Social Media Account Ran By FIU Student Show Miami Beauty, While Helping In Pandemic

Yansall Rasquides / Contributing Writer

A social media account on Instagram highlights the beauty of Miami using a series of pictures, which has now grown into a powerful voice for those who have been severely impacted by the pandemic.

FIU senior Daniela Thoelke along with her partner Miguel Zuleta, an alumni from St.Thomas University started the social media account @lifestyle_miami  back in March 2014. 

With over 1 million followers, the account showcases the beauty of Miami by showing local restaurants, beaches, and true Miami culture. 

Since then, the social media page has been an outlet for non-profit organizations, small local businesses, and anyone in need of resources due to the economic and social stresses brought by the pandemic.

“We made a poll saying we’ll meet any local Miami business that is hurting right now. So then we would go to these restaurants and basically promote it on our account with pictures and videos.” Thoelke said  

@Lifestyle_Miami’s story did not begin this way though. 

“We just basically started posting Miami Beach photos, and it started hitting on the page because it’s something that is relatable…,” said Thoelke.

The account went viral during hurricane Irma, Maria, and Harvey in 2017. Direct messages were filled with pictures and videos of the flood and damages caused by the hurricanes. 

“People were just tagging us and sending things to post because it was a time of crisis for us you know…it’s cool to have that type of impact with the whole community because we’re all going through something,” said Thoelke. 

Ever since, Zuleta and Thoelke started the social media account they have been featured on podcasts, such as iHeartRadio shows.

In 2019, supporters of Lifestyle Miami organized a donation drive to help those impacted in the Bahamas by hurricane Dorian and once again, their followers came together and helped out. 

“We got over 70,000 products of cans of food, clothes, bedsheets, diapers, everything, and a bunch of water. It was crazy to see the amount that everyone brought,” said Thoelke.

When asked if they ever imagined that Lifestyle Miami would be so successful Daniela responded.

 “Honestly we both say to each other that we feel like normal people, we love doing what we do but we feel like two normal people we don’t feel like anything else. Sometimes people even come up to us and ask for pictures. It’s cool.” 

A lot of work goes into Lifestyle Miami behind the scenes, says Thoelke who is a full time online student at FIU studying digital broadcasting. 

“I prefer planning events over the weekends since I have work and school throughout the week. But with Miguel as my partner we both can manage Lifestyle Miami at any time with our phones.” Thoelke said.

And although the unexpected success has been wonderful for Thoelke and Zuleta, they have more goals they want to achieve with LifeStyle Miami.

“We have a YouTube account right now, but I hope to one day make a whole show and continue to help and spread awareness for those who can’t. We have big plans because we simply love what we do,” Thoelke said.