Maddy Steele interviews Dionne Crowe
If sheÔÇÖs not already, sheÔÇÖs about to be your favourite influencer on social media. Dionne Crowe (@diocrowe) has worked with the likes of Rebellious Fashion, PrettyLittleThing, Oh Polly┬áand┬áMeshki. SheÔÇÖs living your dream life as an Instagram blogger chasing fashion from city to city with a wardrobe from your dreams. Her following is growing by the thousands, yet she has remained incredibly down to earth, and I was lucky enough to interview her for you lovely readers.
1)   Describe your normal day!
Being self-employed, I try my hardest to keep some form of routine going throughout my day (although there is no denying I spend some days watching YouTube in my PJS┬ásnacking for England). Truthfully, every day is different, some days are spent doing a lot of admin, emails, chasing up┬ácollars, and scheduling. Others are spend shooting content, attending events, and attending shoots. ThatÔÇÖs what I love about it though. Each week changes meaning sometimes I have super chill weeks and others I am so busy!
2)   How do you stay grounded when your work life is Instagram? How do you find the balance of work and free time?
As crazy as it sounds, I much prefer Instagram as my job. For example, I spend all day most days working on content, replying to messages doing emails etc. So, when I am out with friends or my partner I am on Instagram less than them. Because for me I do see it as a job now, so, when I’m out socialising I┬ádon’t like to be on it for social purposes. Obviously as I’m self-employed itÔÇÖs hard to have that cut off point in the evening. If I’m cooking or chilling itÔÇÖs hard to turn off, and┬áwhen I have content scheduled in on an evening etc that makes it difficult. But, I think I do a pretty good job of balancing the work and free time aspect of the job!
3)   Do you ever feel yourself comparing yourself to others on Instagram?
I think being a female within this industry itÔÇÖs pretty hard to not look at all of the stunning women out there and compare yourself to them but I do really try to remind myself that the reason I’ve got the lovely followers I do is because they like MY content and MY style. So, you’ve got to remember: we are┬áall different and you┬ácan’t have it all!
Instagram is full of loads of beautiful women who look like they have it all, but people need to remember that Instagram┬áand social media in general is a┬áhighlight reel of the best parts in someoneÔÇÖs life. People rarely show the hard days or the time of the month where all you wanna do is cuddle┬áon the couch with a┬ápacket of┬ádigestives and a cuppa!!
4)   How did you progress from your average Instagram user to a public figure with a 41K following?
So, I began using Instagram years ago and remember just posting whatever I wanted I never used the app as the platform I use it now. I┬áwould love creating good content even though I had only about 2,000 followers but I loved styling items etc. In┬áOctober┬á2017, Rebellious Fashion┬áwere the first brand to ever email me and I┬áremember I couldn’t believe that I could work with a brand who I would often┬áshop from myself, I was so┬áexcited! From there I began working with more and more brands and my account just continued to grow. From October 2017 to August 2018 my followers remained quite low for a ‘blogger’ however in September 2018 I feel I really found my niche in the market and my account grew from 6,000┬áthen,┬áto 40,000 now. It was crazy!
5)   If you could only have 5 items in your wardrobe what would they be?
- My Levi Mom jeans. I literally live in these and they go with everything.
- Perspex heels. You’ve┬áprobably seen from my Instagram but I pair these with everything. They are so comfy yet make every outfit look so chic.
- My grey PLT basic joggers. When I say the minute┬áI enter my apartment these go on I’m not lying. I never thought I would wear joggers out the house actually as an outfit but these are the best thing EVER. Plus, soooo comfy.
- A statement bag. I am not a massive designer girl, I actually love high street fashion but I do LOVE a statement bag. I think a nice bag can turn a very basic and plain outfit into something very fashionable. My mini Gucci Marmont bag has gotta be my fave.
- A black blazer. Wear it with mom jeans, black turtle neck, and boots for a day time look or stick some cycle shorts, perspex heels and big belt for evening drinks. It’s a wardrobe staple.
6)   What are your 10 makeup bag must haves?
I am not a huge makeup girl, I like to be quite natural but these ten products are my holy grail:
– Estee Lauder Day wear┬á
– Elizabeth Arden ÔÇÿ8-hour CreamÔÇÖ
– MAC ÔÇÿGive Me SunÔÇÖ┬ábronzer
–Iconic London┬áhighlight drops
–NARS┬áblush in shade ‘orgasm’
- Sleek eyebrow kit
– MAC┬álip liner ‘stripdown’
–Charlotte Tilbury┬áliquid lipstick ‘platinum blonde’
– Two Faced┬áÔÇÿExtreme Lip InjectionÔÇÖ┬álip gloss
– Urban Outfitters ÔÇÿAll Night LongÔÇÖ┬ásetting spray
7)┬á┬á┬áWhat is your hair regime? (itÔÇÖs gorgeous)┬á
Aww thank you! I try to do a hair mask one a week, my current┬áfavourite is a Mark┬áHill┬árepair one (your supposed to leave it on for two minutes but I sleep in mine…) My hair always feels sooo┬áfresh after it. I try to only wash my hair once or twice a week and curl it – thankfully my hair holds curls really well so it lasts all week!
8)   Your worst fashion failure? 
Oh god, black see-through leggings. Say. NO. More.
9)   How did you start working with brands and which have been your favourite so far?
As I mentioned earlier, Rebellious Fashion reached out to me and it all really went from there. I got reposted on bigger accounts and from there more brands would reach out to me. I always said at the beginning when I first started in this industry that my dream is to work with PrettyLittleThing, Meshki, and Oh Polly. Within the last three months I have worked with all three on a regular basis and I still get super excited every time.
10)What personal achievement are you most proud of?
Probably just believing in myself and ignoring anything that would get in the way. Taking the leap and going self-employed is a massive risk and I am proud of myself for going for what I want and working towards my goals!
11)What are your goals?
My goal is to continue to grow in this industry, but to always remain relatable to my followers and for girls to know they can message me and they will always get a reply. I pride myself on being a normal girl, and not someone who thinks because they work with brands and get free things they’re any┬ábetter than┬áanyone else. I want to┬ákeep promoting and working with brands I love and meeting amazing┬ápeople.
12)Any advice/ final words for our readers?
Be consistent. That is the main thing I say to girls when they message me and ask for advice. Believe in yourself and find your niche, keep putting out content that you love and that makes you happy and I guarantee that will reflect in your personal growth. My DM’s are always open for help 🙂