BEHIND THE CAMERAS: LOCAL YOUTUBERS
LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE TO THESE LOCAL TALENTS TO STAY CONNECTED TO “THE FRIENDLY ISLAND” YEAR-ROUND.
Star Living
Owner of a small tech business and a mentor of the Youth Brigade in his spare time, Star Peterson is above all else an adventurer. Ten years ago, he started sharing his passion of exploring St. Maarten/St. Martin’s unknown parts with the world via his YouTube channel, Star Living. Living on an island where development seems to be constant, 28-year-old Peterson hopes to conserve St. Maarten/St. Martin’s natural side by taking his viewers on exciting adventures of the island’s hidden treasures, revealing off-the-beaten track locations in unexplored and more rugged parts of the island.
“St. Maarten/St. Martin is a small place full of exciting adventures,” says Peterson, whose favorite pastime is spelunking or discovering the island’s hidden caves.
When he is not working or helping local youth, you can find Peterson hiking, diving, and exploring St. Maarten/St. Martin, always with his favorite camera in hand. His videos are a must-watch for those looking to have a more active vacation.
Rosi Fernandez
For years, Rosi Fernandez has been captivating her followers on Instagram with her beauty and appealing smile, but it wasn’t until 2020 — during the height of the pandemic — that she went from being a local influencer to adding “local YouTuber” to her list of accomplishments. Sharing bits and pieces of her everyday life, Fernandez gives insight into what life on St. Maarten/St. Martin is really like. The 35-year-old initially started her channel simply to create memories for herself and her family to enjoy but has since managed to get the attention of more than just a handful of viewers with her vlogs. Her channel, named after herself, gives a candid look into the life of an island girl.
The Traveling Island Girl
At age 47, Riselle Celestina is the oldest in this list of local YouTubers, a true representation of the sentiment that “it is never too late to start.” Although her channel, The Traveling Island Girl, has existed for years, it wasn’t until the lockdown of 2020 that her St. Maarten/St. Martin videos really started to get noticed.
“I wanted to help spread the word that St. Maarten was still the island to visit, even after Hurricane Irma and the coronavirus,” says Celestina, who’s also a travel writer, blogger, and content creator. “I especially wanted to help the small businesses on the island by shining the spotlight on them for a change and, in so doing, help them keep their heads above water in such uncertain times.”
Viewers of her videos are treated to recommendations and suggestions on her favorite places to visit, the best places to stay, and must-do experiences on the island. Celestina has become quite the go-to person for St. Maarten/St. Martin visitors. Her videos are informative, educational, and entertaining.
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