Western Life & Style Trailblazers
Western Life & Style Trailblazers
Episode 6: The OG of Western Influencers, Brianna Bigbee, Joins Us
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In this episode, we chat with the original western influencer, the one who changed the game, the Cosmopolitan Cowgirl herself, Brianna Bigbee.
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Hello. Welcome to another episode of Western Life and Style Trailblazers podcast. I am so excited for today's episode. My name's Allie Dee. Joining me is Nicole Nava. James, what's up Nicole?
squadcaster-226d_4_10-10-2023_164300Hello?
Track 1And we are your co-host for the show, as you know, because I'm sure you've been listening to us every single episode. Right guys? Well, today we have a really special episode. We have one of Nicole and i's most favorite people in the entire world. Brianna Bigby is gonna be In-house. She's gonna tell us all about all of her experience and everything that's gone on as her being what Nicole and I call one of the first Western influencers really ever to hit the scene. You may remember her as the bleacher babe. She's now the cosmopolitan cowgirl
squadcaster-226d_4_10-10-2023_164300I remember seeing the Facebook page at first, and then when Instagram was starting to get a little popular, but the Facebook page we created where, I mean, there was that resale group. Oh my gosh. I was on that every week. I kind of addicted to it. It was fashion was going on and she is one of the OGs for sure.
Track 1For sure. So I'm so excited to have her on the episode today. Without further ado, let's bring in Brianna Big B. All right. I am so excited for this episode. We have one of my most favorite people in the entire world. Brianna Bigby in the house.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459Yay.
Track 1Yay. Welcome to the show.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452Thanks for having me on. I'm so excited. I don't do many podcasts, so I was honored to be asked.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459my gosh. We are fangirling over here. Over you,
Track 1totally. We were like, Oh my gosh. We are so excited to have you because that's one thing Nicole and I were talking about is just how important your role has been in the Western industry, especially when we're talking about Western fashion and influencing and like you really were the person that started it all. And I'm not even being overdramatic about this. This is like the God honest truth. And that's where we wanna start with our conversation with you is because What we are calling you, the OG of influencers. Like how did that even come about? How did you think of your idea? Tell us what you did at first. take us back to that.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452So when I first started, my husband made the American, he had previously made the N F R in 2006, which I, I wasn't dating men, but I knew him. And, um, when he made the American, I had never been to a big event. So I was immediately like overwhelmed with what am I gonna wear? You know, we go to local rodeos. In the Southeast and it's nothing comparable to the American, So, when I started, the Bleacher Bags page, it was just honestly a place for me to connect with other women, and kind of figure out what to wear on a budget because I definitely did not have the means to go and purchase. Thousands of dollars worth of boots and accessories along with the outfit. So really it was just a way for me to connect with the women in our western industry, and there really wasn't a platform for that. So I just kind of saw a need and I started my resale page, which kind of turned into its own thing. and it just kind of went from there. It wasn't really something I was. Looking forward, it just kind of fell into my lap and I just really loved connecting with other people. So it was fun. And then it just kind of took off by storm and, and really the community, a lot of people would sit there and say that I started a lot of stuff, but really the community did because they kind of caught onto it and everybody got together and would share tips and you know, where to buy things. And just supporting like Locals and just watching the boutique industry grow with the Western industry that was incredible. So I feel like it's just a whole effort on everybody. it was something that was just needed and it took off.
Track 1And I feel like. The reason why you were so successful from the get go and why so many people just became obsessed with this whole platform that you created, because I truly feel like you didn't have anything that was like, what's in it for me? Like you literally made it to create a place for other women in the western industry to come together and talk about all the things that we love to talk about. It started with fashion, but you know, We would kind of bring up anything, and I just feel like that was such an important thing, that it wasn't like a What's in it for me thing. This was totally because it truly was something that was a need and you just created to make a community.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459well with you talking about your style and how you first started, how would you describe your style? Like when you're booking with collabs, when you're booking with boutiques? I know usually, I mean if you consider yourself an influencer, which you are, you describe your style? Um, 'cause it is a unique style and I know everybody has their own, but how would you describe yours whenever you're talking to these business owners?
