Meet Angelica Talan Talan | Content Creator| Fly Angler|Adventurer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angelica Talan Talan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angelica Talan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to bring people together and to share really cool & fun things to do in and around the city. When I first began my business in the day, I hadn’t seen many people talk about places to go locally, or taking road-trips to places close-by on social media. I wanted to share insider tips about fun events like book signings, red carpet events and fun stuff to do with and without your kids. I wanted to build connection and community in a safe space where everyone felt welcomed and supported.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a multi-faceted lifestyle content creator and “inspirer”. My goal is always to provide others with fun, exciting information to help them plan the coolest things to do or to try different experiences in their lives, especially with friends and family. I want people to see me and think “if she can do it, I can do it too.”  I think what sets me apart from a lot of others in the social media influencer industry is that I don’t just belong to one “niche”. I launched my first blog 15 years ago and wrote about mommy and me fashion and the best baby products to use and about places to travel with your family. From there, my brand evolved. I was invited to be a spokesmodel and brand ambassador representing various companies including restaurants, hotels, beauty products, clothing and tourism bureaus while writing and sharing photos of luxury lifestyle items like outfits, executive suites, VIP concert and sports game tickets, museum openings and et cetera.  I’m currently being recognized for my passion within the outdoors and my interest in fly fishing. I have been very fortunate to not be stereotyped or pigeonholed into only one category like “just a print model” or “just an influencer”. I really enjoy doing everything and representing brands that make me feel good and proud to be affiliated! I love representing brands who are inclusive and in alignment with diversity in all of its forms. I’m a visionary, a content creator, a model, a mom and a wife. I am in love with traveling the world and storytelling. I enjoy modeling,  acting, writing, adventuring and fly fishing. I treat everyone like they’re my best friend and I share things that I hope will make people happy and encourage them to live their best lives.  I believe that attending events, networking and building organic and authentic connections have all been important ingredients to my personal and professional success. Although, I have an online business–I believe in-person connections have made all of the difference. There’s a ton of time that goes into content creation: photography, videography, writing, editing, storytelling and so much more. It’s a full time job and I have to take breaks from time to time.
Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is to do my best to balance the fun stuff throughout what can often feel like hustle culture. Take breaks when you feel burned out and don’t fear changing course if you feel like it’s time to try something new.  Most importantly, learn that it’s ok to ask others for help. You can outsource the things you’re not good at or that you don’t feel like spending precious time doing. For example, I’m not good at administrative and busy work so I outsource it. I have an assistant who helps clear my inbox by answering inquiries and organizing my social calendar and my editorial calendar. I also have a personal stylist who shops and tells me what to wear for campaigns, trips and features. As much as people might think shopping is something I enjoy–I have others who help me get ready for events and shoots.

What would you like the world to know about you and your brand, Angelica?
I’d like the world to know that I work with my readers and audience in the forefront of my mind. They are the reason I’m happy doing what I do. I imagine sharing experiences with each of them as if they were my best friend. I invite everyone to come with me on my journey. And I try to make our time together fun, adventurous, creative, authentic with thoughtful intention. I want everyone to feel the love and zest I have for what I’m doing in life in their own lives. My goal is to be a good storyteller with a focus on positivity, representation and inclusivity across all platforms in the most beautiful and accessible way. I want you to feel like we’re besties and I want you to trust the process in a way that makes you want to pursue your best life! I want everyone to feel a collective energy of LOVE.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
O-M-G! Atlanta is such an amazing city for literally all things FUN & so much rich history! A lot of people might not realize this–but good fishing & fly fishing can be had in this great city! I would take guests to a few of the state parks to do a little hiking and fishing. Afterwards, we would grab a coffee and a snack at Finca to Filter Coffee on Hamilton Avenue. I would plan our itinerary around a live concert outing at the Coca-Cola Roxy, one of my favorite concert venues in the city. Followed by a late dinner at Canoe, one of my favorite waterfront dining experiences.
If your guests are in town a little longer, I recommend treating them to brunch at either Busy Bees or Toast on Lennox (both black owned). The three must-see-museums would include: The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, The World of Coca-Cola and of course The Georgia Aquarium. I’d also include a Segway Scooter tour of downtown on one of the days. And then a fun evening exploring Truist Park. You can’t beat a good Atlanta Braves baseball game!  Several other restaurants I’d treat my guests to would include Ormsby’s because the owners are amazing and the food is divine, The Garden Room and Chops Lobster Restaurant–chances are you’ll run into a few familiar faces (aka hometown celebrities) at these places as well as enjoy amazing food!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Wow! This is the part where I get to look back at all my accomplishments and get teary eyed because that’s exactly what I’m doing. The rush of emotions flowing through my body right now is absolutely electric right now. First, I’d like to thank God because I’m a very spiritual being and I do believe in God and in Universal Energy. I believe that energy is magnetic and has attracted all of the right people in my life in God’s timing. I want to give a shout out to my mom and dad because they both supported me so much in keeping my dreams alive when I was growing up in a very rural small town in NW Ohio. I want to thank Hollywood director Anne Fletcher for seeing me at my most vulnerable audition ever and awarding me with a speaking role in the movie “Step Up”. I’d like to give a shout out to Whitney Stringer for being my first publicist when I began my first blog. Shout out to Jen Ripple, Publisher of DUN Magazine who was also very influential in publishing my story as a beginner in the fly fishing community. Shout out to Heather Hodson of United Women On The Fly for being my biggest mentor in learning how to cast and in teaching me all of the basics of fly fishing. She took me under her wing and taught me how to fly fish. And because of Heather, I was recently introduced to and invited by Becca Sue Klein of All Kids Fish here in Atlanta in partnership with Orvis & The Chattahoochie Riverkeeper to be the Keynote Speaker and serve as a mentor to urban youth for their August event. This is a great program to help inner city youth learn how to fly fish and take home a kit to continue their journey in fly fishing. Without further adieu, I also have to give a shout out to my husband Dave for always being so supportive and allowing me the flexibility and freedom to pursue what was considered an unconventional career that has become kind of mainstream now. Major shoutout to my kids, Ella & Logan. I am beyond blessed that I get to be their mom and they have inspired me to build a brand that is basically a narration of our everyday lives. And of course,  I am thankful for you and your magazine for featuring me! Shoutout to all of the Shoutout Atlanta Readers! Heyyy!

Website: www.angelicainthecity.com

Instagram: @AngelicaTalan

Twitter: @Angelica_Talan

Facebook: @AngelicaInTheCity

Youtube: @AngelicaInTheCity

Other: TikTok: @Angelica_Talan

Image Credits
First image of me in black dress: Albert Pootie Ting Second Image of me with wine glass: Nina Palazzolo