Skin Anarchy
Skin Anarchy is where beauty meets curiosity and science. Hosted by Dr. Ekta, this podcast dives deep into the behind-the-scenes world of beauty, uncovering the stories, trends, and innovations shaping skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, and more. Featuring candid conversations with industry pioneers, we explore the art and science behind beauty with passion and purpose. Join the revolution on Instagram @skincareanarchy and discover the beauty world like never before. (Not legal or medical advice, all views expressed are non-legal and non-medical opinions.)
Skin Anarchy
What It Means to Become the Face of Sephora with Marjan Tabibzada
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Content creator Marjan Tabibzada joins Skin Anarchy to talk about building a career with no blueprint: her start at the MAC counter, representing brown and Middle Eastern women in beauty and fashion, surviving online hate, vetting brand deals honestly, and the Times Square campaign that made a childhood dream real.
Who is Marjan Tabibzada?
A creator who built a following representing women who rarely saw themselves online. "There's so many of us out there."
How did she get started in content creation?
Posting on the side while at Cal State Northridge and the MAC counter. "I really felt like I was doing a bajillion different things." TikTok took off, and she chose creation over law school.
What did she learn at MAC Cosmetics?
That inclusivity could be a foundation. "Every shade of the foundation that you can" imagine was there.
How do you build a following with no blueprint?
Relentless trial and error. "There will be hundreds of my videos that have flopped... and you have to pick your butt back up and keep creating."
How does she keep content relatable across cultures?
By reworking revealing trends into modest looks. "We are the brown girls where we can't really show... so let's make this a little bit more modest."
How does she handle online hate and cancel culture?
By refusing to let it take root. "If you just allow those comments to take over, you're going to go into such a dark place that getting out is going to be very difficult."
Where is influencer marketing headed?
Creators replacing traditional ads. "People trust the influencers, and when you relate to a content creator, it brings such a powerful take on why brands should work with you."
How does she vet brand deals?
Authenticity first. "Would I genuinely recommend this if there wasn't a campaign attached to it?" She has refused deals that asked her to lie about results.
Does becoming an influencer make you rich?
Not how people assume. "Just because you make content does not mean you're gonna be rich." Her first brand deal paid about a thousand dollars.
Why do content creators need a plan B?
Platforms are not permanent. "You need a plan B." She kept her degree and built across Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and more.
What advice does she have for aspiring creators?
Start before you feel ready. "I learned by doing, by making mistakes, and by staying curious." Age is just a number.
Listen to the full episode with Marjan Tabibzada on Skin Anarchy, available wherever you get your podcasts.
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Why Representation Hits So Hard
SPEAKER_00Hey guys, welcome back to Skin Anarchy. We have such a special guest with us today. I am a huge fan of her content. I get so much info from her, her channel, just her reviews, and a lot of fashion, actually, more than anything else. So very, very excited. So please welcome Marjan Tamibsada. Welcome Marjan. So excited to have you. I'm so excited to be here.
SPEAKER_01That was such a sweet intro. Thank you.
SPEAKER_00From the heart, from the heart. I uh I'm really am a fan of your content and I love like you bring such a cool take because being a brown woman myself and growing up and never seeing us, you know, represented online, much less like in a space where it feels like you know the person, you know, like that influencer feeling. Like we never had that. So it's really cool.
SPEAKER_01Isn't it so sad? I I think it's such a it's so sad, but I'm really, really glad that we have so many more, you know, brown girls, Central Asian, all of us Middle Eastern girls in that category are like really we're doing it and we're killing it and we're in the spaces, and it just makes me so happy. It really, really does.
SPEAKER_00It's awesome. No, it's freaking awesome because like what I was saying about fashion, like I just love seeing the fashion. It's like finally. Love it.
SPEAKER_02I know, I know, and it does so well.
SPEAKER_01It does so well, and it's like I feel like we're in a space in content creation where like people want to see the culture, you know, because there's so many of us out there. So, like, you know, when I do like my going to my friend's, you know, Indian wedding and it's a three-day event, and you know, I do you know the outfits and the makeup looks, it's like they do so viral and they do so well because it's like we don't have that representation properly. And I'm I mean, I hope I'm doing it right, and yeah, yeah, I love it. I love to see it.
