Alysse Caldwell
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Isaiah Pinkney has only had an account on the mega social media site Instagram for a few years and already, the Towson University sophomore is making a name for himself and his fashions with thousands of followers.
“Social media is my thing,” Pinkney told the Baltimore Watchdog. “When I was in high school is when I really discovered my passion for streetwear and sneakers; sneakers are what makes the outfit.”
As a senior at Mount Pleasant High School in Wilmington, Delaware, Isaiah was named “‘most fashionable’ out of my entire class and there were hundreds of us.” It was then that he “realized ‘Yo, I can do something with this!’”
“I think that’s when my confidence boomed, and I decided to try more things,” Isaiah said. “I didn’t post too many flicks to IG (Instagram) when I first created my page. I wanted to get my numbers up. I sent out a bunch of friends request and messaged friends to follow me. After that, I started posting.”
A Pew Research Center 2015 study found that social media usage increased nationally by almost 1,000 % in eight years for people between the ages of 18 and 29. Experian Simmons consumer insight service found that more than 98 % of college-aged students use social media.
As Pinkney tapped his foot on the gray carpet, he began to candidly describe life growing up in Delaware, where his Wilmington friends gave him the nickname “Brozay,” which he proudly uses with each of his social media accounts.
“Brozay! That’s really what they call me. Ask anyone!” Pinkney said with a huge smile. “It’s like saying ‘Hey Bro’ but the ‘Zay’ adds the sauce.”
Pinkney said he always had a niche for style and what it takes for a man to relate to his wardrobe to feel his best. Dressed in a long sleeve casual polo and the latest Raf Simmons sneakers, Pinkney explained that with every dollar he earned, he would set aside a specific amount to splurge on. The other half of his earnings, he’d save as “cushion” for the days ahead, he said.
“All I know is social media,” said Pinkney, laughing. “But, at the same time, when I think about what it can do for me as a person who loves fashion, it’s like ‘okay I can work with it.’ And now, I’m addicted to making my accounts even more eye catching to other users.”
Since creating his Instagram profile, Pinkney said he has acquired more than 1,000 followers solely on Instagram and has a combined total of about 3,000 followers through all his social media accounts, including Facebook, and Twitter.
Pinkney and many social media users make it a goal to acquire a certain number of followers specially on Instagram. The most recent and “creative” way of accomplishing this goal is by creating hashtags, which means using any word or phrase behind a pound sign. This approach has been shown to substantially increase the users’ amount of “likes” and followers, officials said.
For many millennials, the more followers they gain, the higher their “social media status” becomes. As a result, they get more rewards, regardless of whether the online popularity equates to the actual life offline.
Fellow social media enthusiast Patrick Rader said it means a lot to acquire a large number of followers on Instagram, or any other social media site.
“It’s like being the popular kid in your class, like everybody knows you because of how you deliver, you know?” Rader explained. “The more followers you have the more you’re recognized, and, from that, a bunch of other things start to come your way like [promotions] and a bunch of other things that you never expected.”
Pinkney said he vividly remembers how and when he acquired a high social media following.
“It honestly took no time,” said Pinkney. “A bunch of friends and I started doing shout outs for shout outs and after that the followers just starting coming in. After that is when I started putting the work and posting every day, sometimes more than once a day just to keep my content flowing.”
Entering Towson at the age of 17, Pinkney set the standards high for himself in several areas of his life, including with social media.
“Brozay is tough!” said fellow Instagram follower Abraham Diallo. “Our styles aren’t the same that’s why fashion is the mega platform that it is though. “There’s no bias, take what you like and add it to what’s yours.”
Using comedic memes, seasonal styling techniques, and videos describing his “fit,” Pinkney’s number of social media followers continues to increase. Each article of clothing, down to his shoes, is described in his story post on Instagram so that each viewer will feel as though he or she have had a personal conversation with him.
Pinkney said he charges $50 to put together five outfits for clients and $80 to assist with wardrobe, hair, shoes and other styling for special events. So far, he has worked with 17 people.
Tasha Thomas is a friend of Pinkney who has long followed his journey via social media.
“We’ve known each other since middle school so l knew who to get when my little brother needed help getting suited for prom,” said Thomas. “I reached out to Isaiah, okay Brozay and told him my brother needed help to get ready and pick a really dope suit and shoes for prom.
Thomas’ brother, Cam, “almost cried; he looked so sharp,” she said.
With a his phone unlocked, resting in his right hand and its screen glaring with a page of men’s peacoats, Pinkney said he is entering the “Fall Fashion Cycle” of his social media accounts and is preparing to add an entirely new level of content by creating live videos to allow followers to interact and give instant feedback.
Pinkney said his goal is to soon attract several brands to sponsor his social media site.
My goal is to create enough content to where my name is recognized on more than one platform,” said Pinkney. “I don’t want to just be stuck. I want to really push myself and the ‘Brozay’ brand.”