Amina Mamaty: The Travel Influencer Exploring The World

Amina Mamaty, known as @MissYoungInternational on Instagram, is on a mission to inspire young people of color to explore lesser-known destinations around the globe instead of just flocking to popular tourist hotspots.

Source: Amina Mamaty / Amina Mamaty courtesy of her Instagram Page @MissYoungInternational.

Over the past year, Amina has journeyed to remarkable places, including Bayan-Ulgii, Mongolia, where she experienced horseback riding alongside local eagle hunters, showcasing their rich cultural heritage. A Paris native now based in New York, Amina also visited Myanmar (formerly Burma), a Southeast Asian nation with over 100 ethnic groups, sharing stunning images of its pristine white sandy beaches and the ancient wonders of Bagan. For Amina, traveling has become her “purpose,” a superpower that she hopes will inspire other young folks of color to dream big and be fearless. 

“I want people to push themselves out of their comfort zone, whether it’s moving to a new city, whether it’s taking that job, whether it’s doing something spontaneous — I want us to push ourselves and to just be fierce,” the travel expert told MadameNoire over Zoom. “When you dare and you take a risk, so many beautiful things come out of it. My experience is not going to be yours or vice versa. But when you land, and you go with an open mind, and you have good energy, people are going to give you that back always.”

Amina’s thirst for adventure began right after she left Paris at the age of 17, jumping aboard to the U.S. for an exchange program. She has moved around quite a bit, spending time in Idaho before heading to Michigan for school. After graduation, she found her way to New York; the Big Apple now feels like home.

“I’ve been in New York now for 10 years now. New York now feels like I was almost born here,” the social media star said in her beautiful French accent with a chuckle. “Personality-wise, and sometimes look-wise, I feel like I never really fit in back home. So, I was really happy to move here, and it felt natural for me. I feel like I fit in, I can be me.”

Source: Amina Mamaty / Amina Mamaty courtesy of her Instagram Page @MissYoungInternational.

Her first stop was Uzbekistan.

It was Amina’s pure curiosity and fearlessness that led to her booking her first solo trip in 2021 during the pandemic. The first stop on her list was Uzbekistan, a landlocked country in Central Asia. It is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Tajikistan to the southeast, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest. The country is known for its rich history, including significant cities along the Silk Road such as Samarkand and Bukhara. Uzbekistan may not top everyone’s travel itinerary, but Amina sought out a destination where she had rarely seen Black travelers explore.

“Over the pandemic especially, I just kept seeing Black travelers, I think we started traveling more like over the past few years and also documenting our travels. For me, it just seemed like I was seeing a lot of the same places,” she explained. “I felt like I know this world is so big. I know there’s so many places that are untouched and that we haven’t been to yet.”

Now, Amina’s passion for adventure has evolved into an obsession. The social media star recently spent 30 days solo traveling in Mongolia, where she was captivated by the country’s stunning mountains, deserts, and lakes. In an Instagram post published Sept. 22, Amina shared an inside look at her visit to Double Lake by Toilogot in Khuvsgul, Mongolia, a breathtaking camp resort.

“It was such an amazing place. It’s super diverse, the people are so kind,” she recalled of her visit. 

She also posted a hilarious video of her time at the Genghis Khan Statue Complex in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where her beautiful photoshoot was quickly interrupted by a swarm of tourists. 

“Luckily, the rain started and everybody left. I stayed and I got to finish my little content,” Amina laughed, but the seasoned traveler shared a piece of advice for those eager to capture the best footage and photos while exploring lesser-known destinations. 

“The best way to honestly beat the crowd is to go super early in the morning. I mean, like, if you have to go two hours early, then do that,” she shared. “This was my first time going somewhere where it was this crowded, usually there’s nobody there. But the best way is to go in the morning, like super early before they open.”

Here’s how to travel on a budget, according to Amina.

Traveling in today’s expensive economy can be challenging, but Amina offered strategies to offset high airfare and hotel costs. She loves booking flights at least six weeks in advance and sets alerts on her phone to catch good deals. Amina also prioritizes hotels that include breakfast, providing her with a substantial morning meal to keep her energized. Throughout the day, she snacks and typically has dinner in the evening to save money on food. For transportation, she prefers using taxi apps like Uber to avoid the steep prices of traditional taxis. The avid traveler suggests connecting with a driver who can assist you throughout your trip to further cut costs.

Amina’s travel adventures hold greater significance now more than ever. In a world where racism, xenophobia, and discrimination fuel political tension and global issues, her content sheds a humanizing light on countries and communities often stigmatized. Through her work, Amina demonstrates that we are more interconnected than we realize, as we all care for our families and look out for our communities, regardless of where we are in the world. One of her favorite places to visit so far is Myanmar where, despite the ongoing war and military unrest, the people uphold a remarkably positive outlook on life.

“Burma is the most unique place I’ve ever been to,” Amina said while gushing about the country’s superb food and scenery.

“The beaches are like the Maldives and the kindest people I’ve ever met in my life. I mean, when you have an issue, they make it their issue, you know? They’re so kind, so helpful, like, beyond any other place I’ve been to.” She added, “They’re still very much selfless and care about other people when they have all this ish going on in their country.”

RELATED CONTENT: World Traveler And Author Jessica Nabongo Talks Solo Travel For Black Women And Says ‘Quitting’ Was Key To Her Success