SPEAKER_00No, it's awesome because you know it's crazy. When I was growing up, so I'm uh coming up to my 40th birthday and in November, and when I was growing up, Bollywood was all we that's it. The only time you could see cool, amazing fashion from the east was Bollywood, you know. I remember when a few of those movies came out, like Dave Das is one of them.
SPEAKER_01Like I love Dave Das. I grew up on Bollywood too, by the way.
SPEAKER_00I know it's so common in all of our cultures. We all watch it, so yeah.
SPEAKER_01I learned how to speak Hindi because I I watched Bollywood movies, and it's funny because when I got um a uh brought into my fiance's family, they were like, Whoa, she knows how to speak the language, and I'm like, I'm not that good at it, but you know, I totally understand everything you guys are saying, and I can for sure hold a conversation.
SPEAKER_00Your Bollywood taught you well. I love that. No, I mean it's really, really cool, and I that's really where I want to start, you know, because your content really speaks to a demographic of women that we never saw ourselves representing, you know, and I think that's amazing, but also like just curiosity like where did it start for you? Like, I know no one wakes up one day and says, I'm gonna be an influencer, that's all I'm doing. So, like, what where were you before any social media, any of that?
SPEAKER_01Girl, I was I worked at so I basically was getting my degree for Bachelor's of Science in Marketing at Cal State Northridge. Um, I graduated with that. While I was getting that, I was working at Matt Cosmetics at the age of 18. I was the youngest at the at the entire department, and we worked, I worked at Nordstrom, so I was the Matt counter inside Nordstrom's. You know, we had counter goals, we had department goals to meet. And again, I had no sales experience. I was right out of high school. So I was doing that. I was doing freelance on the side, um, you know, taking on brides and bridesmaids and prom makeup. I was on set. And then on top of that, I was like posting the content on socials. And so I really felt like I was doing like a bajillion different things. And I'm so grateful enough that, you know, content creation really just picked up. It really just picked up. And when I graduated with my degree, I wanted to get into law school. I was like, that's kind of like the path that I want to take. But TikTok was blowing up, you know, we had reached like a million less than a million followers on TikTok, Instagram. We already had a you know, a significant amount of followers on there. So it was like a thing of like, I love doing this so much that and I see some sort of potential there. So why not just see where this can where this can go? And I'm so blessed that it's been a career for me that has been so beautiful. It really it really has been. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00I love that. I love that. I love that you um that you had your time at Mac, you know, because Mac like when I've yeah, I mean because like when I first learned about your journey, I was I was reading, you know, you were you were at Mac, and what is really insignificant, it's really significant about that is that I don't know, like Mac has always been that brand that like celebrated like everybody, you know. Like we never had that conversation of like shade range with Mac. Like we were always like Mac is it, you know, that's they know what they're doing. And so, you know, I would think one of the first sorry to cut you up over there.
SPEAKER_01I think one of the first had like 50 shades of a foundation, and like every shade of the foundation that you can.
SPEAKER_00I never, I never felt like I'm telling you growing up, even like 2004, 2003, 2004, going into a Mac store. I never felt like I couldn't be matched, you know what I mean? And that's why it's just like it's like so meaningful, I think, for a lot of brown and black people, that brand, because we found ourselves there before any other brand, you know, like and so I'd love for you to speak on that, like you because you started there, you know, and seeing diversity, and then how
From MAC Counter To Creator
SPEAKER_00did you bring that into your content when you really started getting like that following?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So with Mac, where when I had graduated high school, I was like looking for, you know, my first job, my first job out. And I had actually worked like part-time seasonal at like I think it was Abercrombie and Fitch. Um, and it was just like a like a seasonal job, but like right out of high school, I was like, Can you I need a job? You know, like I'm going, I'm going into college now, like I have bills to pay for. I did not come from a rich family. Like my dad was a security guard, he worked two jobs, like we had he had six kids, you know, and it was not a thing where I was like, Dad, I need money, or like, dad, fund my college. No, I was on financial aid, you know. So I needed a job. And for me, like I loved makeup so much. So I literally went into a Mac store and I was like, Are you guys hiring? And they gave me an application and they were like, fill it out, bring it back. I did that, and they're like, There's an interview process, you have to go. It was like, it was like the Mac store in Santa Monica, and there was like 200 people applying for like these positions. I'm so scared. And it's funny because I didn't even have my license at that time. My mom drove me and she was there with me. I was so scared because I'm like, oh my god, like I don't know what I'm doing, you know. Like, I don't know. And at that time, I didn't know anything about Mac. Like, I knew I didn't know product knowledge. I had only done makeup on myself. Like, it was like I was learning everything off YouTube. Like, that was the thing, right? And I went into my interview, and I feel like my personal personality and the way I dressed, because she complimented my outfit. Like, I love your outfit. Like, this is such an amazing outfit that you're wearing. Um, and it, you know, interview was done. I didn't hear a callback, so I was like, I'm I'm not gonna get this. Like, it is what it is, whatever. She called me back, she was like, Oh, by the way, loved you. We want to hire you. And I was like, Oh my god, like this is this is insane.
