I’m Oriana Findlay, a lifestyle influencer, home cook, sometimes model and (professionally speaking) a writer.
The first thing people ask me when they meet me is, “where are you from?” Honestly, I have always found this a difficult question to answer; I am Zambian/English on my mothers side, and Zambian/German on my fathers side. In addition to this, I was born and raised in Zambia. The question has become infinitely more troubling lately, however. Having spent 7 years in the United Kingdom, I now find myself in the Middle-East. With this in mind, I have become accustomed to thinking of myself as a nomad.
My background, perhaps, is even more convoluted than where I am from. I spent three years studying Religion and Politics at King’s College London followed by a masters degree in Fashion Journalism at Conde Nast College of Fashion. During these years I spent my free time interning, volunteering and posting on Instagram all day, every day. After completing my Masters degree all the hard work paid off as I found myself in front of the figuratively gold plated doors of Vogue House working for GLAMOUR magazine. After 6 fabulous months at GLAMOUR, I sadly said goodbye as I found myself immersed into something (that kind of mistakingly) became my full-time job: becoming an Instagram influencer.
So how did I find myself in Middle-East? Well, after spending nearly two years in lockdown in a very small cottage in Richmond, my husband and I decided that we needed a change of scenery. Fast-forward to the present-day and I find myself smack bang in the middle of Abu Dhabi. I could say I am shocked but aforementioned, I have always considered myself some sort of nomad. It turns out though that I am also a “digital-nomad.”
So, besides partying on yachts and drinking overpriced coffees in aesthetic coffee-shops, I now find myself as a fully-fled influencer based Abu Dhabi but creating content for the world. I am super grateful to have already met some amazing people and worked with some fabulous brands in the few short months that I have been here; and as always, I am super grateful for my followers and anyone that comes across my blog. I hope you enjoy this space and I hope it inspires those who love travel, fashion, food and beautiful things like me.
Always,
Oriana xx