Style Secrets from Bolivia’s Top Fashion Blogger – The Big Brown Eyes

Some time ago, I wrote about whether starting a blog in Bolivia is worth it, emphasizing how important it is to have more and more local bloggers in our region. I also discussed why I recommend that individuals and companies dive into the blogging world.

During my search for Bolivian bloggers, I discovered Ana Lucía Gutierrez (The Big Brown Eyes Blog), a well-known fashion blogger not only in Bolivia but also internationally. Without hesitation, I decided to invite her to Mclanfranconi.com for an interview to share her experience.

I’m truly grateful to Ana Lucía for not only being my guest but also for sharing her story, which I hope will inspire many others to venture into the world of blogging.

A fashion blog from Bolivia? How did you come up with the idea?

Ana Lucía: I asked myself the same thing many times – a fashion blog from Bolivia? It seemed like a huge risk because three and a half years ago, no one was doing anything like this in the country’s fashion scene.

I completed my master’s degree in Fashion Marketing at Parsons, The New School of Design in New York, so working in fashion was always my goal. If you’d asked me five years ago what I’d be doing, I would have said: a stylist, fashion producer, photographer, editor.

What’s the best thing about being a blogger?

Being a blogger allows me to dabble in all these areas. I launched www.thebigbrowneyes.com after much research, design testing, and content analysis.

How did you promote your Bolivian fashion blog? When did it take off?

Ana Lucía: It took me quite a while because when I started The Big Brown Eyes, my goal was always to let my work speak for itself. I didn’t want to be known personally; I wanted people to like my content without knowing who I was behind it.

For two years, I kept it very low-key. This was crucial because it allowed me to understand which topics people were most interested in and what resonated with them.

Many assume my blog took off when I started showing myself and posting more personal content, but that wasn’t the case. My blog really gained traction during the second year of Bolivia Moda when I didn’t yet have Instagram and many didn’t even know who I was.

What was the biggest challenge you faced with your blog?

Ana Lucía: The biggest challenge was getting people to trust my work. At first, many doors were closed to me because people didn’t understand the influence that a blogger could have on social media and in the fashion industry. It’s easy to base opinions on likes or page visits, but the most important thing is to show the quality of your work and your professionalism. That’s what sets you apart.

How do you see the future of blogging in Bolivia? Will it grow?

Ana Lucía: Absolutely! We’re growing slowly but surely. There are more and more bloggers with diverse personal styles and unique perspectives, making the field much more interesting.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone wanting to start a blog, what would it be?

Ana Lucía: I’ve said this before to people who ask me about starting a blog. The most important advice I give is: only start if you’re serious about it and intend to turn it into a career. Blogging isn’t about posting pretty pictures, getting lots of likes, receiving approval or gifts, or getting applause from people. It’s a tough career, just like many others. It requires time, dedication, a willingness to learn, and a lot of courage to break barriers in a space that people in Bolivia still don’t fully value.

How do you organize your daily life to maintain your blog?

Ana Lucía: There isn’t a day that goes by where I feel I have enough time to do everything. Between creating content, uploading posts, taking photos, seeking inspiration from social media, and answering emails, the day flies by.

I get a lot of support from my family, and my team—especially my photographer—helps me brainstorm new ideas regularly.

What do you love most and least about blogging?

Ana Lucía: For many years, I was reserved, and connecting with people was difficult for me. Blogging has allowed me to meet incredible people who understand and accept me for who I am—photographers, producers, models, designers—people who live and breathe fashion, just like I do.

That’s definitely the best part about blogging—meeting new people every day who share your passion. The hardest part was the initial struggle—the criticism, negative comments, closed doors, and the self-doubt of not knowing if I was doing things right. I didn’t have any fellow bloggers to guide me at first. Being the first, I had to navigate it on my own.

What are your favorite tools to promote yourself?

Ana Lucía: I love Instagram! It’s my favorite platform because I’m very visual—I love photography and enjoy having a clean, neat aesthetic. I like showing snippets of my life with quality over quantity.

Your fashion blog has grown a lot worldwide. How has your personal brand evolved?

Ana Lucía: My personal brand is now very solid. After three and a half years, I know who I am, what makes me unique, and what image I project to my readers. More importantly, I know what I have to offer—quality, professionalism, and work done with love.

How do you see yourself in 10 years? Will you still be a fashion blogger?

Ana Lucía: Absolutely! But in 10 years, I’ll be not just a fashion blogger, but so much more! I have many dreams to fulfill, and I see this as just the beginning.

About Ana Lucía Gutierrez: Born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, on May 15, 1985, Ana Lucía studied Business Administration at the University of Richmond and graduated with honors from Parsons, The School of Design in New York with a master’s degree in Fashion Marketing. She launched The Big Brown Eyes in mid-2012, aiming to offer a window into good style and keep her followers connected with both national and international fashion. The ultimate goal of TBBE is to provide an escape from the everyday world into one of creativity, fantasy, and a love for fashion.