In the ever-expanding world of social media, food influencers have carved out a special niche, offering their followers a taste of hidden gems, culinary adventures, and local eats worth trying.
Arizona native Kayla Rogers, known as @happymealennial on Instagram, started her foodie account during the pandemic. Her love for food and her local community runs deep, and that passion has become the driving force behind her social media journey.
How @happymealennial was born
Residing in the Valley with her husband, stepdaughter and newborn daughter, Rogers has always considered herself a foodie. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, restaurants—especially small, locally owned establishments—began to suffer. She saw an opportunity to help.
"I kept hearing about small businesses struggling, more specifically, Asian businesses were hit super hard,” Rogers said. “My husband is half Korean and my thought was, ‘What would life be like had this happened to his family?’ I wanted to help get the word out there… That’s where this all started.”
Like many food lovers, she often shared snapshots of her meals on her personal Instagram. But as time went on, she began to wonder if her friends were growing tired of her endless food posts. “What better than to make a separate account?” Rogers said. “Then the pandemic hit, businesses needed help, and here we are today.”
Connecting through food
While her original intention was to highlight and support struggling businesses, Rogers quickly realized that her platform offered something even greater: connection. Whether it’s discovering new restaurants, interacting with fellow foodies, or engaging with her audience, she finds joy in every interaction.
“I really love being introduced to new restaurants,” Rogers said. “After all, I am a foodie, and I enjoy seeing other foodie content.”
Beyond the food, her content provides value to her followers by showcasing must-visit spots, hidden gems, and authentic local eats. She hopes her audience walks away with not just recommendations but a deeper appreciation for the hard work that goes into every meal they enjoy.
A creative spirit at heart
One of the most rewarding aspects of building @happymealennial has been the opportunity for creative expression.
“I think I have discovered my need to be creative,” Rogers said. Having gone to trade school for broadcasting, she found her interest in editing, photography, acting and writing. Her creative pursuits have even led to unexpected opportunities—like participating in a Super Bowl Skittles commercial with Kurt Warner.
Over the past few years she’s also discovered her love for concert photography and has gotten back into writing. She’s had the chance to combine her love for music and photography by covering K-pop concerts for kpopconcerts.com, a site dedicated to K-pop news, concert coverage, and occasional interviews.
“I feel very fortunate to have done reviews and photography for Eric Nam, Stray Kids, and NCT-127,” Rogers shared.
What’s next for @happymealennial?
Rogers is incredibly grateful for the support she has received throughout her foodie journey. With her newborn daughter, she’s felt her priorities shift and has been considering going back to school to further her career.
While she’s not entirely sure where the future will take her, she’s working to expand her social media presence. “The plan is to dive into YouTube at some point,” Rogers said. “So, stay tuned for that.”
For now, she continues to share her love of food, highlight small businesses, and engage with her ever-growing community.
Follow @happymealennial on Instagram to stay up to date with Rogers’ latest foodie finds and upcoming projects.
