Meet Lauren Leyva, a 25-year-old currently pursuing a dual career. In her seventh year of her studies, Lauren is training to be an architect while growing her online brand, The Starving Student.  

Founder and Editor-in-Chief

Melissa Hawkins

Six years ago, Lauren Leyva started The Starving Student, an Instagram based blog that focuses on food, lifestyle and how we can enjoy both while prioritising sustainability. However, it wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic that her blog boomed, quickly growing from 400 followers to 15,000.

And the growth didn’t stop there. Today, Lauren’s blog is creeping towards a community of 50,000 people who enjoy Lauren’s student-friendly recipes and recommendations. 

Looking back on her career so far, Lauren notes that, when growing up, she wanted to be an interior designer. She said: “However, I excelled in subjects like geography and math, so my dad suggested architecture – it combined both my love for creativity and science-based subjects”.

“It’s been quite long, and there have been times where I definitely had doubts, but I’m currently enjoying my work at a practice I love, so it feels very fulfilling.” 

To be able to succeed in both her training and online business, Lauren admits that she has to perform quite the balancing act. 

“It can be quite hectic, especially with a full-time job. 

“I often work on The Starving Student after my regular work hours, in the evenings and weekends. I try to be efficient and enjoy it so that it doesn’t feel like a burden.

“It can be tough, but I find motivation from my family and loved ones. 

“When I feel overwhelmed, I take breaks, go for walks, and clear my mind. It’s essential to keep a positive mindset.”

When asked if there was anything she wished she could tell her younger self, Lauren said she would tell herself not to worry about what others think. She said: “I would tell her not to base my career solely on conventional measures of success. Pursue what truly makes you happy and fulfilled”. 

Lauren adds that she feels empowered when she’s working, “expressing her ideas and making a difference in the industry”, all of which she is able to do in both her studies and with The Starving Student. 

She said: “With The Starving Student, particularly, I aim to empower people to learn to cook and make sustainable choices.”

For great, low-cost and waste-free food, you can follow Lauren on Instagram or visit her website.