The “Boujee Best Friend” host & Dating Coach
Koko Slunjski
Giving life advice & support to women all over the world with her podcast & Encouragement to “know your worth”
Koko Slunjski is a podcast host and dating coach dedicated to helping women raise their standards. She gained viral fame on TikTok with her videos titled "Things I Wish I Knew Before I Moved to Miami" and "No Coffee Walk Date." As a result, Koko quickly became the go-to "boujee bestie" for straightforward and unfiltered life, beauty, and dating advice. She launched an Instagram series called "What Would Koko Do," where she answers her audience's questions on dating, life, entrepreneurship, mindset, and friendship on a weekly basis. Her followers consistently describe her advice as life-changing, making WWKD the cornerstone of her brand that her followers eagerly anticipate.
With a background in Journalism, Koko naturally progressed to starting her own podcast. The Boujee Best Friend podcast was launched on May 31, 2022, and has already gained recognition as one of the top 1% globally by listennotes.com. Koko invites a diverse range of guests to her show, including entrepreneurs, business owners, dating experts, therapists, TV personalities, and CEOs. Today, Koko is renowned for empowering women to elevate their standards in all relationships, especially the most crucial one—the relationship they have with themselves.
We would love to know the story behind your podcast, “Boujee Best Friend”, and where the infamous #WhatWouldKokoDo comes from?
My journey with social media, the kind we know today, started when I moved to Miami right after the pandemic. I used to live in New York, pursuing a career as a makeup artist because I've always loved making women feel beautiful. Before, I focused on makeup content on social media, but when I moved to Miami, I wanted to reinvent myself. That's when I started posting various lifestyle videos. And let me tell you when I posted the infamous "no coffee walk date," my life changed forever. You always hear people saying that one video changed their life, and that's exactly what happened to me.
Among my friends, I was known as the go-to person for no-BS advice. When I started sharing my thoughts online, my audience started telling me that they literally think, "What Would Koko Do," whenever they find themselves in tricky situations. So, I created an Instagram series that's been going strong for the past 2 years, every Tuesday and Friday. It's become one of the main pillars of my brand, and those are the funniest days! I answer around 30-50 questions and let me tell you, it's a blast. We cover topics like first dates, friendship drama, finances in relationships, and even cheating. The topics are juicy, and I really care about my audience. I get messages every day saying, "You changed my life." That's why I do what I do.
But here's the thing, I realized that I couldn't go into depth when answering questions on IG stories. That's when I knew creating a podcast was the next natural step for me. I studied Journalism and was always intrigued by the media world. And as for the name of my brand? Well, I'm not shy to admit that I want the best things in life. Some might call it boujee, but for me, it's just who I am. So I became your ‘Boujee Best Friend’. I work super hard to make my dreams come true, and I want to inspire my audience to do the same. I'm also on a mission to eliminate any shame and guilt associated with wanting to be treated like the true queen you are.
What messages do you aim to share with your audience through your podcast?
I strive to inspire my audience and motivate them to pursue their desires and dreams. I want them to demand the best and never settle for anything less. I'm all about seeing people succeed, especially women taking the lead. I want them to prioritize themselves and never let anyone dim their shine. They need to hold themselves to a high standard and approach life with that kind of attitude.
But at the same time, I also want to remind them to be kind to themselves. We can be hard on ourselves, especially when we're perfectionists or driven individuals. We might not have achieved all our goals just yet, but that's okay. We're all on our timeline, and what's meant for us will come our way when the time is right. So, don't worry and trust that things will fall into place.
As you reflect on your 1 year anniversary of the Boujee Best Friend podcast, what areas of growth have you witnessed in yourself?
In the past two years, I've experienced more realizations and personal growth than I did throughout my entire twenties. Earlier, I mentioned receiving messages from my audience saying, "You changed my life." But to be completely honest, it's my audience who is changing my life. The conversations I have with my guests have led to tremendous personal growth for me. Without my dedicated audience tuning in week after week for new episodes, there wouldn't be a podcast, these conversations wouldn't happen, and I wouldn't be experiencing such profound growth.
