Hi, I’m Sonia! If you found this page by searching for a Bay Area influencer, welcome. I’m a lifestyle creator based in the Bay Area, a Silicon Valley techie by day and a creator by night. I share fashion, designer look alikes, events and real life over on Instagram at @soniabegoniablog, where our community has grown to more than 176K, and here on my blog. This page is my story: where I started, where I’ve been featured and what I’m building next.
Recently, OK! Magazine called me “the Bay Area influencer building a creator empire nobody saw coming.” Honestly? I didn’t see it coming either. So here is how it happened.
How I Became a Bay Area Influencer
The Bay Area is home, and it has shaped everything about how I work. This is a place full of builders, and it taught me to dream big and then build those dreams in a way that lasts.
I started this blog in 2016 as a personal space. It was a place to share outfits, the things I was learning and, frankly, a lot of my random thoughts. At the same time, I was working in tech, and I still do. I create before work, after work and on weekends, because I love it, and I kept showing up even when nobody was watching.
Over time, that personal blog turned into a real business that I run alongside my tech career. One of the proudest moments of my life was the day my creator business started earning more than my tech job. If you are in the middle of building something and it feels slow, I promise the quiet seasons count too.
As Featured In
I’m so grateful to the editors and writers who have shared my story. Here are a few of my favorite features:
- OK! Magazine: Sonia Begonia: The Bay Area Influencer Building a Creator Empire Nobody Saw Coming
- Bay Area Women Magazine: Sonia Begonia: Redefining What a Bay Area Influencer Looks Like
- Women’s Insider: From Influencer to Icon: How Sonia Begonia Built a Life (and Brand) Women Aspire To
- Woman’s Week: Bay Area Creator, Sonia Begonia, on Fashion, Events, and Community
- VoyageLA: Rising Stars: Meet Sonia Begonia of San Jose/Beverly Hills
- The Modern Day Wife: Meet Our IT Women of 2022: Sonia Begonia
Pinch Me Moments
There have been so many moments along the way where I had to stop and remind myself that this is real life. A few of them:
- Walking into the Emmys.
- Being named a top creator for rewardStyle.
- Attending the Gracies and meeting Kristen Wiig.
- Working with brands like Disney and Walmart.
- Watching my creator business grow past the paycheck from my tech job.
What I Create
My whole brand comes down to one belief: you don’t have to spend $5K to look like $5K. That is why so much of this blog is about designer look alikes and affordable alternatives to the pieces everyone wants. If you are new here, my guide to designer alternatives for less is the best place to start.
I also share the less glamorous side of life, because I think it matters. That means career growth, ambition, the times things don’t go to plan and a lot of laughing at myself. I believe failure is part of the process, and it never makes you a failure.
Why I Love Being a Bay Area Influencer
People ask me all the time how I balance a tech career with being a creator. Honestly, the Bay Area makes it possible. My content is a lot like the Bay itself: grounded, a little tech adjacent and very community driven, with plenty of fashion and fun mixed in.
I’m proud to be a Bay Area influencer, and I also know that creators here often get less access and less spotlight than creators in other markets. Changing that is a big part of why I do what I do. If you want to meet more amazing local creators, check out my lists of San Francisco influencers you need to follow and top San Francisco bloggers.
Events and Bringing Creators Together
Some of my favorite work happens in person. I have hosted influencer activations at the Park James and the El Prado hotels, and I bring women together through my What She Said events at W Hotels in Dallas and Scottsdale, plus influencer gifting suites in Los Angeles.
When I plan an event, I always start with the brand’s story and the result they want. Then I build the location, the guest list, the programming and the pacing around that. Next, I’m working toward launching an official event production and planning business to help Bay Area brands partner with influencers at scale.
The Women Who Inspire Me
My biggest inspiration is my mom. I’m also inspired by Kim Kardashian and Michelle Obama. All three remind me to keep going.
My Advice If You Want to Become an Influencer
Be consistent and keep showing up, especially when the progress is quiet. And if you have been thinking about starting a business or a blog, just go for it. Start now. Don’t wait. I wrote more about growing an audience in how to become Instagram famous.
Work With a Bay Area Influencer
I love working with brands, hotels and venues on sponsorships, events and content. If you are a brand looking for a Bay Area influencer, I would love to hear from you through my contact page.
And if you just want to hang out, come say hi on Instagram or Pinterest. Thank you for being here. Regardless of what brought you to my little corner of the internet, I’m so thankful.