SPEAKER_00So that that was my that was my first job ever. That's really cool. And I like that. I mean, honestly, here's the thing about influencers, and I think a lot of people don't understand is that like you really have to love this. Like, you have to love. Like, if if you're in makeup or if you're in whatever you're in, like you gotta love it. Otherwise, there's no way. And I would love for you to talk about that because I think that there's so much misinformation in terms of like what it takes to gain a following, you know, can like walk us through that. Like, what was that like for you?
SPEAKER_01So I think for me, I always want to start off by saying at the end of the day, if you compare content creation to other jobs, it is it it doesn't even compare. Whereas, like, yes, content creation is not the hardest job. Yeah, it's one of the most rewarding jobs, you know, you can work from home, you make your own hours. So I never want to compare it and be like, you know, make it seem like our job is so freaking difficult that, like, you know, whatever. But I will say though, that in order to be a content creator, and when I started content creation, there was no blueprint. Okay, content creation was not looked at as a career to this day, uh right now, yes, there are agencies, there are PR people. Back then, that was like only for the the actors and the actresses and the celebrities, right? There was no blueprint, you had to do everything on your own, you know. And also at that time, you weren't getting paid, you know. My source of income was coming from Matt Cosmetics, you know, and I was getting paid $18 an hour or $17.50, something around, something along those lines. And so, like, it wasn't a thing where I was like, I'm making all of this freaking money. I was not, you know. So when I did content creation, it's because I loved it. I loved it. I would go to school, I would go do free freelance work. I worked at Matt Cosmetics, and content creation was literally just an extra thing that I did because I just loved it, and I loved showing my creativity, I loved showing people my different looks, all of that. So, like, yes, back to your point, you had to love what you were doing. That like point blank period, because you were not making a single dollar or dime that you and and even the amount of money that you're able to make now with content creation versus back then, yeah. Night and day difference. And also, not to mention, I got into the industry when all of the OG YouTubers were have already been established. So even getting on YouTube was so impossible because you know, you had the James Charles and the you know, Desi Perkins and the ILA Sarai that were already dominating the YouTube industry. So, like they already had like they were the ones, you know, that everybody's watching, and you're trying to build on YouTube. And I I was trying to get on YouTube for the longest time, and I girl, I was struggling, like nothing was working. So, like it it was definitely an industry back then to now it's nine and day difference.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I believe you, and that's so so interesting that you bring this up because I always wondered I was like diehard follower of the YouTube era for influencers. You know what I mean? Like I watched like every Jackie video, every single, you know, like literally like Carly Bybell, like those are my girls, yeah. Like honestly, same, same dude, same. And I like remember just being like, what's gonna happen once they leave and they go start their own brands, do their own thing, like YouTube. And I started to watch it happen, but then I always wondered, I'm like, how are people compare? Like, you know, like how do people compare you? Like, did you run into that when you started like really blowing up where people were comparing you to like maybe their favorite YouTuber or like I don't know, somebody they were just used to watching, you know, before TikTok became big.
SPEAKER_01It wasn't no, I never got to compare. I I was never compared to be honest with you. Like, I never dealt with that. Um, yeah, no, like I I honestly never dealt with that.
