From Finance Bro to Beauty Guru Featuring Aditya Madiraju

In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Aditya Madiraju for a conversation that moves far beyond beauty tutorials and social media trends. What unfolds is a thoughtful discussion about identity, representation, creativity, and the realities of building a public career in an algorithm-driven world. 

Before becoming one of the most recognizable voices in beauty content creation, Aditya spent years working in microbiology, finance, and risk management—an unconventional path that reflects one of the episode’s central themes: the tension between stability and fulfillment. Growing up in a South Asian household where traditional careers were often prioritized, choosing beauty and content creation felt radical. Yet rather than framing that tension with resentment, Aditya approaches it with empathy, recognizing the sacrifices that allowed his generation the freedom to pursue creative work. 

The conversation also explores the emotional weight of visibility online. Aditya reflects candidly on navigating the internet as a South Asian creator, from stereotypes and racism to the pressure of constantly representing more than just himself. His perspective on humor, resilience, and composure adds nuance to larger conversations around race, beauty, and digital culture. 

At the same time, the episode celebrates the role of beauty as joy and self-expression. For Aditya, makeup is deeply technical—but it’s also personal, cultural, and meant to be enjoyed without justification. Throughout the conversation, he returns to a larger idea: visibility matters because it expands what feels possible for the next generation. 

Listen to the full episode to hear Aditya Madiraju discuss beauty, identity, representation, and what it really means to build authenticity online.

Learn more about Aditya Madiraju

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Transcript

Meet Aditya Madharaju

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey guys, welcome back to Skin Anarchy. This is a very special episode because we are interviewing somebody who I really, really admire for his work in social media. Just everything he's put out into the space is so beautiful in so many ways, right? From the makeup artistry side to the cultural side to the impact he's had on so many people. And so I'm truly honored to uh welcome Aditya Madharaju with us here today. Welcome, Adi. I'm so honored to host you.

SPEAKER_01 0:25

Thank you. I'm honored. Thank you so much for having me.

From Science And Finance To Creator

SPEAKER_00 0:28

No, it's it's amazing and it's it's such a pleasure because I've been a fan behind the scenes for a long time. I've watched your videos, I've been taking notes, you know, and so many techniques I've learned from your from your content. And I want to actually get started and have you walk us down memory lane. Like what really got you? I know you come from a finance background. So like I want you to kind of talk to us about that. What made you make the leap from finance to kind of creating content?

SPEAKER_01 0:53

Um I think I think leaps in my life have been very constant and very normal for me. I actually come from a science background in microbiology. Um and I leap from there to finance touristic management. And I think it was um I worked in the banking sector for 12 years almost. And I think it was in two years ago I decided to go content creation full time. And uh it's been a beautiful ride. If you talk about memory lane, I feel like I've compressed like 20 years of my life into the last eight, nine years because you know, when you're trying to live your life and catch it for all the years that you did not do what you love, you kind of rush it a little bit. But finally I've calmed down. I'm living in the moment a little bit more. But 2018-19 was when I found my platform when I got married. And then 2019, I started to post makeup tutorials, and from there, the transition was not very smooth. It was a lot of back and forth having two jobs and uh doing makeup creation in the night. And then finally in 2023, uh 2024, I said, you know what? I'm gonna just do this.

unknown 1:53

Yeah.

Culture Pressure And Choosing Thriving

SPEAKER_00 1:53

Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean, and that's incredible though, because you know, being brown, like I feel like we're told from the beginning, like, you gotta have that stability in your life and you gotta follow those careers. And it's like, I feel like I always wonder, and I think your content also just like in the most beautiful way, like shined a light on this for me, also was just like how many people don't get to do what they really love to do because of our culture and what it demands from that side, you know, right? Like from our elders and stuff, what they say.

SPEAKER_01 2:21

Yes, but you know, as I'm growing older, I've come to a little bit of a different realization. And you know, when you're young, you kind of want someone to be accountable for why you didn't do what you didn't do. But if you look at it from our parents' side or our elder side, like they didn't know any better. They were in survival mode where they wanted to survive and build something. And we, as the next generation, at least I feel I am, now in the thriving mode uh where I have the opportunity to do what I like. They didn't have that. So they didn't know any better. They were conditioned in such a way that they had to build for us to be able to build on top of it. And uh I think we should feel privileged that we are in a place today that where we can actually quit our nine to five and do this and not be scared because this wasn't the reality. So when I speak to my aunts and uncles, my mom and dad, um, they understand, they love it, absolutely love it. But when I was just entering the makeup space, they were like, you're 35, you have a finance job, you're a VP, you're gonna quit all this after having a child and make videos online. If you think about it, that sounds absurd. Like I'm being honest, like, especially if you're brown, right? Right. Um that is the reality. So I think there's a balance. And um I think our older generation is understanding that as well now because social media has caught everyone up. And I love that we get to do this today.

