Behind The Blogger Challenge: Get To Know Me!
Read this post to get to know the blogger of the lifestyle and self-care blog, Riyah Speaks.

If there is one thing you should know about me, it’s that I love blogging tags and reading them. Over the summer, you may have noticed that I participated in Vogue’s 73 Challenge. It was such a fun blogging challenge, and it helped to spark some writing motivation.
I’m thrilled to be tagged in Behind The Blogger by Deandra from the Black Princess Diaries. You should check her out and read some of her posts, including what she shared about herself for the challenge!
Now, let’s learn a little bit more about me!
Behind The Blogger
I’m A Published Author
Before pursuing a lifestyle and wellness blogging career, I studied to become a political journalist. Yep, you read that right. I wanted to work as a political journalist, but I’ve always had a soft spot for creative writing and poetry.
That led me to co-author a book of poetry with one of my good friends. This poetry book is a short collection of emotional poems based on our experiences as young people navigating life. Some of the topics we wrote about include mental health, depression, and human nature.
I also co-authored an article about journalism ethics with my journalism teacher after refusing to publish a report based on something she discovered about one of my sources. I had already promised him not to include this fact in my defense, and she wanted me to.
I’m Left Handed
I don’t know how interesting this is. But, every time I tell someone I’m left-handed, they respond as if I’m a toddler. “Omg. That’s so cool! So how do you do XYZ task.” I wish people understood that left-handed people could do all of the same basic tasks, just a little differently.
I hate how everything is made for right-handed people, such as scissors, knives, books, writing utensils. I mean everything. Have you ever seen a left-handed person’s arm after using a pencil? It’s disastrous.
I Hate Pink & Purple
This may come as a surprise, but not every female likes the colors pink and purple. I feel like those are such “girly” colors, lol, and every time I see them, it just makes me want to vomit—no offense to anyone who loves these colors.
Ironically, I wouldn’t say I like these colors, yet I used the two colors the most when I started the Riyah Speaks brand. Lol, ironic, right? Don’t worry; I changed the colors to reflect my personality and the colors I enjoy.
I Don’t Know How To Use A Lighter
This is embarrassing. I cannot use a lighter without burning myself. As stupid as it sounds, I’ve never really needed it since I have an electronic one. I don’t smoke cigarettes or indulge in recreational drugs like Marijuana, so I never really felt the need to learn.
Don’t worry. I plan to learn not to embarrass myself the next time my parents ask me to light a birthday cake.
I’m A Boy Band Fanatic
I love boy bands, both old and new. My favorite boy bands are the Jonas Brothers, New Edition, NSYNC, One Direction, BTS, 5 Seconds Of Summer, The Wanted, Backstreet Boys, and The Vamps.
If you don’t recognize some of these, you might be living under a rock or too young to know them. Either way, I recommend adding all of these boy bands to your Spotify list and listening to them whenever you can.
Behind The Behind Blogger Tag
That’s it. This is the funniest and best thing to know about the blogger behind the blog, Riyah Speaks. I had a great time writing this post and dwelling on cool facts. I’m curious to know something cool about you. Do we have anything in common? Let me know in the comments.
Since this is a blogging tag, I am tagging these fantastic bloggers to do this challenge or anyone who wants to participate.
- Jenny In Neverland
- Korrashay
- The Grumpy Olive
- Dating Bitch
- Ofaglasglowgirl

It was so lovely to read more about you! I have a post up tomorrow where I started a guided reflection tag for a round up of the past year. I haven’t tagged anyone specific but if you like doing them the questions are pretty interesting!
Hi Molly,
Thanks for giving me the heads up! I do love doing these type of posts. It’s a nice break from my usual content. I look foward to reading it!
I like boy bands and see One direction, Blue, The Vamps and 5 Seconds of Summer live as well as other boy bands. That’s strange people ask you how you do tasks just because you are left handed.
With regards to the lighter, get a candle lighter which you just hold a button and you don’t have to worry about burning yourself and with the long tube it makes lighting candles super easy.
Thank you for sharing. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
Hi Lauren,
I hope you have a Happy Holidays! I’m actually planning on buying a candle lighter soon that way I can stop burning myself. In regards to the left-handedness, I really don’t know why people treat me so weirdly once they find out.
This is so interesting to read! Pink is my favourite colour 🙈 I can’t use a lighter either, or light a matchstick haha x
Hey Caroline,
Thanks for reading this post. It’s so funny that we both cannot use a lighter lol. Red is my fav color and green
Matches are much more satisfying than lighters.
Gene,
I’m going to be honest. I don’t know how to react to this.
I love pink and purple lol! =) Fun post! I think being left-handed is cool.
Michelle,
Thanks for reading!
It was interesting and fun to read and discover you. I too have trouble with lighters so I only use matches. I never have a problem with them! My favorite Boys band when I was young was the New kids on the Block. Like you, I also think New Edition was a good band! Thanks for sharing.
Corinne,
New Edition is amazing! I love them too and was so happy to see some members participate in the boyband Christmas special this year. There are no watches at home, but I gave up on the idea of me being the person who lights anything.