SPEAKER_00But like, no, not like compared like to a person, but like to like the like what came out of YouTube, you know, because the thing is like the content you guys started, like your generation of influencers is more short form, you know what I mean? It's more digestible, it's not like the 20-minute videos anymore. So, like, how did you like how was that for you in terms of like because you said there's no blueprint, you were watching the YouTube videos. How did you manage that and like navigate making your own kind of style? You know, like video length and like how to deliver and all of that stuff that you know we never hear about.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, honestly, it's all trial and error. It is literally all trial and error. There will be hundreds of my videos that have flopped, you know, girl, and you have to pick your butt back up and keep creating your cre keep creating the content. There were so many times where I would be like, This isn't working, or you know, like I would have my depressed moments, I would have burnout moments, you know. But at the end of the day,
Building Content With No Blueprint
SPEAKER_01when you have a passion for something, like there would be moments, girl, when I would be sleeping and I would wake up in the middle of the night because I had a video idea and I would jot it down in my notes. And then the next day I would make the content. So it's really like when you have that passion for it, even when you are down in the dumps and it's not working, there's something in you that like you still get up and you're like, it's okay, we're gonna make make something different, we're gonna do a whole new series or we're gonna try something completely different. And I think that's so that's sometimes really hard for creators to understand that like just because something isn't working, you change the direction, you know, and even figuring that out, I know is difficult. It's not, it's definitely not as easy because you're like, How? You know, and like what, but like you just you just gotta try new things.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, I know that makes a lot of sense. And I know it's like a weird question, but honestly, like it I wonder, you know, because I I watched like like your content and I'm just like, how do you because I couldn't do it, you know? Like I would be like so confused. Like, how do I? No, I mean, like, I don't I don't know, man. Like, it just looks like like there's so much you have to understand, you know, in terms of like what it where is your audience gonna like actually pay attention and where are they gonna trail off? And that that's actually one of my questions for you, is because your content really does resonate with so many people, so many women, like across the world, you know, especially like when you I feel like as a brown woman, I've been underrepresented and I'm sitting in America, you know what I mean? So, like for the women who are more international viewers of your content, I know they identify, you know, with you. And so, like, where like talk about that a little bit in terms of like how does that work? And like, how do you manage those? Do you get like emails from them or like messages where they're like, hey, listen, I love what you're wearing. I just couldn't wear that where I'm from, you know, like something like that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, 100%. And I feel like I feel like with me, even I I feel like there's so much that my audience relates to when it comes to the cultural aspect of things.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01You know, when I do my eat, get ready with me's, you know, like that's something that people are like, oh my God, finally, or even I mean, at the end of the day, you know, I I make content based off of what works for me and what could possibly be relatable to my audience, you know. And there is there will always be someone that either doesn't like it or it doesn't work with them. But I'm that's okay. You know, like that that is okay. Just because one outfit that I wear is too crazy doesn't mean another one that I make, you know, you can't wear it. And there's been so many, um, for example, outfit videos that I that I make or get ready with me videos, I try to take more of that modest take on it. Or, you know, I'll be like, listen, this is like a completely sheer dress. But you guys know we are the brown girls where we can't really show, we can't be, we got we can't be that revealing. So let's make this a little bit more modest. And I think that resonated with a lot of people too, because it'd be like, Oh, I love that you can take something so like skin, skin, you know, revealing and you know, make it so conservative, where like girls could wear that, something that they they could never think they could, but wow, you actually made it where we could actually wear that now.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, yeah, that's exactly what I was asking about because I know like that's tough, you know, because as I can speak as Indian women, we never saw ourselves like you know, represented in all the different styles and all the different ways. So it's like it's really interesting to watch, you know, in terms of like, oh, like we're like discovering fashion in a whole different way, even though we have our professional fashion outlets as well. You know, if you go over to the east, like that we have our fashion shows and stuff, like it was never seen the way Americans grew up, you know, watching their fashion represented. So I think that's very cool. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Oh, a 1000%. And I I think we are also seeing a shift in content where and maybe the next trend coming up is really just that transparency and also seeing cultures being represented in a way where it's not the norm that you normally see. Where, like, I feel like maybe five years ago it was always about the makeup tutorials and thing and fashion stuff. But now I feel like bringing in that cultural aspect into it because it's like there are so many people on social media and there's so many of us, you know, the Middle Eastern, the Central Asian, the brown, the brown gories, but it's like that representation isn't really there. And I feel like now that you're slowly seeing it, I do feel like there will be a shift of like, oh wow, that content creator, uh, you know, I can relate to on a deeper level because, you know, those are things that those are fashion things, those are makeup things that, you know, relate to me as someone that, you know, isn't, you know, a white girl.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah, not I hear you. I mean, that's that's the thing is like like the way it's actually opening up a lot of avenues for the younger generations. Like, I am just so excited when I see like younger girls, like 15-year-old, you know, like you're discovering like who you are, your identity, blending your cultures, and then to be able to have content that you can kind of understand. It's like a blueprint, it's a blueprint that we never had, you know.
