The rise of social media has significantly impacted the world we live in. Today, influencers have the power to shape cultures and set trends for their respective demographics. From fashion to politics, social media is a never-ending rabbit hole. There are so many people and organizations to follow, like, and subscribe to that it can be hard to keep up with the latest trends. With many people, including celebrities, relying on social media for their livelihoods, it can be tough to stand out and become a successful influencer. Self-proclaimed foodie, blogger, dog dad, and IT guy Raginald Paz has managed to do just that. With over 31.5K followers on Instagram alone, he’s known for his expertise in food, travel advice, and LGBTQ+ culture.
Ragie’s journey as a social media influencer has been an interesting one. Growing up, he was always fascinated by food and the cooking process. His parents were great cooks, and he organically inherited their passion for the kitchen from a young age. As an adult, Ragie combined his two great loves, food and IT, and started documenting his journey on his IG account. Ragie is also an avid explorer of cultures and cuisines from around the world, and he chronicles his food experiments on his IG during his frequent travels around the country and the world.
“I do not have any specific preference for taste, so I eat pretty much anything and everything,” Ragie shares. As part of his food advocacy efforts, Ragie samples food from different restaurants in different parts of the country and posts his thoughts about them for his followers’ awareness. These videos generate a lot of engagement and questions about the food he posts—other fans comment with recommendations for similar dishes in other locations or their own recipes for the same dish. Overall, food unites a community and creates a safe space for discussions about different cultures.
While his passion for food may attract fans and followers, Ragie’s relatability keeps them glued to his channel. Ragie uses his platform to blog about his day-to-day experiences as a “regular” American trying to balance his job as an IT consultant and his responsibilities as a dog dad, husband, and family man. He does not even try to create a perfect life but shares everything, from the good to the bad, the happy and the sad. Ragie believes you do not have to be a famous person with millions of followers to influence people. Instead of waiting until that happens, he believes you should strive to do everything in your power to pursue what you are aiming for in life.
Besides his fascination with different culinary cultures and cuisines, Ragie is also an avid toy collector. He has amassed a considerable toy collection over the years and is especially proud of his Funko Pop collection, where he has Funko Pop figurines that range from a replica of his French Bulldog to Buzz Lightyear and Woody from the Toy Story franchise. It’s a wonder-world of sorts when you follow Ragie’s content on Instagram.
Growing up poor but surrounded with love showed Ragie that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, and that’s what he strives to convey to his audience. By sharing his story with thousands, he hopes to inspire someone to believe that the sky’s the limit regardless of their current circumstances. While that may sound simplistic, Ragie is proof that a mindset change might be the only thing standing in your way of happiness and success.“I used to not believe in myself and give up easily,” he admits. Ragie adds that his success manifested when he became more positive and started believing he could. That’s the message he always conveys to his audience and one he hopes to continue spreading to an even bigger one for many years to come. Follow Ragie on Instagram to learn more about his story.