IN CONVERSATION WITH ANNA SITAR

Interview by Jana Letonja

At 26 years old, Anna Sitar has an undergraduate degree in Engineering, a Masters in TV/Film Production and is a digital megastar with over 13 million followers. Pioneering an entirely new way to create and reach others, Anna sees her platform as a way to share her authentic self and hopes to inspire others to find their confidence and tap into their creativity.

jacket & skirt THE MANNEI
shoes PARIS TEXAS

Anna, you are a megastar on social platforms with a huge following. How and why did you start your social platforms?

My social media started a little corner of the internet where I felt like I could be myself and create a community for others with this shared dream. I started making videos in 2019 after I had moved to LA. Being a small fish in a big pond, I spent a lot of my early weeks of living alone and found peace in creating little lifestyle vlogs, transition videos and storytelling on TikTok where it slightly felt like no one could find my little keepsake. After a few months, my first video went viral and then a month later another, and a week later another. There was this incredible surge of young women looking for a corner of the internet where we felt like friends and shared everything from relationships to what coffee we were drinking. I was honored to be a part of that community and share my experiences with all my new and growing friends.

On TikTok, you have created your ‘I Don’t Want It’ series and lifestyle blogs. Tell us more on how you decide on your content and what is your usual process of preparing it.

My content truly is an extension of me. Even I never know what my community is going to get because my social media is as unexpected as life is. One day I am going grocery shopping and the next I’m riding unicycles. It’s a playful creative outlet for me too, so I love when I feel inspired and create content with a bit more of a cinematic twist as well.

full look MICHAEL KORS

What are the most important aspects of social media for you? 

Connectivity and authenticity. Being able to reach the community of girls who are just looking to make the most of their everyday and being able to share my most authentic and real, true experiences with them. As much as I think my videos are a form of entertainment, they’re also a way where I am able to communicate and interact with the most amazing community of people on the other side of the phone.

Social media, especially TikTok, has been subject of also many criticism due to its effects on young generations. What is your view on that?

TikTok has always been treated as an outlet for me. I think it has many benefits and allowed us to have access to more information at our fingertips than ever before. I have always felt like I could be myself there. There’s so many incredible creators making how-tos, informational videos, mental health check ins and so much more. I think TikTok truly opened the door to conversations that previous generations might have been afraid of or unable to have and cultivates a safe space for all of us to feel a little less alone.

dress MATICEVSKI
earrings KELLATI
rings LEVIAN, SIMONE
shoes ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

You’ve moved from Michigan to LA to start your career. How challenging has that been? And what positively surprised you about it the most?

The initial move to LA happened when I was moving to get my Masters. I could have never imagined the turn of events that came with having success on social media. It’s hard to say what the most challenging part is because with every tribulation there is a light at the end and I truly believe that. I think having a core sense of friends has always been a struggle. But with that being said, I have been so lucky to find friends through the internet. And even if we don’t share the same city, today’s technology keeps me so connected and in tune. And social media definitely helps me stay in the loop too. 

The most positive surprise about LA has been how much the city has brought me peace and made me feel at home. I think there’s a lot of stereotypes about LA being scary or intimidating or a difficult overall work/life culture, but I have been so fortunate to find my footing and my passions. I love my day to day, and being able to create and share what that looks like is the best part.

suit MICHAEL KORS
earrings LEVIAN
necklace SIMONE

This year, you’ve also attended many fashion shows at the Paris Fashion Week. How was the experience of sitting front row at the runway shows for you?

It has been surreal. There are definitely times where I need to pinch myself and wonder how I ended up in a room with some of the most talented people in the world. The shows are such an incredible experience and I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but my favorite part of every show is the familiar faces and relationships with the gals who work behind the scenes with the brands. They’re kind, talented and so passionate about their work. It’s inspiring to see how much attention to detail goes into every single one of the shows.

What do you love the most about fashion? What excites you about it?

I love that fashion is a chance to reinvent yourself and there’s no right way to do it. It is playful and exciting and fun. It allows me to show my emotions through the clothing I wear and channel inspiration from other aspects of my life into my outfits. That’s what’s been exciting me most, slowly, but surely curating what I consider to be my style.

You have a Masters in TV and Film production. Tell us more about this interest of yours. Will we soon be seeing you in this role?

I got my Masters in Film and television production after my degree in Mechanical engineering and wholeheartedly believed I would be the most passionate about the cameras and the organization. The strategy aspect of engineering would come in handy and allow me to problem solve quickly on set. But the more time I spent in school and strengthening my movie making muscles, the more I fell in love with writing and directing. The ability to tell stories and build worlds inspired me throughout my Masters career and the connection between director and actor made me want to better understand how to be a leader and communicate the emotions we were trying to evoke. It was empowering and beautiful all at once. I would love to be in the traditional media space soon, but since graduating from my Masters, I have started taking acting classes in Los Angeles and have a new found passion for the psychology of characters and creating the lives they live. I am hoping you see me in an acting role in the very near future, and down the line it evolves to returning to my writing and directing roots.

dress EVA TSABRIYA
jewelry UNCOMMON MATTERS
shoes ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Tell us one thing about yourself that we would be most surprised to hear?

Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. In college, I used to substitute teach at local elementary schools and loved being able to make a difference in the community and inspire students. My Masters program was actually a terminal degree, meaning I now have the credentials to be a college professor. I 100 % still feel like a kid right now, so there’s no way I would be a professor anytime soon, but I think it would be fun to work at a college in the future. I’m not sure if that is surprising, but it is funny to think I would be Professor Anna.

What can you share with us about your upcoming projects and dreams?

I have such a good feeling about this upcoming year. I am so looking forward to getting my acting career started and my feet wet in that space. I am so excited to have the opportunity to keep creating with my community and going on adventures. I have a couple really exciting projects that are in the works that I am not sure I can share yet. But once they are released, I know my friends online will be just as excited as I am.

In terms of dreams, I am wishing that everyone has the happiest year yet. I hope it’s filled with unconditional love and happiness. I hope you explore places you’ve never been and meet people who feel like home. I just want to see everyone doing what they love and being inspired by the ever changing world around them.

dress TORY BURCH
shoes PARIS TEXAS

talent ANNA SITAR @annaxsitar
photographer NICK RASMUSSEN @bynickrasmussen
stylist JORDAN GROSS @jordanshilee @thewallgroup
makeup SHANNON PEZZETTA @shannonpezzetta @aframe_agency
hair CHERILYN FERRIS @cherilynrachelle @maneaddicts
editor TIMI LETONJA @timiletonja
interview JANA LETONJA @janaletonja