SPEAKER_01I feel like like maybe like a couple of years back, it was embarrassing, you know, because it's like you didn't people didn't maybe share it because they were embarrassed or they didn't think people would care for it, or you know, things like that. But now that you're seeing, you know, creators talk about these things, and I feel like the younger generation is seeing too. And I feel like it's a sense of proudness as well. You know, it's a sense of like, oh my god, yes, girl, like I want to wear my traditional outfits and I wanna, you know, show that I'm wearing a sorry to a wedding because it's so beautiful, you know, and so like just things like that that I feel like um I'm just so happy to see the representation. I really am.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, it's really, really, it's really cool, and it's a really cool time to be like on social media, I think. I uh in my opinion, like even though like the YouTube era had like an immense impact, you know, on culture, like on Western culture and everything, and and that will be always be what it was. But I feel like right now social media has become so easy to find your person on here, you know, like you can find that one creator that's going to really resonate. And I know a lot of young people get like like life advice, you know, like genuine advice about like how to live and how to deal with situations. And I would love for you to like kind of speak on that
Culture, Modesty, And Relatability
SPEAKER_00in terms of because I feel like there's so much responsibility that's put on your shoulders when you have a following of like one million, two million, three million, you know, like it's really something that you do, I'm sure, internalize and deal with. So I'd love for you to speak about that, you know, in terms of like being a responsible creator, making sure that your content is like, you know, something that people can really feel is evergreen and makes a lasting impact.
SPEAKER_01I feel like that's one thing that I struggle with sometimes, though too. Because I feel like when you have so many eyes on you and you go from like a thousand followers to now millions of followers, there is that sense of responsibility that comes from, you know, speaking out on specific things or you know, just what whatever it may be. And sometimes I feel like influencers get this really bad rep of like, you know, if you post about things, you get really hate for it. And if you don't post about things, you get you gay hate for it. So like finding that middle ground, I feel like we honestly still struggle with. And um it makes it where like it's very, very hard to talk about things when you know that as an influencer, you're you just there that stereotype of like of like, you know, like oh, you know, you just live this lavish life and like whatever. Like it's just it's just like we don't really care. Like we we want you to talk about it, but also when we give the opinions and we say it, it's just never good enough, you know. So I feel like that's something that is also hard for us because it's like at the end of the day, we're also human and sometimes we don't know how to talk about things, you know, we don't know how to we don't know how to say it in the most perfect way. Um, and just because we don't, doesn't mean we don't relate or that we don't understand. Um, but um that definitely is something that I feel like I struggle with. I'm not gonna lie to you. And something, you know, recently happened to me where, you know, I spoke out about something and you're getting you're getting good and you're getting you're getting the the love and the hate. So it's really you're just sitting there like, you know, you you're kind of like if you do it, you win, and if you don't do like I'm sorry, if you do it, you lose, and if you don't do it, you lose. So like that's definitely something that I feel like as influencers we we struggle with.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I can definitely see that. And you know, it's interesting because I watch all this hate. Like I I honestly like I'm just sitting online most of the time trying to wrap my head around like why people come at influencers so hard when in reality you're out here, you're sharing your life, you're you know what I mean, you're giving people a sneak into what they wouldn't have the courage to do. Like a lot of us wouldn't have the courage to put our life on the internet. That's just a fact, you know what I mean? And I and I would love for you to speak on this because there is a lot of hate online, you know, there's a whole cancel culture movement, there's this whole like doesn't matter how good of you know, like you could do 90 things that are amazing and you do 10 things that are maybe like whatever, and it's like people want to cancel you right away. Like, I would love for you to sp to speak about this because I think it really, really matters right now, you know, and I and I hate seeing it.
