Meet Melanie Zajac | Health + Wellness Devotee & Content Creator

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

Hi Melanie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
To me, “risk” is about asking yourself, “Well, what happens if I try?” and “What happens if I don’t give up?” and following through with whatever it takes to find out. Typically, the word “risk” has a negative connotation around it, implying that there’s an opportunity cost at hand, but to me, risk in itself is a symbol of success; there is no loss in taking risks, simply different versions of growth and prosperity. When I began to take risks in my personal life and career, is when I felt as though I was truly opening up to the human experience. Whereas before, I mindlessly conformed to society’s standard, aiming to camouflage myself in a crowd, I was now deciding to move in my own direction, and in doing so, starting to experience life through my own eyes.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken in my 18 years of life has been starting my health and wellness account on social media, @wellnesswmel. It was the fall of 2021, and I had just begun to identify myself as someone who was consistent with living a healthy and balanced lifestyle after years of mistreating my body and ignoring my health. I followed all these different nutrition and fitness accounts that I looked up to at the time, and though I had been meaning to start my own, the idea of sharing my health journey with other people made me hesitant: I didn’t quite feel qualified enough, and I was worried of judgment. Nonetheless, in September, I decided to take the leap… After all, there was no harm in trying! I posted a picture introducing myself to the account and then continued over the next couple of months posting a combination of food reviews, recipes, workouts, and Miami content. It’s only been six months since, and I now have over 1,200 followers, multiple social media affiliates, and am being invited for interviews, such as this one!

Taking the risk of starting the account, despite my worries, has guided me to a path in life where I feel comfortable and proud making my own decisions. I have felt the support of so many through this account and made so many friends along the way. Most importantly, however, by taking the risk, I learned something that I will value for the rest of my life: the version of myself that people like the most, is the version that is truest to me. That being said, take risks! You never lose, you just learn.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As I continue to develop my brand as a health + wellness enthusiast and content creator, I can say that what sets my work apart from others is that it is personal. Someone very important in my life once introduced me to the quote, “The most personal is the most creative,” said by Martin Scorsese; What I can offer to the health and wellness community is a perspective unlike any other, because it has been built by personal experiences. Conversations around nutrition and fitness can be quite sensitive, and therefore, I only tread in waters in which I have swum myself, contributing a vision that is unique to me but can just so happen to resonate with others. As simple as that may sound, you’d be surprised how easy it is–particularly in the health and wellness realm–to fall prey to trends and fads, and let them infiltrate your identity. Keeping my brand true to myself is something I will always take lots of pride in.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is my dream interview question! Hmm, as far as restaurants go, I’d undeniably cover my four absolute favorites (which all happen to be plant-based): Vegan Cuban Cuisine for guava + cheese pastelitos and cortaditos; Organic Food Kings for vegan shrimp tacos; L’Artisane Bakery & Bistro for gourmet croissants, and Planta Queen for their incredible Torched and Pressed sushi roll. In terms of places to visit and hang out, I’d unquestionably take them for a drive down Old Cutler–with a pit stop at the Pinecrest Farmers market–shopping at Bayside Marketplace, swimming in Las Olas Beach, a visit to the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum, and a stroll through the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. The places I’ve named dropped here are only a few, but on my Instagram you can find endless Florida recommendations, both inside and outside the city of Miami.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh my, the list of people I would like to shout out is endless! There are so many wonderful souls I have had the pleasure of encountering whose support, mentorship, love, and encouragement have formed a tile in the mosaic that is myself. I would like to take this opportunity, however, to thank the generous, selfless, and passionate women in my life: My beautiful grandmother, who was so gentle and caring with her presence; My mother, who has taught me unconditional love and has always wanted what’s best for me; My aunts (one of which is a yoga instructor and the other a former cycling-instructor), who have taught me the importance of balance and harmony; My lovely girlfriends, who have never failed to cheer me on in any circumstance, and all the amazing women within my fitness community, who show me how to be strong both inside the gym and out. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for you all.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswmel/

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wellnesswmel Email: wellnesswmel@gmail.com LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/wellnesswmel