SPEAKER_00 3:43

Yeah, no, I mean that's such a that's actually an excellent point. And you know, and looking back, like my parents like never pushed me in medicine, but they always, you know, rooted for like engineering, medicine, that kind of thing. That's what we do.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

We they didn't know anybody.

The Viral South Asian Gay Wedding

SPEAKER_00 3:56

Right, right. And but I mean, I'm glad that they did, right? I mean, you're you made a really, really valid point. Um, I actually want to talk about your wedding because your wedding was like a cultural moment, I feel like for the Daisy community, where we're we like got to see like you know, a gay wedding that was so beautiful, so like it was a a like a statement, you know, in itself. And I want you to kind of talk to us about that. Like it went viral. Like, what was that like for you like when that happened?

SPEAKER_01 4:22

I uh for us, we were not trying to make any statements. We we literally got mad in our backyard.

SPEAKER_02 4:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:28

Like all the ceremonies were in our backyard, and then uh the main one was in a manar for 20 minutes.

SPEAKER_02 4:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:35

Um, I feel like I'm grateful that we got the platform we got, but uh again, after doing this for all these years, right? Um, I almost dislike where the wedding culture has ended up. Uh, we were one of the first same-sex couple to go viral, quote unquote, for getting married, which everyone has done for eternity. Uh, but I get it. It's two guys getting married in the South Asian ceremony, and it it's it's a lot for the world to take in, and there was a lot of love, which I'm super, I'm super, super appreciative about that. But uh, it's just a wedding. It's just two people trying to live life as a family, and now it's become a trend. Uh, I almost feel there is nothing organic anymore. Everything is so planned, every all publications are approached, the PR is on fire, the same day photographs, same day. You know, it's it's it's very commercial now. But um, I'm glad we got married when we got married because uh we were just getting married to live our life. We were private accounts on Instagram, no following, nothing. Uh and fun fact, we were actually married for one year when we did the Indian wedding. 2018, we were married already in City Hall for and nobody knew that for one year. So about being married, we've been married since 2018. But the thing is, we didn't do this to go viral. I I'm glad it did. I I'm glad it started a conversation in the community. I'm glad it changed the mindset, and I'm glad that we were taken as the benchmark for when in India um uh it was legalized to be gay. Like, think about it. When I got married, I was a criminal in India. Yeah, that's crazy to say. That is crazy. It was illegal to be gay, so that's where we are. But I'm glad it's happened, yeah.

Hate Comments Clapbacks And Kindness

SPEAKER_00 6:14

Yeah, I mean, I I think that's what really draws me to you as a human being is that you are one, you're just fearless, which I freaking love, you know, because you're like just out here and you do what you believe in, and your content shows that in every video. Like, I feel like even the hate that you've like addressed on your channel, you address it with so much grace, but you address it in such a meaningful way for South Asian people to resonate with because of some of the things that like, for example, like I've seen you like kind of break down like the negative comments that come your way and you've framed it in a positive light. And I want you to speak about this because right now, the generation, the way it is, everybody is so hurt, you know. That's what I think when I see I feel like there's a lot of feelings, you know.

SPEAKER_01 7:01

Which you want the honest truth. I love clap back. A good clap back gets me the views. Listen, if you're gonna take the hate and deal with mental stress, might as well make some money and make some use on it. That's just the honest truth. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. Um, uh my hate clap back videos are meaningful because I come from a place where I want to be polite, but also really stern in my response where I shut it down. Um, and there's a there's a beauty in it because people resonate with that as well. And I make it funny because nothing in life should be that serious, right? It's just makeup, it's just two guys, it's just life, you know? Like the fact that my existence has triggered you to this extent, I think everybody needs to calm down a little bit. But while they calm down, I'm gonna make a bag. That's just it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

No, I love that. I love that so much. Like, you have no idea. And I it really is inspiring because I think a lot of kids these days, like, they go on social media and they don't know how to clap back. Like I've seen it, you know, like I think it's sad.

SPEAKER_01 7:55

And it's sad that we have to learn how to do that. I think rather than teaching kids how to clap back, we should teach kids how to not start the whole bullying and the hate train online. But it's not even the kids, it's grown adults, to be honest. Like, you know, like with social media growing so much, everybody has different opinions, and then everybody wants the spotlight on them, even for five seconds. Most of these hate comments are just to get a response out of people who have somewhat of a following.

SPEAKER_02 8:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

Because you feel like somebody heard you. And honestly, it's a cry for help, not on from my side, from their side. And sometimes you give in uh and they understand, and sometimes they don't. And that's okay. We can have different opinions, but kindness comes first.

