BenSpark
Today I add a little International love to the mix and talk with one of our UK based members. Let’s get this started. Could you please. tell the readers about yourself?
Vicky
My name is Vicky Allison, hello. I’m a twentysomething from Lincolnshire in England.
I’m a writer and adventurer figuring out life, with a big love of pop culture. Blogging, to me, is an art and a lifestyle that allows me to express all things and thoughts in my pop culture world.
I’m also a human-guinea pig, a method-writer if you will. I have and will test, photogragh and write about all manor of things if it makes a good post (including piercings, scars, tattoos, skinjuries, online dating, movies, gigs, permanent make up, home hair dressing, shoes, flying lessons, laser eye surgery).
There’s a million different sides to me, as you get older you learn to embrace them all, call me a welly-wearing arty, geeky, make-up-celeb-anti-fashion junky, country bumpkin. I never do the done thing.
I believe in following your dreams and looking good whilst you do it (without spending tons of money).
My qualifications and clark-kent jobs have dabbled in sales, life coaching, psychology and journalism. One day I’ll get one of those degree things too.
My inspiration and heroes can come from anywhere, and at the moment include Perez Hilton, Kandee Johnson, Lady GaGa, Steve Irwin and Freddie Mercury.
I watch all my tv online and don’t own a telly. My favourite things included animals, driving and music.
BenSpark
Love the descriptions and also the fact that you don’t own a TV. Me I couldn’t do that, I like my TV too much. Maybe a little too much. How about you tell us about your blogs?
Vicky
My blog is http://www.anticelebrity.net – it’s:
* A blog… The blog of art, adventure, pop culture and life, aimed at twentysomethings and may contain anything.
* A word… ‘a portmanteau word, combining antidote and celebrity, meaning to be an antidote to celebrity.’
* An attitude… getting the best out of your life and world, cherry picking all the great stuff, feeling and looking amazing, and living your dreams (without fame dysmorphia). Read more in:Manifesto 8596.
* A brand that is always evolving, and so interested in everything that it’s selling point is that it dosen’t have just one niche.
BenSpark
Portmanteau? I had to go look that one up. I have never heard of that word. I would have used amalgam but I probably would have been wrong. Well, that is where reading too many comic books gets me. In fact I had to look up at least four words in that last answer. I guess I should ask the next question. Why did you start blogging?
Vicky
I started out writing a book called ‘The Anti Self Help Book’ but blogging offers a more instant medium to get my work out there and respond to what’s going on. Now it’s going from strength to strength.
BenSpark
What is your stance on Disclosure?
Vicky
That’s a toughy… I get sent some cool stuff and there’s no disclosure rules (as yet) for the UK.
I only write about things I genuinely use or like or recommend and the same applies to reviews, freebies and affiliate links.
Personally, because I’m not ‘selling out’ as such I don’t feel disclosure is appropriate or inappropriate on my site.
BenSpark
What is your favorite feature of SocialSpark?
Vicky
The marketplace – I love the way the opportunities are split into easy to search sections.
BenSpark
What should be improved on SocialSpark?
Vicky
Sometimes there’s little features that don’t quite seem as organic as they could be, like how to become part of a network or successfully use Benspark make good money- but that’s just me and I am blond!
BenSpark
When you figure out how to use BenSpark to make good money let me know. LOL. I’ve been trying to figure that out for five years. I must be missing something. Making good money is a goal of mine so now maybe we should talk about what you think is the Ultimate Goal for a blogger, in your opinion?
Vicky
Mine is to be a successful blogger like Perez Hilton, but for the generation that sees there’s more to life than celebrity. I see my website as my ideal lifestyle and job. Perez is my hero.
BenSpark
What is the first thing you do when you fire up your browser?
Vicky
Check my email and Twitter to see what’s going on.
BenSpark
If you could spend one year blogging about a particular thing what would it be and why? How would you keep it fresh?
Vicky
That would be pop culture, because it encompasses all the things I love – music, art, film, culture. I mix up pop culture with other influences to come up with posts that combine a bit of self help, with a film quote tied together with a connection my brain made. So fun.
BenSpark
What is your best blog post ever?
Vicky
Ohhhh… a heartfelt post I did about Love and Relationships that got a lovely comment on it. All the right song lyrics, pics from Photobucket and points in my head came out great.
You can read it here: http://www.anticelebrity.net/blog/2009/7/26/she-wants-him-he-wants-me-i-dont-want-anybody-and-everyone-w.html
BenSpark
I read that one, I can see what you mean about blending pop culture with a little self help. Good stuff. With all of your different interests you must get some weird searches. What are some odd keywords people use to find your blog?
Vicky
People search song lyrics and I use song lyrics for many of my titles -it’s been spitting out lyrics to Lady GaGa’s Bad Romance in various forms recently.
BenSpark
Outside of blogging what are your other interests?
Vicky
Exersize and living a healthy lifestyle, beautiful food, animals (my two bunnies Perno and Black), horse riding, cinema, reading, great conversations, and thinking.
BenSpark
What is amazing about you?
Vicky
Hmmm… my brain. It’s hyperactive and makes all these links between pop culture and life that allows me to put out interesting writing.
I’m constantly trying to understand it! I owe my funny old grey-matter everything for making me who I am today and processing all of life’s offerings.
BenSpark
Ipod or other music player?
Vicky
Creative ZEN V MP3 player -it is so hard working and hardly ever needs charging and puts up with sweaty, rainy runs.
BenSpark
Pirates or Ninjas
Vicky
Ninjas – Power Rangers stylee.
BenSpark
You are a pop culture queen so tell me what is your Favorite Movie? TV Show? Book?
Vicky
Moviewise – I love films with the ‘hero thing’ like Wanted, Star Trek, Iron Man… The best movie ever is Transformers – the animated one. My favourite tv show is Being Human and I recently met the cast on a preview for the new series – I was invited to that because of my blog.
BenSpark
Oh you just captured my heart with your love of Transformers. I am an old school Transformers fan from 1984. (You are in your 20′s, hmm were you born after ’84, oh I feel so old.) But Transformers are my thing you can even see a post about my love for them on BenSpark.com titled Wear Your Passions. Oh you have to watch the reviews that AAlgar does, they are a riot!! Oh, oh, back to the questions (wish we had more time to talk Transformers) Do you play Facebook games?
Vicky
Nope, total waste of time. Now that Twitter updates my Facebook status I rarely go on it to be honest.
BenSpark
Favorite Blogs?
Vicky
BenSpark
Favorite Podcasts?
Vicky
Believe it or not… I haven’t really gotten into podcasts yet.
BenSpark
Vicky, thanks so much for talking with me today. I’m happy that you are part of the crew and I encourage everyone to go and visit Vick’s blog and read her wonderful writing.
