If you love matcha, impeccably-styled outfits, or “what I drink in a day” videos, Gabby White, a.k.a @gabzilla_123456, is likely already on your radar (and if she’s not, she should be).
A Washington, D.C.-based lifestyle creator with what Eli Rallo calls “absolutely wonderful older sister energy,” White balances content creation with her full-time 9-to-5 job. After graduating from Baylor University with majors in communication and journalism, White has held creative roles at Free People, Nike, lululemon, and now Anthropologie. She’s even worked as a social content manager for the Democratic National Committee. She blends fashion, fitness, social justice, and good food & beverages into content that feels both aspirational and grounded, encouraging us all to live life to the fullest.
We chatted with White about life in D.C. as a content creator, how she discovered her love for matcha, and where she sees herself creatively down the line.
Spoon University: Your content feels rooted in everyday life in D.C. How long have you been living there and in what ways has the city influenced how you create and connect with your audience?
Gabby White: It’s funny because I always say I’m a content creator who just happens to be in D.C., not a D.C. content creator. I moved here four years ago this month (!!!) to end long distance with my boyfriend, who was already based here. Although D.C. does impact my content, such as reviewing matchas in the city or supporting and discussing my favorite restaurants, I do technically think I could do my content anywhere. What I couldn’t get however, is the amazing community of D.C. people. I think a lot of cities have so much to offer that without focusing on the people it’s a great city, but what makes D.C. so incredible is the people in it, and I never take that for granted. I think giving a voice to D.C., which is an untapped market in terms of content creator representation, I give an outlet and a voice to my fellow district residents. This is also why I try to, as often as I can, host/put on events that give an opportunity for my community to meet because I wouldn’t have the platform without them.
SU: What does a typical day look like for you right now?
GB: I work a 9-to-5 job; my platform is just my creative outlet and a way to yap freely, so I have a pretty structured normal day. I am a morning workout fan, so that’s usually what I’m doing first thing. On days where I don’t work out I’m usually still waking up a bit before a 9 a.m. log-on time to take time for myself, clean my home, edit content, or do as I please. Even though I have a corporate job, I still film content during the day, but I think why it seamlessly works within my schedule is I’m filming things that I’d be doing whether there was a phone set up or not — getting dressed, making matchas or lunch, tidying my living room, etc. So it’s not really a disruption or a distraction from my actual job because it’s who I already am. Once I log off for the day I usually take an hour to edit videos that I want to go live that day and then I take the rest of the day to have enrichment time (mindlessly scrolling), making/eating dinner with my man, hanging out with friends — just normal things!
SU: Your content spans everything from fitness and style to food and politics. Do you have a favorite type of content to create, and how do you balance all those different parts of your life online?
GW: It’s funny because my favorite type of content to make is actually fashion/outfits/styling content — that’s the entire reason I started posting because I genuinely just love a cutie little outfit. However, that is probably the least reliable content in terms of views or engagement. If I do post outfit content, I’m usually talking about something not super related to what I’m wearing to still engage people. If I post a video that is truly just my outfit without talking, it’s gonna flop every time LOL! I wouldn’t say I have a strong strategy as, like I said, I’m doing things I would already be doing throughout the day. My only goal is to try and post two times a day. I have a few content buckets that I rely on to fuel my content (weekend vlogs, what I drink in a day vlog, etc.), but otherwise, I just kind of wake up and film whatever comes to mind.
SU: Matcha is such a staple in your content. When did that love begin, and what keeps you coming back to it?
GW: The first time I had matcha I hated it. I was introduced to it by a coworker who was very much ahead of the curve, but shoutout to her. Even though I didn’t enjoy it the first time, I was very much committed to finding something I could love in terms of a caffeinated beverage. I’ve never liked coffee, even though I very much wish I did, and have always been a tea girl. But what I loved about coffee culture that I felt like I was missing out on was this obsessive following, the fun seasonal flavors, etc., and so matcha became that outlet for me. I love to make it at home — Cafe Gabzilla, I like to call it, but when I stayed working from home post-pandemic, trying out different cafes was a really good way to get me out of the house. And 9/10 times if I am recognized in public, it’s always for my matcha reviews, so I’m glad people love them as much as I do!
SU: Is there a moment with a follower that really stuck with you and reminded you why you started sharing your life online in the first place?
GW: Recently Eli Rallo posted the most heartwarming, enthusiastic video about me (which was surreal in itself) just encouraging her followers to follow me and within the comments was an absolute flood of “Fanzillas” as they’re referred to (I did not coin that phrase — my friends did, but it’s caught on lol), who were hyping me up. But the comment that stood out to me most was someone saying “no as a local, gabby is the bar for dc transplant turned true Washingtonian.” I wouldn’t say I’m that emotional of a person but this comment did hit me in the gut because I do feel an obligation to this city, and the people who live in it, to be the best representation of what D.C. is and can be, especially since, like I said, it’s an untapped market. So this comment was just such a good moment of realization…like holy sh*t okay, other people are seeing the vision, they’re aligned with what I’m trying to do, and that makes me feel good about everything I’m doing!
SU: When you think a few years ahead, where do you see yourself when it comes to your career and creative work?
GW: It’s funny because I say to my closest people all the time that if I ever tell you I’m going to be a full-time influencer, something has gone seriously awry. And that’s not a bash on people who do pursue that as a full-time career, because I see and acknowledge their hustle. However, for me, I love having structure, I love having stability, and I honestly love being relatable, and I think losing my 9-to-5 job would remove a lot of those things for me. And I know I would lose touch with reality really quickly. So in terms of my personal content, my goals are genuinely to just keep having fun. I never set a fiscal or numerical follower goal for myself with this channel because the second I feel like I’m not achieving what I need to, we would lose the light-heartedness and the whimsy of why I think my channel is successful in the first place. So I’m just focusing on staying authentic & real and being responsible with my platform (i.e. speaking out about my beliefs and the corruptness of our world).