Technical Makeup Teaching That Sticks

SPEAKER_00 8:36

Of course, of course. Now, I, you know, I want to actually take a second and talk about your artistry because that is phenomenal to me that you have put like makeup artistry in a new bucket for a lot of us. You know, I know myself as a South Asian individual. I mean, I've been doing the YouTube tutorial thing for a long time. You know, I remember being in like medical school and like taking my free time trying to learn how to do my high makeup, and it never worked. Like, you know, I always struggled, but like when I watch your technique, you have a very technical approach to makeup. Like, I have the videos I think that have been resonating the most with me are when you go through and you show like the exact outline, like place it here, place your blush here. This is how you do your, you know, your contour. I love that because I think so many people for such a long time didn't have that. Like in a lot of these videos. Can you talk to us about that? Like, what is your approach to artistry and how do you think about it at large?

SPEAKER_01 9:26

I would say that um artistry has always been there. People have been teaching it. The threshold for people to consume something that is 20 minutes long on YouTube has completely diminished. Yeah. So nothing I'm teaching is new. Makeup artists have been teaching this forever. I have my own style of teaching it. Some of my viral techniques I learned from my mother-in-law, who's a trained maker professional. So people have been doing this for generations. Like the one-liners that I add, which makes it easy to remember, like go peep, poop, fight with your husband, let your concealer try. That's my style, right? Like every single makeup tip that you see online was from a legend back in the day.

SPEAKER_02 10:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Everybody has a style of educating on it. So these one-liners, your style, your aggression, lack of aggression, your kindness, the way you speak is what makes it digestible for this generation, including me, millennials and Gen Z, everyone involved. So I look at it as a very technical thing. Though I used to flunk in math, somehow that math is working out right now because I used to paint, I used to draw, I was an artist growing up. And I have taken the same thing and now I do that on the face. So it's it's actually very satisfying to create that. I I think of it like art, but having said that, I do want to say I wear makeup not because it's art, I wear makeup because I love it. I absolutely love a full beat snatch face. Does that make me less of a man? Sure. Let's roll with that. But I absolutely love makeup, and that's the way I do it. And it's very satisfying when you hear conversations like this where you tell me that some technique of mine, some silly line that I used, has embedded in your memory, and now you don't think about that. You know how many people comment that when they get ready in the morning, they fight with their husbands. I hope they're okay. But you know, that that's what fun life is. Like, you know, makeup is fun. It's not supposed to be serious. You can teach serious stuff, still make it fun. And that's what I'm trying to.

SPEAKER_00 11:14

I mean, I don't have a husband, but I I fight with my imaginary husband, you know, because you're telling me to go fight with my husband.

SPEAKER_01 11:19

Like, yeah, as long as a concealer looks great, that's all we care about, you know?

SPEAKER_00 11:23

That's right. No, I I really love it because I think also it's like that, like that big brother feeling that you bring, also. Like, I mean, I think we're the same age, or I'm probably older than you. And, you know, I just I feel like when you and I think that's why it resonates so well with me, because it feels like somebody who you really know is talking to you. And that's what I think is unique, the most unique thing about your content. It's not just like, yeah, you're an amazing artist, but like you're trying to bring it in in a way that's like, guys, I am here to help you. I'm not here to like lecture you. I'm not here to act like I'm better than anybody, you know. And that's where I feel like for a long time, makeup artistry felt like that for me as a consumer. It felt like I can't ever do what you're doing, you know, like I'm not a skilled artist. Like that's how it felt.

SPEAKER_01 12:07

So I mean, that's still the case online today. And you know how many makeup makeup artists are there who teach because they have the passion to teach, and how many makeup artists are there who want to be influencers, and they should be. This platform is open to everyone. But while they're trying to be influencers, they will take a dick at every single influencer that's trying to teach a technique. Yeah, you know, and it's sad because you're trying to exist in the space that which influencers kind of let the path on, right? Talk on Instagram, but you're gonna insult them while you teach your makeup technique. And I think that's a red flag. If someone belittles somebody else to teach their technique, that just says a lot about them.

SPEAKER_00 12:44

That's yeah, that's the truth. Preach. I I cannot agree with more with you. And honestly, at this point, I actually want to expand on that a little bit more because I'm glad you brought that up. I've seen that a lot lately across the board. Like, I am on the skincare side of stuff, so I've seen it in on skin talk, I've seen it on makeup talk. People are just tearing other people down, and it's like other creators doing it. And I'm like, why are you like, why even go down that road when you can't just educate, you know?

SPEAKER_01 13:11

No, because the simple answer is um hate gets you more views. No, no, that's just that's when when I I put it this way in a very polite way, right? Yeah, when someone is speaking about their technique, it it might take a few years for them to build that audience because it took me a few years to build. I've been doing this since 2018, 19, right? It took me in 2022, is my 2023 is my first video going viral, right? Um, I'm not talking viral, I'm talking 60 million views. That's what I'm talking about. There's a way to do it fast by showing that somebody else is doing wrong. And just it's just the person you are. It goes beyond artistry. It's just who you are inside. And if that's who you are, then that's who you are. And I refuse to be that person. Even if tomorrow I get a makeup artist license, I will not be above some of these influences from whom I have learned. It's art. You cannot learn art. You can better it, you can have a different perspective on it by getting trained. But art is art. If you're passionate about it, you will get wherever you want to get to with it, depending on how much time you spend on it. So people can hate um sooner or later, audience realizes who's doing what and balance it. Yeah, but audience is very smart. Yeah, yeah.

