Go Off
Quenlin Blackwell is no longer the baby-faced girl on Vine, but we’re all still watching. She gets candid on intimacy in the spotlight with Patia Borja.
Interview by PATIA BORJA
Photos by EMMA DREW BENSON
Since her first seven-million-view video at age 13, Quenlin Blackwell’s infectious main-character energy has catapulted her into a whirlwind of cameos, campaigns, and most recently, a bit in Rachel Sennott’s buzzy HBO show I Love LA. If there’s one thing the everywhere-It girl knows, it’s how to keep people watching—and dancing—along.
Patia Borja: With everything on your plate, where do you escape to in your mind, real or imaginary, when you need a break?
Quenlin Blackwell: Thneedville, the town from my ultimate comfort movie: The Lorax.
Patia: That feels like such a joyful way to recharge. What’s the last thing you did just for yourself, no work involved?
Quenlin: I got a facial! I love my esthetician so much. She’s made me so happy with my skin. It was technically for work, but it always feels like self-care when I see her.
Patia: People often assume that things like confidence and creativity come naturally when it comes to work. What’s something that requires more thought and intention than others might realize?
Quenlin: When I was younger, creating content was more spur of the moment, but as I’ve grown up, I’ve started to think through everything I do. I want to use my platform to entertain, but I also want to maintain a healthy personal life, so I’m more selective about what I share.
“When people recognize a cool reference I make, I feel like I’m part of a club of people who have their finger on the pulse.” — Quenlin Blackwell
Patia: Both of us have transformed digital influence into something tangible, shaping our own lanes beyond the Internet. How has your audience informed your evolution, and in what ways have you surprised yourself along the way?
Quenlin: We coexist, if that makes sense? I’ve pretty much stayed chronically online for the past decade—surprising myself with my ability to stay sane, for one—but the Gen-Z zeitgeist is so nuanced that it feels like it’s the best way to adjust and to continue to grow together.
Patia: Coexisting with your audience is the best way to put it. I feel the same way. I’ll see people comment on my posts who’ve been there since I had 1,000 followers, and it’s wild to think about how much we’ve all grown together. But then I’ll post a meme that’s so 30-plus coded, and people are like, “What does this even mean?” It’s such a fine line between staying authentic and staying ahead of the curve. How do you balance creating for yourself and creating for them?
Quenlin: I’ve been blessed to be able to remain truly authentic to my inner voice with everything I put out. The most powerful part of anyone who is resonating with their audience isn’t their humor, style, or aesthetics—it’s their authenticity.
Patia: What role does fashion play in your personality beyond the screen?
Quenlin: Fashion helps me express how I feel inside. I feel like a cool, sexy, smart woman, so I dress like one and when I dress like one, I act like one.
Patia: I feel that completely. Do you have a recent favorite experience that just feels like you? Something that made you feel cool, sexy, and smart all at once?
Quenlin: Being seen for my level of taste makes me feel all of these things at once. What people don’t realize is that curating is a full-time job. Finding unique and underground cultural moments before they go mainstream is like a scavenger hunt to me. When people recognize a cool reference I’m making, I feel like I’m part of a club of people who have their finger on the pulse.
Patia: What’s something you refuse to compromise on?
Quenlin: How I treat other people. I’ll never be too good, too famous, or too cool. Every person deserves to be seen and loved, and no amount of status excuses anyone from that.
Patia: People often talk about a “dream life,” but what’s a tiny, everyday moment that makes you feel like you’re on the right path?
Quenlin: Waking up knowing I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Patia: If you could create a restaurant concept based on your sense of humor, what would be on the menu?
Quenlin: I’m not sure how to base a menu on my humor, but the idea of sitting with my girls at a dimly lit Italian restaurant talking and laughing over red wine sounds like a ki.
Patia: Do you ever think about legacy? If so, what’s something you want to leave behind in your creative space?
Quenlin: Inspiration. I want people to feel like they can show the world exactly who they are, and I want them to be celebrated for it.