Social media influencer Lindy Simmons, who manages the Instagram account @lunchwithlind, stands with an ice cream cone and a camera at the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium. Simmons believes that her Instagram account, which is focused on food photography, has helped connect her to other people in the Athens community. “Even if you do not know somebody and you just start talking about food, anyone can immediately have something to say,” Simmons said. “I love being able to connect with people through food.” Photo courtesy of Lindy Simmons
Viewpoints Staffer Daniel García-Pozo: To start off, I want to ask about the Instagram account that you have. How long have you had that account?
Social media influencer Lindy Simmons: I started it back in 2018 just as a way for me to put my Facebook photos on Instagram. It wasn’t until halfway through 2019 that I really was trying to amp it up and really make it big.
DGP: Can you describe to me what it is you do on social media?
LS: When I first started the account I never thought, “Oh, I want to be an influencer.” I more so really liked food photography and I used my account as a platform for me to upload pictures of my food. Then I started realizing as a (University of Georgia) student that students and younger people really like to see a voice on social media that they can relate to, especially when you combine it with something people like, aka food. It’s actually been within these last six months that I have even really considered my account as an influencer account. I get asked all the time, “So what do you do? Do you do food photography? Do you influence?” (My account has) just become a little bit of everything.
DGP: What do you think is the personal appeal to you of using food photos as a platform to express yourself? What do you think is the appeal to a wider audience because of that?
LS: I think that people really like both food and photography, and I think that I’ve done something really unique. When I look at food influencers in New York, they’re just saying, “Tag your funfetti-loving friends. Oh, here’s mac and cheese. So good. So delicious.” I’m a student at (UGA), and people really resonate and really vibe with that. I think that people respect that I’ve done something unique in the way that I have just really made (my Instagram) about myself. I’ve connected two different things that people love: food and personalized messaging. It’s just really become a platform for what I love and sharing my voice.
“I think that people respect that I’ve done something unique in the way that I have just really made (my Instagram) about myself. I’ve connected two different things that people love: food and personalized messaging.”
— Lindy Simmons,
Social media influencer
DGP: What are some of the people, accounts or experiences that have influenced you in making this account what it is?
LS: An influencer account that I love is called @cheatdayeats. Her account is just absolutely flawless. She actually has her own videographer go around and help her. She’s not doing something that I’m doing, she’s not really trying to tell life lessons through her food. She is simply producing a great-looking product, and she really inspires me in that aspect. Personally — and she’s not really an influencer, she’s a cook — but I love Christina Tosi. She started a company in New York called Milk Bar and she (was a part of) a documentary on Netflix. One quote that has always really resonated with me from (that documentary) is she went to college, got all A’s, and she asked herself, “What am I going to do with A’s? Why, as people, are we so fixated on making really good grades and thinking that that equals success in life?” She’s really inspired me in the way that she had a dream and just said, “Let’s do it. Let’s go. Let’s go big.” She’s just been an inspiration for my creativity (with) her mindset of not doing what she’s been trained to do all her life and of just getting out there and going.
DGP: How do you think that your social media account affects other parts of your life?
LS: Honestly, I would say that when I was a (college) student it opened a lot of doors for me. A lot of restaurants around Athens will reach out. (The) Guide2Athens media company reached out a year ago and said, “We really like your content, will you come and take pictures for us?” I think it’s funny. The thing I always say to my mom is that, when I was little, she would get mad at me for always being on my phone and (said), “Your phone’s not gonna get you anywhere in life.” Yet, it has. Every single job I have or every opportunity I’ve had recently is because of my phone, or my account. The account didn’t really affect my day-to-day as a student, because I honestly didn’t start growing it until (about) six months ago. I’m not famous, by any means, but people have recognized me and asked, “Oh, are you that food girl?” My roommate texted me the other day and was like, “I’m not kidding, I just heard somebody talking about your Instagram in downtown Athens.” That’s been really cool.
“The thing I always say to my mom is that, when I was little, she would get mad at me for always being on my phone and (said), “Your phone’s not gonna get you anywhere in life.” Yet, it has. Every single job I have or every opportunity I’ve had recently is because of my phone, or my account.”
— Lindy Simmons,
Social media influencer
DGP: You’re clearly prominent within the Athens community. How do you feel your experience has been within the Athens community, being a foodie?
LS: I don’t think this account would have grown as much as it did if the Athens food scene wasn’t amazing. I love the restaurants here and I love the townie vibe, you know? I love, for example, Nedza’s Waffles. Joe Nedza, the owner, reached out to me a little over a year ago and now he’s become like a big brother to me. The only reason I even really know Nedza is because of my Instagram account. I just love that aspect, that the restaurant owners here are just really nice. The restaurant community, aside from the food and how good it is, is really nice and (restaurant owners really) want to help each other out, especially through this pandemic.
DGP: How do you think your work in the world of social media influencers and personalities affects people in this connected day and age?
LS: I genuinely think that I do influence the Athens food scene. I’ll have people literally every single day direct message (and DM) me and be like, “Where should I eat? What should I eat?” When I tag restaurants on my stories, I can see how many people have actually clicked on their profile. I posted something (the other day) about this pop-up place called The Side Hustle. I tagged them and their sticker on Instagram got 500 taps. I posted a picture of a restaurant and everyone was DMing me asking, “Where is this? What is this? Can you please tell me?” I think what I’m doing is actually having an effect on people. As a person, I just love food and I’m glad that I get to share that experience with people.
DGP: Now that you have people connect on social media, more people know about certain businesses that they may not have known about by word of mouth. It’s a really fascinating thing to me.
LS: One of the reasons I really started this account is because, and the DMs prove this, (is) food is so universal. Even if you don’t know somebody and you just start talking about food, anyone can immediately have something to say. That’s why I pose random questions on my story like “What’s your favorite chain restaurant dessert? What’s your favorite Disney food?” (It’s) because (food is) universal. People love giving their opinions about (food), and I love being able to connect with people through food.