Stereotypes About South Asians Online

SPEAKER_00 14:29

No, that's actually that yeah, that's a great point. And I think we do have to give credit, you know, to the people who are like, I'm here for the right reason, I'm here to learn, I'm here to watch great content, you know. And I I agree with you. I just, I just wish the culture would shift, you know, because I'll be honest with you, and this is something I was like dying to talk to you about this because I was like, I feel like he'd be one of the only people that understands. As a woman, a South Asian woman, I I mean, I'm 39 years old and I grew up like going to high school in Ohio, right? And like there was, I was the only brown girl in my school. I never got comments, like I got a lot of hate comments, but like at no point did somebody like behind my back, or at least when I heard, say South Asian women are ugly. They're, you know, there's they stink or that whatever. And I've been seeing that on social media so much now, where the new generation of young girls in our community is saying, Oh, you guys got to stop this, you know, narrative about South Asian girls and how we're ugly and how we're whatever, non-desirable and all of this. And I'm like, guys, when did this start? Because me growing up, all of my friends, like, we never dealt with that. So, I mean, have you noticed a shift from when we were growing up to like now, you know, in the perception?

SPEAKER_01 15:40

I grew up, I grew up in India, right? I moved here when I was 20, 19 or 20, I believe. So the thing is, I never had that because I was in the community where everyone looked like me. But you know, within the communities also there's a little bit of here and there, you hear stuff like that. But when I moved here, yeah, yeah. My first introduction was like, how does how they assume uh a South Asian person to smell like, um, how they assume them to talk like? And some people were still very surprised that I could speak in English, though I had an accent. Um these, I I just think that the more the world expands, the more there's exposure to other cultures and their traditions, people will be shocked a little bit because um we do live in a bubble. If you look at me and you, we do live in a bubble. Like there's so much more that you and me also don't know about some culture existing in some part of the world. And the day that comes out, we will be a little shocked and surprised. But the judgment that comes with it, certain people do judge very hard, right? And for them, it's it's a shock. It's like there's only one way to exist, and that is their way. And uh again, this is beyond beauty. This is a person who you are. And if that's who you are, then that's who you are. Um, I tend to ignore these stuff, like it's it's not like it doesn't matter to me anymore. Uh, unfortunately, or fortunately, I'm so numb to these things that I'm like every day, I think I don't even care anymore, you know? Yeah, and you've seen like it's sad, it's sad. I do see it a lot more now. Like every time I post a makeup tutorial, everybody's like, hey, is that my Uber driver? Or is that my DoorDash delivery guy? And the assumption is that because there is probably a hardworking South Asian person who is trying to make ends meet and support their family by doing that. And um, I think it's just like that that's why we are. It's it's on to parents to educate their children better, right? But again, sometimes it is what it is. You gotta move on.

Leaving Corporate Without Apologies

SPEAKER_00 17:31

No, you're you're so right. And I and I know I I've been asking you a few questions back to back about this, but I just I just feel like you just really get it, you know, and I I really love your insight on this. I want to shift gears a little bit because you went from like corp the corporate world into doing your own thing. Do you think that sometimes people assume that like someone leaves corporate America because they just didn't make it there? Like, do you think there's like a misconception there about that?

SPEAKER_01 17:54

Yeah, I I left corporate America, but I'm because I made much more here. Well, that that's the honest truth, right? I left because I couldn't handle both. I loved corporate America. Absolutely loved it. I love talking to people. I missed the meetings, the boardrooms, the town halls. I loved, I missed the presentations. Listen, I love attention. That's how you can influence her. And the attention I was getting at work was great, knowing that they all knew my makeup techniques as well. So it was just like I had an in, anyways, right? Like everybody, like every single person sitting on that table were like, Oh, I follow your concealer technique, but let's talk about KPIs right now. You know what I mean? I missed that and I enjoyed it, but I just couldn't keep up. Like I was exhausted. Like, uh, and I had to pick and choose one. So I chose this because there's passion. And um thank God the universe heard me. There's some power out there that I was making enough that I could move. Um, a lot of people don't in fact, a lot of people don't follow their passion because they fear they won't make enough because they they actually make much more in corporate and the health insurance and everything, right? So I think it's a huge misconception that uh influencers become influencers because they couldn't make it in corporate America. Uh, they become influencers because they refuse to let go of their passion. And that's just the truth.