SPEAKER_01So I absolutely hate seeing it. I feel like cancel culture is uh is brutal. I'm not even gonna lie to you. It is so brutal. It's like you and then getting canceled for like the littlest things. Yeah. And I feel like some and I feel like genuinely sometimes cancel culture just comes from you know, groups of people that just have already. Not not liked you. And then they may find one thing that you're doing wrong. And they're like, oh, this is the moment, you know, and they get that moment. And it's unfortunate. But I think at the end of the day, um, and I can speak only only for myself, is when you know and you're true to yourself, and you just know your heart. And for me, I'm always like, you know, God knows me, God knows, you know, my true intentions on whatever a situation can be. Like, I just I just leave it to God sometimes. Like, you know, it is what it is. What can what really what can you do? Nothing.
SPEAKER_00That's that's why you can't do anything. Yeah, you can't do shit. And that's I think that's what pisses me off. Like, that's what pisses me off the most about that whole thing is like you guys sit and you become keyboard freaking warriors over like, okay, I would understand if it's like a controversial topic, right? Like a lot of creators post things that are like, you know, they're meant to start up the pot, meant to start up a conversation. But like I'm seeing, I am seeing so much nonsense just about like appearances of people, skin color, like the most like honestly, I would say like passive aggressive uh racism that I've ever seen in my life in these comments. And I'm just like sitting there, I'm like, do you not understand like what you guys are spreading? You know what I mean? Like when you do that.
SPEAKER_01So when me and my husband got married, yeah, I was like, What is wrong with people? What is wrong with people? Because I feel like with us, like we so this is also another thing, right? At the end of the day, like for me personally, like I receive so much more love than I do hate. Um, so it's like I also don't usually let it get to me because I feel like I have such a good community and such good supporters that like it's just noise at the end of the day. And also when you are in this industry, as people like to say it, like you're you that that's just how it is. Like you, that's what you signed up for.
Responsibility, Hate, And Cancel Culture
SPEAKER_01So okay, uh, you know, I I I I'll I'll I'll give that to them. But you know, when when it was my wedding and I posted, because again you need to keep in mind I'm Afghan, my husband's Pakistani, and obviously there's just so many differences uh politically in that that the way that people like I would I literally couldn't even imagine some of the things people were saying. And I was like the audacity, you know, it's like it's like it's like I cannot stop what is you know happening, you know, in other countries, you know, and and it's like uh like what am what are you guys expecting me to do? Like I like literally like was like what do you guys expect? And they're like people be like, oh, you marry the enemy, like how dare you, how dare you marry the enemy, you know, or how dare you not, how dare you not marry like an Afghan person and like things like that. And I'm just sitting there like like what? Yeah, like what's that's why I asked you. Like, I'm like, I like I couldn't believe some of the things that people were just like like how dare you marry that that person that's like you're the enemy of the country, or and I'm like, what is wrong with you guys?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, because it becomes like it becomes like a forum for people to like unleash their hate, you know, in all aspects of life. And it's like I don't understand how we get like I mean, I don't, but I know there are a lot more people now that at least I'm seeing than I saw like 10 years ago, you know. Like I maybe I was blind 10 years ago and I didn't notice it as much, but like lately, for some reason, every time I go into a great creator's comments, it's I mean, Marjon, some of the things are like when you're commenting on women and their their appearance, when you're commenting on people's like eye color, when you're commenting on like I don't just the most absurd crap. I'm just looking at it and I'm like, Oh yeah, you should never give any influence or any hate ever in life because you guys go through so much unnecessary crap, you know what I mean? In terms of like, yeah, there's a lot of good, but yeah, it's a lot of criticism.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, trust me, girl. I have seen those comments, I've been a part of those comments. I but again, at the end, at the end of the day, it's like it's like if you just allow those comments to take over, you're going to go into such a dark place that getting out is going to be very difficult, you know. And I'm so grateful that I have been in this industry for like 10 years now, where now I know how to filter all of that out and just realize like like okay, say what you gotta say. And at the end, I've I I've read it all, I've seen it all, whatever. And also, you know, um, I always say if you don't, if you don't have haters, you're not also not really winning. You're you're you're really if you're not being talked about in positive and in negative ways, like you're really not that um, you're not that really you're not that sorry, you're not that relevant. So I give it to me y'all. I don't care. I love that. I'll take it.
