Meet Elle Cunning | Social Media Influencer

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

Hi Elle, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think risks are essential to truly living. Taking risks keeps life interesting, it keeps me on my toes. My biggest fear is being stagnant, and risks don’t allow for that to happen. Taking risks has quite literally led me to the life I’m living currently. If I wouldn’t of taken the risk to post a video online, if I didn’t take the risk of traveling solo, and many other things… not only would I not have my career, I wouldn’t be myself. I wouldn’t have the blessing of living the life I do. I genuinely believe that taking risks and living my life like each day could be my last is how I am so truly happy. I take risks for the sake of it. If they don’t pan out my way, at least I went for it. Everything happens for a reason! Life is a crazy and if you’re not taking it risks I don’t believe you’re truly living.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think the most important thing to note about me and the way I brand myself is that everything is completely authentic. Nothing is fabricated or forced. As, maybe, cheesy at it sounds, I think what sets me apart is being myself. I’m a very impulsive, free spirited person, if I do say so myself. From a very young age, I realized many of my peers around me, as well as most people of all ages, are so consumed by everything and everyone around them. Whether they’re concerned with others opinions of them, or worrying about others happiness over their own, I noticed most people weren’t truly living for themselves. And I decided I wanted to do the opposite. I wanted to do the things that made me happy and through that make others happy. I try my hardest to put good energy and good vibes out into the world and usually it comes back to me. I think that translates in what I post of my life on the internet. The challenge is that there will always be people that try to tear you down, I’ve experienced my fair share of that. But the strength comes in learning to ignore jealousy and other ugly colors when they show through. I’ve learned that life is a game and you have to play to your own advantage. Show grace and kindness on the journey to everyone you meet, you never know what someone else is going through. Live every day like it’s your last, embrace the crazy turns life throws at you. I took the crazy path life presented me and ran with it, and turned it into a career, I, myself am still not even sure how I pulled that one off! I would encourage everyone to live like you’re the star of the show, do what makes you happy, be kind to those around you, and make some memories. And if you’re like me, take a million pictures to look back on when you’re 90 years old of a time in your life that almost doesn’t feel real.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting, we would hit all the spots I love. I love the beach, Laguna is my favorite I’d say. A classic beach day would definitely be in the cards. We would have to stop at Brueggers Bagels for a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich on an onion bagel for breakfast. Head down to Laguna, lay out at Crescent Bay or Shaws Cove for a bit. We would take a drive down PCH to see the coast line while blasting music with the roof off my Jeep. It would be so fun to go on a whale watching excursion with them, I love going on the smaller boats to be right up close with the dolphins and other sea animals. We would have to go down to San Diego for a bit. I spent summers in Mission/Pacific Beach as a kid, I would love to show them around there, grab some Better Buzz (the Mint coffee is my favorite!), go see the view at the Sunset Cliffs, and definitely get dinner at Tweety Thai! Maybe stop at the Flamingo Deck in Pacific Beach for a fun fruity drink! We would absolutely have to go to a concert on their visit. A few venues I love are the House of Blues in Anaheim, North Island Credit Union Amphitheater in San Diego, and the Five Point Amphitheater in Irvine. I know they would love to go to Disneyland, and I would be all in! Grub on some popcorn, a churro, pretzel, corn dog… maybe even all of the above. Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout, Indiana Jones and Big Thunder Railroad are my favorite rides. We would without a doubt stop into some of my favorite little places around my city. For food, I love the milk tea boba from Boba Fiend in Yorba Linda, the salmon from Urban Plates in Brea, Fisherman’s Wharf on the pier in San Clemente, my favorite acai bowls and green juice is from Nekter, Urth Cafe in Laguna is delicious, Robeks Smoothies has my favorite avocado toast, and there’s so many more. I’m always finding the most random things to do, so honestly I’m not sure what else we would get up to but I’m sure it would be a fully packed week!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I don’t think I’d be anywhere without everyone around me. Success is nothing without those who love you to celebrate with. The big and little victories all feel special that way. Growing up, anything I wanted to pursue, my mom allowed me to. I think it gave me confidence in trying new things and taking leaps even if I fall on my face. My Nana always said “Give em (H)ell” and I believe that stuck with me. My Papa always tells me he loves seeing me grow up and find what i’m meant to do and start really living my life, and in many circumstances he’s been the reason I was able to do some of the crazy things I have. I also have amazing friends, many of which I’ve met traveling across the country for a concert or whatever reason I’ve spontaneously decided I need to do. My friends are so incredibly supportive and encouraging, no matter where they are in the world and how many mile separate us at any given time.