L’Oreal Runway And Real Representation

SPEAKER_00 19:11

Yeah, no, that makes a lot of sense. Yeah, because I I always wonder that as well. I mean, the monetary thing, but also that personal gratification that you get from like doing something that you've been wanting to do and doing it full time, right? Um, I want to actually ask you about how you've represented, like, you know, yourself, obviously, but then also the entire community on the global stage. I mean, I know your L'Oreal, um, when you walked in the L'Oreal show, that was a huge moment. And I was like on sidelines, cheering. I was like, yeah, you know, go on the because like it felt so good to see, you know, our culture represented in such a dynamic and beautiful way. And I would love for you to kind of reflect on that experience and and talk about like the representation on stages like that. Like, where do you think we can improve? And what did that moment leave you with in terms of like where we're headed and like as an industry, right? As a beauty industry.

SPEAKER_01 19:57

Um, I think I think that was uh surreal for me. Um I've been wanting to do that for a while, but I never thought I would be able to do that because you you I was the first South Asian man, brown man, to walk, I believe. Yeah, you please check us the uh the proof of that.

SPEAKER_00 20:13

But that's I'm pretty sure you're right, you were, because that's why I was like, what this amazing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:18

There was no benchmark, there was nothing that I could refer to. And it's just like my passion for beauty that got me there. Honestly, and my community got me there. I say that a lot. Like, you could do everything right, but if your community doesn't love you, you won't get there. And I think when your community loves you, uh, you get there. Somehow you get because it's not just you, it's a bunch of people manifesting it for you. And I strongly believe in that. Like, you know, the karma, you put out good, good comes back sooner or later, it might take 10 years, but it will come back, and that's what I believe in. And um I think where we are headed to is that you will see a lot more of that, not only from the TV and cinema perspective, where the South Asian community is doing great, but also from the influencing perspective and um at at a much smaller stage, but you will see that a lot now. And um it's it's important because sorry, it's important because the the what we truly want from all of this is that there, if there's a kid out there who wants to do all of this, there is some kind of a reference because I didn't have a reference, right? I didn't have a reference to most of the things in my life. Be it getting married, be it being a beauty boy, be it working with brands, or be it walking the different show. I didn't have a reference. So uh if tomorrow somebody says, Oh, my son wants to be in makeup, maybe this will be his career handbook. Like what you this is not the only path to go down, but this is a path you can go down because it's tried and tested now. And that's what excites me the most because uh I'm not flexing that I'm the first to do it, but there's a reference now, and I'm grateful that I get to be that.

Meeting Aishwarya Rai Up Close

SPEAKER_00 21:57

Yeah, no, that's incredibly powerful. And I'm glad that you're doing it. Honestly, I mean there's not enough words for me to, you know, really applaud what you've been doing because of exactly what you said. I think that, especially in our culture, and I'm in no way criticizing, I love being Indian. I love every part of my being loves being Indian. But I think that there are genuinely hurdles for a lot of people in our community when it comes to expressing themselves or even having the the, you know, like desire, not desire, but like the strength to take a leap in a direction that they don't know if they're gonna land or not, you know, and to see that and exactly what you described is incredibly powerful and it will be for many generations to come. I can definitely see a young boy growing up and saying, well, Adi did it, you know, I can do it. So yeah, that's beautiful. Um, I want to actually talk about a huge moment. I was like screaming watching you like have this moment was when you met Ashriya Rai. How was that? Yeah, like how was that whole experience? Because I feel like every Indian person in the world is like, that is my dream to meet Ashriya Rai.

SPEAKER_01 23:01

Honestly, that was my dream as well. Um you know, like you get backstaged to these events and you realize that it's not as easy to meet people. But the fact that I have somewhat of a global presence. Um uh so the teams just knew me, the Lorial India team knew me, the US team, I went with them, obviously. So I think I think that's that somewhat played a role because they knew what I'm bringing to the table. And she was right there, and they were like, Would you like to meet her? I was like, wait. Because even though you're on the same same place backstage, everyone's getting ready, there is a boundary in respect that you don't cross, right? You're all professionals there, you're you went to do something there, and you have to focus on that. And already it's it's very overwhelming because it was my first time we were getting hair and makeup done. Kendall just walked by, Eva Longoria is sitting next, and then Aishwarya walks in, and the whole room freezes. Like everyone went went quiet when she walked in because she's stunned. And she walks in with the grace and persona, and you're like, whoa, like someone important walked in. Like, even people, I don't think anybody does not know her anymore. But even if somebody doesn't know, they'll be like, pause for a moment and be like, oh, someone important entered. She has that all about her. But the most beautiful thing about the interaction is that I was very nervous and she sensed it. So the first thing she did is hold my hand. Yeah, you don't expect that from Miss World. Like, you just it's it's I shuriya right. Like, it's not a joke, right? And I was like, whoa, this is like, and she was so kind, so sweet. Uh, we spoke about our kids, we spoke about my family, and my my husband and I love her, and that was a discussion on our first date. And she just it just felt so normal, like a conversation I'll have with my friend. It was one of those. Uh, she was super sweet. She was, she wanted to know everything about my life. And what people did not see is that off camera, I met everyone out there, the her whole team. And we all spoke. And it was not just once she spoke to me. During the tech rehearsal, she came and said hello to me. She was walking by and she goes, I think I'm gonna see you later. And she was so sweet, it was social. And uh, you know, that's what makes it beautiful because they usually say, never meet your icons because you'll be disappointed. I I I I'm more than I'm not disappointed. And it it it gives me uh gives me a reference as to what kind of a person I can be, even though you're famous. Like I'm nowhere there, absolutely I never get there. But imagine the amount of attention she's gotten globally. And she's still so humble, chill, down to earth, and her values never change from day one. She's been that graceful, poised woman, and she continues to be that. And I love that.

