We’re looking forward to introducing you to Emily McMannis. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Emily, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity. No question.
I work in the music industry, and I’m very fortunate to have a lot of really good people around me, but that’s not the case for everyone.
There are plenty of people out in the world who can outsmart me, and plenty more who can outrun me – but I pride myself in caring about what matters the most. Being kind. Being a good human. When you lose sight of living with the purpose to do good, none of the other stuff matters. It truly doesn’t, in my opinion.
I would be very sad if I were to be described as someone who had an abundance of intelligence and energy, but lacked integrity.
On the flip side, if I were to only have integrity, without the other two, I could sleep soundly at night 🙂
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Emily McMannis, and I’m the creator behind The Girl With No Plan. The name really reflects both my personality and my journey—I didn’t start with a set roadmap or rigid brand strategy. Instead, I’ve leaned into sharing my life, thoughts, and experiences in a very real, unfiltered way. My platform has become a space for authenticity, humor, and connection, especially for people who feel like they’re still figuring it all out.
What makes The Girl With No Plan special is that it resonates with anyone who’s tired of the idea that you need everything “perfectly planned” to be successful or happy. This all started as a way for me to share my daily outfits, and how I chose my style – very influencer forward, but that’s has certainly evolved. I still share my style, but I’m in a discovery phase. I’m not sure what I will end up doing, or where I’ll strike gold, but I embrace the messy middle, the trial and error, and the relatable day-to-day stories that often go untold. Whether it’s lifestyle content, behind-the-scenes glimpses into my creative process, or just candid reflections, I love creating content that feels like a conversation with a close friend.
Right now, I’m working on growing this community even further—expanding into new creative projects, learning photography (which I am really loving!!), collaborations, and ways to connect with people beyond the feed. At its core, my brand is about celebrating imperfection in style and reminding people that it’s okay not to have everything figured out.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I think pretty close to who I am today.
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was just…me. Curious, restless, and unafraid to try everything that sparked my interest. Somewhere along the way, life piled on expectations—what success should look like, how I should “have it all figured out,” and the pressure to carve out a neat, perfect path. I lost that original version of myself for a while.
It took a while, some very moody years, detours, and more failures than I can probably remember to find my way back to ‘me’ again. I’ve toured with musicians, started a cookie-baking company, lived through the chaos of an angsty early 20s, and picked up and dropped more ventures than I can name. Each attempt felt like a “failure” at the time, but in hindsight, it was all part of the process—every trial, every misstep, every identity I tried on brought me closer to the person I was before the noise of the world crept in.
Now, with The Girl With No Plan, I feel like I’ve made it home to myself—the same person I was before the pressure, just a little wiser, a little braver, and a lot more grounded in embracing imperfection.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh yes, and I partially did about a year or two ago – I think about it daily. So why do I keep doing it? I feel like I truly love sharing stories, creating my own style and documenting it all along the way. My hope is that I can inspire others to do the same, be who they truly are, and find the magic in their own lives – no matter what.
I recently read “It doesn’t happen overnight. But it will never happen if you quit.”
So I keep trying.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
“This is how it’s always been done, so you have to do it this way.”
Whether it’s my day job in the music industry, or creating with The Girl With No Plan — we are constantly told how something works, what we need to look like, and why we can’t change it.
I find everything wrong with this. We get into the arts to stand out, make our own path, and push boundaries. The biggest lie is that there’s only one formula for success. The truth is, there isn’t—and trying to fit yourself into someone else’s mold only waters down your voice.
I’ve tried to embrace the opposite: experimenting, failing, starting over, and leaning into the fact that my “plan” is not having one. That freedom has led me to the most unexpected, authentic places, most recently being photography. If we can let go of the lie that there’s a single right way, we give ourselves permission to actually create something new.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
I hope nothing. I really reallllllllly hope I keep going after anything that brings me joy. From professionally with The Girl With No Plan, to rescuing more animals and then *hopefuly* living one day in London – my goal is to not regret.
I’m still learning my fearlessness – there are areas I need to work on (I still cannot sing in front of people, I CRUMBLE!) but I’m okay with that.
More mountains, more outfits, more animals, more family, more LIFE.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thegirlwithnoplan_
Image Credits
all photos are self taken and edited, by me, Emily McMannis 🙂
