveling alone can be intimidating especially for women but the outcome of accomplishing a solo trip is rewarding. Mariana’s first experience with solo traveling was on a twenty-day trip to six European countries. Originally, her aunt was suppose to accompany her but due to unforeseen circumstances, Mariana had to do the trip by herself.  Even though she wasn’t expecting to do this trip alone, after it was over, Mariana realized how empowering the experience was. The ability to be completely independent in a foreign country allowed Mariana to gain more confidence. Mariana’s second solo traveling experience was during her recent travels to Bali. This trip continued to teach Mariana the importance of being independent. The biggest takeaway from her solo traveling experiences was that although she was traveling alone, this allowed her to meet new people so she was never truly alone.

Mariana McDonald is more than a digital content creator and travel influencer, she’s a collector of connections and stories. The connections she gains with people during the trips she takes continue to inspire her love of traveling. Mariana worked hard to build her brand as a travel influencer which shows how determination can lead you to accomplish your career goals. The biggest takeaway that Mariana wants people to know is that if you have a passion for traveling, don’t stop yourself from living your dream.