In one of her very first interviews, British television presenter and contributing editor of British Vogue, Alexa Chung said:

“I don’t want to be known for floating around and just going to parties.”

Years later, in an interview with The Guardian, Chung reflected on this quote, saying:

“And yet, that’s kind of what happened.”

Although she works hard, strategically collaborates with designers, and has even written a book, Chung is still mainly known for her style: a winning combo of her signature au naturale aesthetic, effortless hair, and model good looks. While she’s considered an A-list celebrity at events around the world, Chung admits that she’d like to be known for more than just her fashion sense.

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar magazine, Chung said:

“In real life, I rarely think about clothes. But because I’m interviewed frequently, it becomes a constant frame for other things. The other day I was doing an interview. There were a lot of people from different territories, some people from Korea, some people from South America, people from everywhere. And they were asking me these questions and I realized I was frustrated because they were all about how to team a bag with an outfit, or how to get my style. They were all quite shallow, and that’s the nature of the business. I thought, ‘How can I get these women to have a more interesting conversation with me?’ And it occurred to me later that night as I was falling asleep that I can’t expect people to ask me interesting questions if I can’t provide them with anything interesting to talk about.”

We may not be world class fashionistas, but it’s understandable how easy it is to get caught up in your own success or continuous good fortune. It’s important however, to never lose sight of who you really are. You are not just the career you’ve chosen, your social circle, or your personal image or brand. If you can stay true to your core values and the way you’d like to be perceived by others, there will be no judgements, misconceptions or generalizations about you.

Only you can define what makes you, you.

 

Image Credit: Glamour UK