SPEAKER_00 25:38

That's so awesome. Yeah, like I can only imagine, like, because she's always conducted herself so gracefully, too. That's the big thing. It's like, and I think that's what like, and that's honestly, that's why I brought up what I brought up to you earlier was that the way you respond, also, like there's a level of grace, and I just feel like people need to understand that like when people of color are being like put into situations, like we are expected to act in a certain way, like we're expected to have more grace, you know.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

They expect you to be aggressive. Yeah, too aggressive, you cannot be too loud because then you're just the person of color who is loud and aggressive.

SPEAKER_00 26:14

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 26:15

You have to progress that out.

SPEAKER_00 26:17

I mean, that's that's the truth. And it's it's kind of like I mean, you you think that we don't get mad, you know? Like that's what I want to say to the world. It's like you think we don't have moments where we're mad, but we can't do it because there's so many stereotypes, you know.

SPEAKER_02 26:29

But exactly, exactly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

Now this is this is so cool because I I mean, honestly, I want to also ask you about brands because you work very beautifully with brands. I think the way that you showcase products that you truly believe in is extraordinary because it's not gimmicky. I've seen that a lot in the beauty industry. I'll be very honest. Someone wants to come after me, go ahead, you know. But I've seen a lot of BS, you know, in terms of people are just promoting products. And it's like, have you even tried it? Have you even played around with it? And I feel like I have never seen that with any review you've ever done. And I want you to, I would love for you to speak on this about the authenticity that is required in the beauty community and where you think we are right now as a community and where you would like to see us headed.

SPEAKER_01 27:10

I I think there's two ways to look at this. When you're a smaller creator, unfortunately, there isn't much you can do. And I've said this before. Um, you are at mercy of the brands. Like you want to make the paycheck, you want your career to start, you need money for that. And uh unfortunately, a lot of people do what they do, right? But as you grow as a creator and you have the opportunity to pick and choose the projects that you work on, then it says a lot about you what you pick and choose. Now, like today, uh, God's grace, I'm in a position where I can say yes or no to projects and it won't affect me that much. Like it's always hard to say no to something which will give you a paycheck, right? Like, because I still have to run my house. Like it's it's my bread and butter. I'm being honest. Like, nobody questions when a nine to five person gets a paycheck every bi-weekly. But there's so much, so much questioning and spotlight on influencers when they do something paid. Like, I cannot create this content. I I cannot look like this and be hungry all the time and be broke all the time. So make money. That's just it. If you don't understand this, get off the internet. That's what I'm gonna say. But there is a way of doing this and still being authentic, is cultivating that relationship with the brands. When this phone is off, when this this nine by sixte phone is off, who you are goes a long way with how brands like Q and Lob You. Are you kind? Are you how do you conduct yourself outside? How is your communication? How it doesn't have to be that you have to speak in an American accent. You can speak in whatever accent you want. But who you are as a person when you're offline, and a lot of people, influencers, unfortunately, kind of slip there because they think their job is done as soon as the camera is off, their face drops. But the thing is, it's not a job, it's a lifestyle. It's it's your passion, which you took up as work. Do you realize how grateful you should be to the universe for even giving you this chance? Because I worked the financial thing, right? I've been broke, I've had student loans, and I've seen how difficult it is to make a paycheck and build from there. And now here you're getting these amazing opportunities. So uh you have to you have to be honest about it. If you don't like something, you have to say no to that paycheck. And if that costs you that paycheck, then that's weird. That's that's just it. That's your relationship and that's your that's what you owe your consumer base. That's what you owe your uh audience that you're being honest. And uh it's okay, paychecks come and go. But if if if I'm honest to the brands that I love and if I speak honestly about them, that's a relationship I've cultivated. And things like L'Oreal happen when you have stuff like that, right? Because you can be a one-hit trend or one-hit wonder, but there's a different beauty when you when you really love a brand and you're honest about what you like about that brand and what you don't like about that brand. And I think that is something that's very, very important to me.

