Camila Mendivil: bullied into blogging

Though I’m a fan of San Diego’s flourishing influencer scene, I didn’t know that some of them are as young as 15. I reached out to Camila Mendivil to ask how she accomplished her skyrocketing presence in the digital space. Mendivil explained, “I started my blog Rendezvous with You in summer 2017. That’s also when I started focusing my Instagram page on fashion and posting more photos of my outfits. I’m 15, and I live in Chula Vista.” That means she was only 12 when she started cultivating her online presence.

When I asked her why she decided to create a blog, especially at such a young age, she responded, “My blog and Instagram actually all came about as a response to being bullied. After hearing rumors about myself, getting picked on, and being excluded, I really wanted to make a statement and inspire others also struggling with bullying. I put my creative energy into styling outfits as a way to rise above the bullying and show others that you have to be yourself and love yourself no matter what others say or think about you.”

Mendivil wants her blog to feel like a casual “get together” or a coffee date with a friend, just chatting about shopping or skincare tips.

Mendivil was born and raised in San Diego. What she enjoys most about our city is that there’s always something to do outdoors, such as going to the farmer’s markets, hiking, or strolling around Little Italy. Her favorite local boutique is Chycas Boutique in Eastlake. “They really get to know their customers, and if they don’t have a particular style or item that you’re looking for in stock, they try their best to get it in the store for you.”

I asked Mendivil how her blog has evolved over the years. “I feel like my Instagram posts have evolved over time from just being focused on fashion to now posting about beauty, makeup, and lifestyle. On my blog, I try to make a dedicated post about bullying every October, which is anti-bullying month.” She recognizes that her audience is young and that they struggle with bullying on social media, so her underlying goal has always been to spread awareness and help those going through hard times.

Mendivil highlighted some of her favorite brand collaborations to date. “I recently styled a few looks for Rue21, and it was such an awesome feeling to hear that they liked what I created and wanted to partner up. Another one of my favorites is Revlon. Every time I receive a package from them to create a makeup look, it feels a little unreal. It really empowers me to keep working harder.”

Of course, I had to ask her what a perfect day in San Diego would look like. “My ideal day in San Diego would be breakfast at either Café 21 or Great Maple. Then I’d head over to Fashion Valley and look around Bloomingdales for an outfit. I’ll take a quick coffee break and grab a “Best Drink Ever” from Better Buzz as I make my way to Zara. For some pampering, I’ll make an appointment at Rinse Salon for a haircut and get my nails done at Tippy Toes in Hillcrest. (I can’t wait for them to reopen!) To end the day, I’d probably grab dinner at Cucina Urbana, North Italia, or Buona Forchetta. I love Italian food. And for dessert, a scoop of honey lavender ice cream from Salt & Straw and a walk around Little Italy (and can’t forget to take photos for social media along the way.)

You can keep up with Mendivil on Instagram, on TikTok @Camila.Mendivil, and on her blog, Rendezvouswithyou.com.