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452My style is more classic, mixed in with trendy. I try to be budget friendly and splurge on the things that I love, like to invest in like a good jacket. I am all about beautiful jackets and blazers that I can pull outta my closet for decades. I think it's easy for people to, you know, go and splurge all this money on outfits that they only get one wear outta, but I wanna get as many wears as possible. So definitely, budget friendly, but investing in good pieces and just timeless. some of 'em, my outfits can be plain to others, but I love dressing 'em up with the jewelry that I have. The boots, the bags, to me, accessories is just everything. And my outfit is just like a blank canvas for me. So, I just tend to have more fun with things like that and just spend a little more, or invest in good pieces that I can wear forever.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459Oh, I love that. I also kind of noticed that you kind of have a little bit of, and it's, this is like my favorite go-to look a little bit of like a Ralph Lauren kind of classy vibe. Like I love that. So I do go to your page for In Spokes. I'm like, oh, wow. I love the way she put that blazer and then, you know, the, the button up underneath it. Like, I just love the way you put it together. And that's, I feel like that's a little bit more my vibe, but more neutral colors too. you know, I love that.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I love just the conservative style that comes with the Western industry. I just want something like my kids will be proud of, my family will be proud of, and I've always loved that about the western industry and that falls into the Ralph Lauren look. It's just timeless. It's classy. It's. Conservative, just polished,
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459Yes.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I've always thought that was so attractive to me.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459I love it. I love that
Track 1so congrats on being, by the way, one of our 30 over 30 winners. So talk to me
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452Thank you.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459I
Track 1that and.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I was so excited. I
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459had a lot of nominations. Girl. You had a lot of nominations.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I was so shocked, but very honored. That was probably the coolest moment that's happened to me since becoming an influencer. I am so proud of my buckle. It's displayed in my bedroom. I'm just, I'm so proud of that.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459Very cool. so what we all kind of wanna know, and you've always been bleacher babe to us, like since day one, you've always been the bleacher babe. Talk to us about this name change. tell us, you know, kind of how that started, love your new name by the way, but just, just talk to us about that.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I am always trying to evolve and if something just doesn't Fit me in that moment, or I don't know. I didn't feel attached to the Bleacher baby anymore, if that makes sense. It was a season for me and I feel like I'm just a totally different person now. I'm always trying to grow and evolve and that was a really fun time. I learned a lot and had a lot of hard lessons, but I thought it was just time for me to kind of Embrace this new stage in life. And Cosmopolitan cowgirl was just, I'm such a mix of different things. I love the classic, polished businesswoman look with heels, but I also love the Western style and I also love being a mom and roping and riding. So for me, I felt like bleacher babe. It was time to like close that chapter and open up a new one. And it has been awesome. I feel like. Stepping back into it. I've just really enjoyed it and embraced who I am this go around versus when I did the Bleacher Babe, I kind of felt like just pulled in a bunch of different directions. I was more a people pleaser. Where now it's just, I'm okay if I don't, you know, have thousands of people love what I wear. It's what I love and it's me and you know, I, I just, I feel more grown up
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459Yes.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452and I just wanted to kind of like let it know, like it's just, it's a change for me and it's a change for my page and I'm enjoying it so.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459It is the best. When you get to that part, ally and I talk about that all the time. When we finally get to that point where you're like, I don't care what anybody thinks of me. I'm gonna stick in my lane. I'm doing my thing. I'm not even caring what others are doing. it's the best fulfillment for yourself, and it is just no worries. You're doing your thing.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I think with influencing you can just get burnout so easily and I was, I got burned out right before I got pregnant with my son. It was just, I felt like I was on a hamster wheel and just not doing things that I would normally want to do or wear or just, you know, I felt like you have a lot of pressure. Trying to put content out there just to be putting it out there. And I try to be authentic and I don't know, I just felt like it was time for a change and I needed to shift everything, including the name so I could have a fresh start.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459I love that. Well, you don't care about the likes anymore. You do it for yourself.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452yes.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459woo,
Track 1So talk to me about, as you said, becoming a mom and how things changed for you, going from being an influencer premo to now mom of two, what were some of the biggest changes that you saw and how do you have the time to do it all now?