SPEAKER_00 29:57

Yeah, no, it's it definitely shows. It definitely shows. And I and I love that you said that because there is this like there's a narrative right now going on about how brands reach out to creators to understand what they've done wrong. But really, sometimes like I've heard people say they might send you a product, have you try it, have you criticize it, and then they're like, that's their homework that they did. It's like, I don't know, I don't know what to believe as a consumer, right? Like, I get so confused about all these things.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

Like I don't think creators could be blamed there because it's happened a lot without even us realizing. Yeah, um, some brands, not all, would only launch a very limited selection of shades. Yeah, and then all of us will criticize them for lack of inclusivity. What will happen is those shades will sell out because more ice on it, and then the brand will come out with the next four shades, and all of a sudden they become the brand that's listening to their consumers. You do it the first time, we get it. You do it the second time, fine. The third time, I mean, come on. We know what's up. Any any publicity is good publicity. It's that. It's all they some brands just care about selling out. And I'm not saying the formulas are bad, the formulas are fine. Um, it's the approach that's problematic. And now I barely speak about brands which don't launch inclusive stuff. Like, I don't want to call them out because they want me to call them out. Because then there are five million ice on them. And I don't want to give them that platform. Like, we've done this, like, we're not newbies. Like, come on, like, chill. Find a different way now, you know?

Inclusivity Beyond Foundation Shade Ranges

SPEAKER_00 31:30

Yeah, I I really respect that. I think that's very authentic. And honestly, like, I'm glad that you do because I've discovered a lot of stuff, like a lot of great products through your reviews. And like, I think that is something that I value a lot because there's no fluff. Like, you know, when I watch your content, I'm like, every video hits, every video is like there's a meaning for every single video. It's not just him sitting here and like promoting some brand that needs 15 other skews they need to make before they reach inclusivity level. You know what I mean? So I I really appreciate that about you. And and you know, as a follow-up question to that, I just want to ask you like in your ideal world, because I'll be honest with you, I want you to launch your own makeup so badly. So badly. I've I've I will be your first customer, but I just want to ask you on this line of where is there a white space that you're seeing that you wish people would address, like in the inclusivity realm of makeup.

SPEAKER_01 32:23

Oh my God. Um I I think to be honest, you know what? Brands are doing a good job now. They're doing a great job now. They have understood because the humans behind the brands and um humans change. Beauty world is very, very small. It's the same person that will move from one brand to the next brand. And they're all learning as they go. Because you have to understand that it's not just the people who are creating that content who are in charge of everything. There's there are people about them who look at the uh KPI, ROIs, and they have to, there are vendors who would only carry certain shades. There's a lot that goes on. And I think the more the consumers try to understand this, the easier it gets for them to, you know, like at the end of the day, everyone wants somebody to blame. And sometimes it's more deeper than that. And I I I think I think the white space is that uh the reoccurring white space is that when we don't see enough of that inclusivity, like fine, you launch 50 shades of foundation. I applaud you. That is way too much, but okay, then you went to 70. That's great. But then you launch four shades of bronzer and all your bronzers are red. I mean, listen, come on, like take your nine. We have enough bronzers, we'll survive a year without your bronzer.

SPEAKER_02 33:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 33:30

Do you want to saturate the market with the thing that you want to launch right now, or do you want to take your time and create the right shade range? And I really respect House Labs for that matter, because they don't launch new products all the time. They take what they have, they improve upon the formula, they consolidate the shades, and they relaunch it. No other brand does that. You know what I mean? Like they took the reformulated them, launched it, they took their blushes, concise them, launched it. The lip product that they had, the atomic shape, they took it and they relaunched them today. They said the formula wasn't good enough, they're gonna redo it. And that's mindfulness, you know. That's that's the artist who's behind the brand and how they understand and what kind of relationship they want. Like, yes, there are a lot of viral brands which which on one skew are making 10 million, but the respect that house labs has that cannot be replicated. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 34:20

Yes, absolutely. Yeah, I love that you brought up house labs. I feel like they're like the modern day Mac, honestly. Like I look at them as the new Mac.

SPEAKER_01 34:27

I completely agree with you. Yeah, they chase trends, and I absolutely respect that.

SPEAKER_00 34:34

Yeah. No, they're like super like, I mean, I genuinely like the inclusivity in the best way. And I feel like their team, whoever's behind the scenes, like, you know, like you're behind the scenes.

SPEAKER_01 34:44

And I hope she looks at all this because she's a great book of artist. Yeah. Yeah.

Non Negotiables Legacy And Final Advice

SPEAKER_00 34:48

No, I mean, I'm I'm such a fan of like honestly, I like I said, every product that you really get behind and like staying authentic. I mean, I think I that's kind of one of my closing questions for you is this idea of like as you move forward, because I mean, you are going to do even more amazing things, as we all know going forward. What are some things that you are very like kind of stuck to in your life, whether that's your ethos, whether that's like your belief systems? Like, share some of that wisdom with us for people to kind of understand like these are your non-negotiables in life. And no matter what deal you get, no matter what opportunity you get, this will never change. That kind of thing.

