How would you best describe yourself and your channel?
I am a beauty-obsessed young woman who loves to share beauty tips and tricks with the everyday woman. Nothing too “glam”, nothing too complex or unrealistic for day-to-day ventures. My channel focuses on makeup and skincare reviews and product demonstrations. Sometimes I pepper in some fashion and lifestyle content, to keep things interesting.
What was the (biggest) mistake you made that you’ve learned the most from?
I’ve been fortunate enough not to make too many irreparable mistakes. As for learning – I’m constantly learning!
What’s the one thing you wished someone had told you when you were first starting out?
That it’s really important to pick the same social media handles for all platforms. Oops.
What do you like best about being a YouTube creator?
I love the fact that I get to interact with so many creative and interesting people around the world.
What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever received from a viewer?
I love that whenever one of my viewers sends me something, there’s always some sort of candy involved. It’s not so much funny as it is delicious. Dairy Milk Buttons from England are fantastic.
Who were the biggest supporters in your corner when you first got started?
No one! I kept YouTube a secret for so long. For the first three years I was doing it, no one in my day-to-day life knew about it. Now I am fortunate enough to have a slew of supportive people in my life – my boyfriend has been incredibly encouraging and he constantly inspires me to produce better content.
What are your favorite ways to connect with your audience?
Nothing beats IRL interaction. Getting to meet my viewers either at conventions or beauty events or on the street – it never gets old. I love putting a face to a screen name and getting to know more about my viewers on an individual basis.
What did you have to overcome to get where you are today?
Crippling shyness. I can’t believe how much more comfortable I have become in social situations, I still surprise myself sometimes – being on YouTube has helped a ton with that.
What’s the technical skill that had the biggest impact on your channel?
Learning how to edit my videos efficiently. Beauty tutorials can get long and boring pretty fast, so I had to learn how to get to the point, get the point across in a concise manner and edit it in a way that it still seems relaxed and smooth, never rushed.
What are two pieces of equipment you couldn’t live without?
My laptop and my camera. Boring, I know.
What are the best ways to meet and network with other creators?
Best way to meet creators is at events – YouTube Spaces organize various networking events and there are also events like Vidcon, BeautyCon, Playlist Live, etc. where you can meet other creators and connect. If you are unable to travel to those events, chatting to people on Twitter is great too. I made some great creator friends over Twitter, then we eventually met IRL at an event mentioned above.
When did being a creator switch from being a hobby to your full-time passion?
It’s always been a full-time passion, I don’t do it as a full time job but it’s always fueled by my passion for being creative and for sharing beauty products and fashion tips with my audience.
Where do you see YouTube in the next 5 years?
There’s still so much room to grow! I see it become even more mainstream and taking over the traditional TV space.
Where do you continue to get new inspiration?
I get inspiration daily from the videos in my subscription box.
How have you used YouTube Spaces?
I haven’t yet! One just opened in Toronto, though, so I will have to check it out next time I’m in town.
Which YouTube creator resources have you found most useful? (for example: Creator Academy, YouTube Help, Twitter, etc.)
I’m a big fan of the @YTCreators Twitter account.