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452After becoming a mom, it was no longer about me, and I was 32 when I had my first kid. So that was a big transition, not being able to go and do things, like I did before. But I don't know, it's just been the best thing that's ever happened to me. Any mother will say that it's, you know, you feel like you lose yourself, but in the best way and. I'm just starting to find who I am as a mom and in this new stage, again, just like I was with my page. And, um, we just get up and go and just try to enjoy life, try to be more disconnected from social media and more present in life. So I don't share as much as I used to. I try to get on there and connect with people, but it's refreshing just to put your phone down on a vacation and, and enjoy time with your family and see things in places. motherhood is very different now for me.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459No, we feel you, ally, and I totally feel you. I mean, I remember when all you were doing before kids is like recording every single thing and posting every single thing. Like that was like important to us. Now it's like, oh, I'll get to it when I get to it.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452Yes, I, the last trip we took before kids, I was in Mexico and I remembered like people had sent all these outfits for me to wear and I felt like the whole time we were on the trip, I was just taking videos and taking pictures and it just kind of took the joy out of it for me and I wanted to get back to like, I would normally do when I first started the page, and I felt like I had more, response from people when it was authentic versus just forced.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459right. The family kind of puts everything into perspective. family first, So recently you just hosted, a roping and it was the 58th annual roping that you and your family put on. Can you tell us what that is, what it's about? And I mean, 58, that is, that's a lot of years.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452from what we can tell so far, it's one of the longest consecutively produced ropings in the world. My husband's grandfather started it back in the seventies, and so his grandfather put it on for several years, and then Beverly Robbins took it over. I wanna say in the nineties when he no longer could do it. And so, Beverly was getting ready to kind of, you know, pass it on. And so my husband approached her and was like, I would love to. You know, take over and start doing this roping, because his grandfather had started it. He had already been producing his own rope in the Perry Bigby Memorial, for 10 years. So he thought he was finally ready, you know, to take on something like that. And it has been incredible. Me and Colt, we grew up together, but we met at that rope in. So we have a picture of him, my sister, and me, um, sitting there at the kids roping or the dummy roping and, it's just, it's a family tradition that we grew up going to. And so now it's come full circle that we have children of our own that, um, that are.
Track 1That's so perfect.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459I.
Track 1Well, it sounds like such a good time. speaking of events, you are planning to go to the N F R this year, so tell me more about your N F R trip, what you're planning. and what you think the trends will be this year.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I'm not a big trendy person. I don't fall into the trends because when I look back on my outfits, I don't wanna regret 'em. I love the way Jennifer Anderson is styled. It's, it's simple, it's predictable, but the girl can still look amazing like 20 years from now. Like you will still love her outfit. and that's really, My rule, I try to go on. I feel like you're gonna see a lot of more, polished looks. I feel like that is making a comeback and I'm here for it. Maybe it's not, but that's what I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go with my blazers. I feel like people are mixing a lot of casual with the polish look, which I'm here for. I really don't know what I'm gonna wear until I get there. Usually I like to shop, we like to do date nights. It's like a quick getaway for me and my husband, so we go for. Two days and we just shop and eat and my husband ropes at the World Series. So I don't know. I'm excited. I always look forward to looking at a fashion Posse page and seeing all of the beautiful outfits and hoping that I can at least. You know, being the running of having something worthy. But, um, definitely the more polished, I feel like the classic Ralph Lauren look is gonna be big as always, which is to me the whole Western style. Anyways, let me get this baby. She wants to be seen,
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459look at her. Hi.
Track 1Hi.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452Now her
Track 1goodness.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452is all I focus on now is their outfits.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459uh, same
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I look like I crawled out of a laundry hamper half the time.