SPEAKER_01 35:25

I mean, listen, I have favorites in the beauty world, right? After doing this, I have something favorites. That doesn't mean I'm not gonna try new stuff, but I'm always gonna compare. And and some listen, there might be something which is great. There will be 10 things which are good. Doesn't mean the good stuff is not good enough.

SPEAKER_02 35:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:41

I just one face, how many things would you use, right? I can review them, but I will always go back to what I really, really fell in love with. And that's the truth for every influencer out there. We're still humans. So you will see me use a lot of products, and then I'll have three favorites out of those. So does that make me inauthentic? And am I a liar? No, because I have such a huge audience space now, thank God, that 10% would like a product, 10% would like some of the product, but the formulations are different and different things work for different people. Some like waterproof mascara, some like regular mascara, some like cubing mascara. I don't care about cubing mascara, you know, but I will review it because that's my job. That's literally my job, right? I have to give honest feedback on stuff like that. So uh that you will see. I will always talk about makeup. I'll always be passionate. Is there a brand in the future? Yes, there would be a brand in the future, but I feel like it's very saturated right now, and I'm having fun and I want to have fun. And um, the day I have a brand, it'll be so simple that doesn't make sense. And I have to feel the passion. I just I've seen a lot of brand owners who are there's a lot that happens when you create a brand, right? It becomes your identity, and then your image has to be handled with a PR. So the brand's image. And you know what? I I I am kind of a wild child. Like, yeah, so my audience has to be ready for it. And I feel like they will get ready in a few years, but definitely there will be a brand. And one last thing, which is non-negotiable for me, is that um honesty, like I will be honest about a thing. Um, I have pulled back this year from two contracts already where I've used the product and I did not like it. And that's just it. Does that make me unprofessional? Then so be it. But just because I signed something, I'm not gonna go ahead with it. Because my trial time, the one or two months I was trying the product, it didn't work out. And it doesn't make sense for me. You know, was will it be easy for me to just fake it? Absolutely. It will be. But would that be the right thing to do? No. And that it this is this is not a game, it's a lifestyle, it's it's part of my life, and I can't do that.

SPEAKER_00 37:44

Yeah, yeah. No, I love that. I really love that about you. Um, thank you for being like that, genuinely. Like, we need that in this space. Like, I feel like there are so many people who don't know what to believe online. Like, I know that for a fact because I was there. I think all of us were there at some point. You know, when the YouTube era of creators was going on, everybody was watching every video, you know, trying to figure out what's good for me, what's not good for me. There were a lot of products that were just not a fit for especially for people of color. And we spent a lot of freaking money on them. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 38:15

And so, right? So that's that, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:18

Yeah, no, I love that. Well, just to close, Oli, I would love some words of wisdom for you from you for the next generation, for the current generation that wants to come into this world of, you know, being just more on social media, you know, putting themselves out there, like anything you can share that would be words of wisdom for them to kind of approach it in the right way.

SPEAKER_01 38:36

I think it'll be summary of all this uh social media saturated place. I've said it before. Uh come with a unique perspective and don't expect uh instant gratification on the first day. You will not go viral. You might, but that will not sustain. Uh, you're not building a trend, you're building a legacy. So be consistent with what you do and be true to who you are because sometimes it takes five years to be discovered. Like I've done this since 2019. 2023 was the first time something went viral for me. So so it takes a while. It takes a while. It's it's like work. You have to work hard to get promoted, and that's what it is. Uh, second thing is that putting someone else down is not going to put you at next level, maybe temporarily, but that's the hate clout that you're gathering. And one day they will turn on you. So that's just that. And there's a way of calling out brands without being rude and demeaning and the cancel culture, you know? There's a way of calling. Calm down. It's not yeah, exactly. Like blush, move on, pick a different one. It's it's you your whole existence doesn't have to crumble around the blush not being your color. And you know, like I get it. For theatrics, we all have to do it, but know when to detach and be like, it's a blush, didn't work for me, moving on. You don't have to drag the whole brand. Like, calm down, it's not that serious, you know? And these are the things. It's it's actually sweet chilli about stuff. Like it's it's it's it's a race. It's it's what do they call it? It's not a sprint, it's uh it's a long marathon or something race. Yeah, yeah. So calm down, like and have respect for the people who did it before you. That's the most important thing.

SPEAKER_00 40:11

I love that. That's awesome. I love that so much. Well, thank you so much. This has been, like I said, an honor, and I am a huge forever fan, and I just can't wait to see what you do and how you grow and like what you come out. Like I said, please, please make us a pickup brand. I will literally be the first customer. I'm not lying. Like, I can't wait.

SPEAKER_01 40:31

But this year, you will see something which I will make. I'm gonna leave you with that.

SPEAKER_00 40:35

Okay. Well, sneak peek then. Okay, thank you. But I might have to follow up with you on that. That's exciting. That's very exciting. Well, thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 40:44

But thank you so much. I'm looking forward to it. I hope you like it.

SPEAKER_00 40:47

I know I will love it. So thank you. Thank you. Take care.