Jolyn Surf Shop’s Bright-Eyed Creative, Mimi Dickerson
Tell us about yourself! How did you get started with the Jolyn Surf Shop?
My name is Mimi Dickerson and I am a full-time content creator living on the North Shore of Oahu. I came to visit a friend in Hawaii in January of 2020. Although I had plans of leaving that March, things quickly changed once Corona hit. I was suddenly "stuck" in Hawaii, too scared of the unknown to fly home at the beginning of a pandemic. Three years later and here we still are! I actually started with Jolyn that March. I have always done small-brand deals, but securing my relationship with Jolyn is what I am most proud of. I credit a lot of my success to Sarae Dydo, who was my manager at Jolyn at that time and ran their social media marketing. She had always believed in me and the content that I created - even from the start - so it is so cool to grow with her by my side. That is how I got my start with Jolyn, from Sarae reaching out via email. I was so excited because I already owned one of their bikinis, and they have always been a favorite brand of mine. March 2020 was when I started my TikTok, which is where I focus all of my time now. I currently have 125,000 followers and hope to keep growing and building strong relationships with the brands and the people that support me.
What are your personal goals for this year?
Speaking about Sarae Dydo leads me to one of my biggest goals for this year. In late January, Sarae told me that she was moving on to take a job at Free People. Although I will miss her at Jolyn, I can't help but be so excited for her. Free People has always been a favorite brand of mine, and in our parting email, she said that "if the opportunity ever arose, I'd love to work with you again in the future." I was like, "wow, no way"!
(Keep in mind that I had just written down Free People in my "dream collabs journal" on January 4, 2022.)
Well, just two weeks ago, she reached out saying that she wanted to work together with the Free People movement. As I write this today, my package is "out for delivery." So, I am so excited to say that collaborating with Free People was one of my biggest goals for this year, and it is coming true.
To add --- A huge personal goal for me this year is to start a podcast or YouTube channel. I love documenting my life; I look at my TikTok and Instagram accounts as personal photo/video diaries. To start a YouTube would be such a cool opportunity to document more videos of my life and share more behind-the-scenes of TikTok. With that being said, I also want to connect more with the people that support me on social media. It is one thing to post on social media and have engagement with what you post, but another to build relationships, truly connect, and show how appreciative I am for all the support that I receive.
Where do you find fashion inspiration? Do you have any favorite designers, stylists, or fashion influencers?
I find a lot of fashion inspiration from my roommate, Claire Hiller. She wears all things colorful. I used to never wear colorful or crazy pieces. I've come to find out that the pieces that don't necessarily match are the outfits that look the coolest. I think that fashion is whatever you want it to be; it's supposed to be fun! As long as you are confident in what you are wearing, then I say that it's a great outfit!
What color represents you and why?
The color that represents me is yellow because it is so happy! Yellow has always been my favorite color because it reminds me of sunsets.
What movie can you watch over and over again and never get tired of it?
“13 going on 30” is a movie that I can watch all day and never get tired of. I always have a movie playing in the background while I am working, and 13 going on 30 is one that I have watched way too many times. It is just such a classic and I am such a sucker for a good rom-com.
What is the most important piece of entrepreneurial advice you received?
I'm not sure this is the best entrepreneurial advice that I have received, but it is definitely what has impacted me the most: do what makes you happy. Three years ago, I was studying to be a teacher, which would have been a secure job and I would have been content, but would I have truly been happy? I dropped out of college during my senior year to pursue social media, which was the best decision I have ever made. Was it practical? Maybe not, but I put my mind to it, and I just knew I would be successful.
I have never been happier in my entire life. I am so glad I took that risk and I get to live the life I am living today. □
Article Credits
Mimi’s Instagram: @mimidickerson