Track 1so cute.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459That's how it goes. Seriously, all the time.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I hear tracker hats are the big trend and I'm here for it. I mean, anything that I can get away with, like yoga pants and a tracker hat, I'm on trend. I've been on trend for the past five years. If that's the case. But yeah, I definitely always look to Fashion Posse's page to get inspiration from the rodeos coming.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459yeah, they post a lot of good stuff too. We have, our hashtag Western life and style and a lot of people tend to post during the N F R as well. So then we will start sharing and so that kind of grew, I mean the last three years it kind of grew into something during N F R, so they'll start tagging that as well.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452I love it. Love it. I'm here for it.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459any upcoming projects, any huge collabs you got going on? Anything going on huge in your life that you're looking forward to or events coming up? I know you just had your roping, but anything else coming up for that?
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452Not really. I've really just been focusing on mom life. we do the World Series roping, which I always look forward to, but, uh, other than that, just planning Prescott's birthday, her first birthday in December, we fly in the day before her birthday. So if a flight gets to delayed, oh my gosh, I'm gonna have to come apart. you know, we're doing the mom thing, so.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459How cute. Um, Ally's Baby, Peka was born during the N F R as well, so that he was a little n f r baby. The fi her first, I remember we were, I was in the Boko phone call and she had her baby during the N F R
Track 1Yes. and
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452my son.
Track 1husband was not there. He was at the N F R
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459was at the n F.
Track 1came early, so he got to do FaceTime too. Um, yeah, for that whole thing. So that was kind of unexpected. Okay. So last thing we wanna ask you about before we let you go is, do you have any advice for, you know, girls that wanna become Western influencers or content creators or get in the game?
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452Put yourself out there. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and stay true to who you are. There is enough room for everybody in this space. And you know, when I started out I felt like I put myself out there and then you kind of, well, this person's doing this thing and it's working for them, and you kind of. Start to feel yourself influenced, and I really wish I would've just stayed true to who I was all along. but yeah, don't be afraid to ask and go for what you want either, be willing to provide, you know, a service for what you're asking for, and back it up and, be loyal to the people that are good to you. From the beginning. don't be afraid. I've always been the type of person, if I get it in my mind, I'm gonna do it. Like I'm just gonna do it. And so I've never let anything hold me back because there is so much opportunity out there. with the Western industry, like when I first started, I had so many people make fun of me. They're like, what is she doing? Like,
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459Oh my
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452Nobody, nobody was doing that kind of stuff. So it was just kind of odd, especially around here. but I was like, I'm just gonna go for it. Like, it makes me happy and look what it turned into. So I'm thankful for just going for it and not worrying about the criticism. Like that's one thing I've never, I I'll. Encourage criticism because I love, to grow and mold, but also just really trying to stick to my guns.
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459Very cool. Love
Track 1think that's so great. Yes. Well thank you so much for joining us today. We've been wanting to talk to you forever. I know you gotta go be with the kiddos and Nicole, your husband's probably ready to give you your two kids back and I have my two at home, so, but thank you so much again for joining us and we just wish the absolute best for you. We love you so much,
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452Thank y'all so
squadcaster-226d_3_10-10-2023_161459We love y'all.
squadcaster-613a_3_10-10-2023_161452for sitting through the chaos with me. I love you girls. Y'all amazing. Thank you.
Track 1Thank you all so much for joining us on today's episode of The Trailblazers podcast. Nicole, I was so excited to get to chat with Brianna, and I feel like I learned so much more about, you know, her process and her thoughts on the whole entire industry.
squadcaster-226d_5_10-10-2023_164441Yes, it was good to get, you know, deep dive, talk to her instead of how all of us just kind of think we know each other from social media, from our posts and our stories, when you actually can like sit down and chat with somebody. She's so real. I just love her.
Track 1Yeah, it was great. All right, guys. Don't forget to give us a five star review and subscribe to our podcast so you don't miss any episodes for me, Allie d and Nicole Nava James. We will talk to you next time. Bye-bye.
squadcaster-226d_5_10-10-2023_164441Bye.