Surrounding yourself with people and engaging in conversations that inspire you to be the best version of yourself is incredibly powerful. I've become much more open-minded and understanding as a result. I've come to recognize the incredible power of our own minds. Now, I prioritize my mental health and always strive to put myself first. When I take care of myself, I can be a better friend, girlfriend, daughter, and content creator.
On your podcast, you shared your journey with endometriosis. What advice or insight can you give to other women who may be going through something similar?
During my regular gynecologist checkup, my doctor dropped a bombshell on me: I had a huge 9cm cyst on my ovary. At that moment, a wave of thoughts flooded my mind: "Why me? What did I do to deserve this?" I had been making a genuine effort to eat healthy, exercise, and improve my lifestyle. So why was this happening to me? And it made me wonder, why is there such a lack of awareness about endometriosis.
To my surprise, I soon discovered that 1 out of 10 women have endometriosis, yet many are unaware because it can go unnoticed without any symptoms, just like in my case. This revelation compelled me to share some crucial advice with all the ladies out there: make regular visits to your gynecologist a habit. Don't wait until something feels off. Trust me, in my own experience, if I hadn't discovered the cyst in time, it could have caused significant damage to my ovary and potentially led to fertility issues. It's better to be proactive than to risk the unknown.
If you're currently going through a similar situation, I want you to know that it's absolutely okay to feel scared and to give yourself the time you need to heal, both mentally and physically. Take care of yourself. Rest assured, you will come out of this experience stronger than ever. There's something truly empowering about the journey of recovery.
You work to empower women through your various platforms. Has there been a pivotal moment in your own life that impacted the way you communicate with your audience?
When I made the move to Miami, everything changed for me. It was like a fresh start, a chance to create a whole new life. After living in New York for seven years, I was ready to hit the pause button on the constant hustle. As a makeup artist back then, I was used to long hours on shoots, lugging around heavy equipment, and always being on top of organizing and cleaning products. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the beauty industry, but I knew I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try something different.
Moving to Miami allowed me to step outside of my familiar territory and explore new possibilities. It was during this time that I also discovered what kind of content I truly enjoyed creating and what resonated best with my audience. It was like a light bulb moment, finding that sweet spot where my creativity met the enthusiastic response from my followers. It was liberating to break away from the norm and dive into a world of endless possibilities.
It’s easier to live life authentically. LESS worrying what your life looks like on the outside, MORE noticing how you feel on the inside. What makes your soul happy? Do more of that.
— Kornelija Slunjski (@kokobeaute) December 19, 2022
Confidence is something women struggle with every day. How can women work through these moments of insecurity?
When it comes to confidence, I always emphasize that the best way to build it is by keeping the promises you've made to yourself. Start small and create a list. Write down everything and tick off each item once you achieve it. It could be as simple as making your bed every day, hitting the gym, tackling those emails you've been avoiding, or starting a new project. Before you know it, you'll realize that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Seeing that you've followed through on everything you committed to will make you feel like a rockstar. Once you establish a habit of consistency, you can set bigger goals and dreams for yourself. For instance, if your goal is to start a podcast, write it down and work backward. Conduct research to identify the necessary steps to launch your podcast, such as getting a microphone, choosing a podcast name, brainstorming topics, inviting guests, and releasing episodes weekly.
If you want to succeed, consistency is key. Hold yourself accountable. Often, we go through life on autopilot, feeling like we're not in control. But the truth is, you are in control. Think of yourself as the boss of your own life. Just as you would complete all tasks assigned by your boss at work, you can do the same in your daily life. If someone else has achieved it, there's no reason why you can't do it too.
Article Credits
Boujee Best Friend’s Socials:
Spotify: Boujee Best Friend with Kornelija SLunjski [Koko]
Apple Podcast: Boujee Best Friend with Kornelija Slunjski [Koko]
Instagram: @boujeebestfriend
Tiktok: @boujeebestfriend
Website: boujeebestie.com
Koko’s Socials:
Instagram: @kokobeaute
Twitter: @kokobeaute
Youtube: @kokobeaute
Photography Credits
Photographer: Olga Miljko
