For Arizona-based lifestyle and travel creator Aiesha Beasley, content creation has never been about chasing trends. Instead, her work focuses on connection — to place, to people and to the everyday moments that make life in Arizona feel meaningful.
Born and raised in Tucson, Beasley moved to Phoenix in 2019. Her move to Phoenix marked a turning point in her content, shifting from fashion and lifestyle toward exploring the city and sharing local experiences with her growing audience.
“I share fun things to do in Arizona, cool food spots, local experiences, and honestly just my life here,” Beasley said. “I started my Instagram account, @aieshabeasley, in 2017, so it’s been about nine years now… It has evolved many times, which I think is natural for any creator.”
Finding her niche through exploration
Her creative roots go back over a decade. Beasley began blogging on Tumblr around 2010, long before influencer culture took shape.
“Storytelling and creating has always been a huge part of my life and something I’ve been passionate about for a long time,” Beasley shared.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Beasley experimented with short-form video for the first time. That’s when her content really started to take off. She describes her account as Arizona lifestyle-leaning.
Rather than pointing to one defining post or viral moment, Beasley sees her social media journey as an ongoing evolution.
“When I started sharing online, there was no influencer culture or expectation around growth or monetization,” Beasley said. “It was simply about sharing what I loved in the moment.”
Connection over perfection
At the heart of Beasley’s work is her relationship with her audience.
“I want my content to be inspiring, informative and aspirational, but also real. I love sharing both the highs and the lows, showing that nothing is perfect,” Beasley said. “If people can relate, feel inspired, or discover something new through my content, that’s a win for me.”
Some of Beasley’s most rewarding moments have come from traveling with brands and helping small businesses gain visibility.
“I love spotlighting places I truly believe in and seeing my community show up and support them,” Beasley said. “It never gets old.”
What’s next
In the short term, Beasley aims to continue evolving her main platform while developing her newer account, @arizonaplaces_, into a go-to hub for local spots and experiences. Long term, she hopes to broaden her creative pursuits with ventures in acting, modeling, and other fields.
Alongside her co-host, Beasley’s podcast “Thriving Loudly,” which focuses on empowering BIPOC individuals to embrace their voices through authentic conversations, is preparing for an all-new season.
Through years of building her platform, Beasley says she has learned the importance of patience and resilience — lessons she hopes resonate with others.
“I’ve learned that if I put my mind to something and stay consistent, it’s possible, even if it takes time,” Beasley said. “I didn’t build this overnight. It took years, and it’s still evolving.”
Follow Aiesha Beasley’s Arizona adventures on Instagram @aieshabeasley. For more information on “Thriving Loudly,” check out @thrivingloudly on Instagram.