SPEAKER_00I love that attitude. No, I'm I'm with you and I'm I'm always cheering you on. I think you're you're brilliant with your content. And I think, you know, here's the thing. I I really want to ask you this because I feel like we're now headed in a new direction when it comes to certain things with like the whole influencer scene. You know, I know there's a lot of um like activities and you know, like collaborations you've worked on that are very, very meaningful. And I'd love for you to speak on this, where it's like, where do you think the influencer industry is headed when it comes to the intersection with beauty? Like I know that, for example, I'll give you an example where everybody was doing brand activations, right? Like activation trips, like you know, going overseas, that blew up for a long time. Now we're seeing a lot more, like they want more candidate. Like, where do you think this industry at large is headed? And do you think we're repeating the same thing over and over again? Or do you think it's getting, I don't know, progressing, I should say?
SPEAKER_01I think it's definitely getting progressive. I feel like the in the industry for influencers is blowing up like crazy. I mean, did you see Cans Lion? Like insane, you know, like a couple years ago, nothing. Now it's like, I mean, I think I think literally like influencers really run the marketing of brands on such grander scale things. I mean, I can't say too much, but even this weekend alone, we I one of my biggest dreams is coming true, okay? And it is a moment in where like something that years ago you're like, there's no way. But really, the opportunities that influencer influencers are getting, and um, but also you have to also understand that these opportunities don't come if influencers wouldn't they're they're not really getting or or showing the results that they're showing to brands, you know. For example, for example, I did one video of my phone falling 10 floors off the St. Legis building. Okay, yeah, that video has like has a million, like a million people like that video on TikTok alone, a million people. Okay, people in the comments are like, This is this is the perfect ad for Apple. Yeah, this is the perfect ad for like if like whatever case you use, I need to know it because I need to buy it, you know. So, like, and at the end of the day, like who watches commercials nowadays? Yeah, who watches even when you're on take on YouTube? I want to skip the damn ad. I don't want to see the ad, you know, but really people trust the influencers, and when you relate to a content creator, it brings such a powerful take on why brands should work with you, right? Because you have this the source of trust. So I really see the influencer, you know, industry just continue continuing to just blow blow up in like ways where like I think we're gonna possibly get rid of celebrities and we're gonna be the faces of pretty big big brand and stuff.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I definitely can see that because like there's so much, like like that. I saw that video by the way that you're referring to like this is brilliant. Like, I don't I I know it happened, but this is really, really brilliant. And it's it was actually crazy. Yeah, no, that's crazy. That like literally, yeah, like that is like something where it's like that's the kind of content that we never get. Like, I feel like ads, I always wonder this, but I'm like, whoever is like managing ads on like meta, like you need to learn something from like what what's going on, like you know, how do you really make things like actually pop and be interesting to people? Because we still have this like gap between like traditional marketing and like where you can tell it's fake, you it nobody cares, you know, and then what influencers do is like so so different, you know what I mean? So it's like there's you gotta fill that gap, that understanding gap, you know. And I I'm actually curious, like, what are some brand deals? I know because at your stage, like you have millions and millions of followers at this point. What are some of the things that you really screen for in a brand deal? Like what really matters to you versus red flags that you're always trying to avoid, you know, it doesn't matter who it is.
SPEAKER_01I mean, for me personally, you know, I feel like authenticity starts, you know, long before a contract does, um, you know, with a with a brand. And, you know, the first question that I always ask myself is would I genuinely recommend this, you know,
Influencer Marketing Versus Traditional Ads
SPEAKER_01this if there wasn't a campaign attached to it. And I feel like the best partnerships are really the ones where the brand, you know, already fits naturally into my routine. And those collaborations, you know, don't feel like advertisements, you know, they feel like sharing something that I had already been talking about. So that's really that's really how I I distinguish between like, do I want to work with you or do I not want to work with you? It's like it just really has to fit into like um my content.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that makes sense. I mean, I just feel like wonder because I know I like and this is I'm like nowhere near where you are, obviously, but I remember getting uh an email once and like it was wild, right? Because this brand was like, not only do we want you to promote this product, we want you to make up like ratings for another brand and rate them badly, you know what I mean? And then it was like, and these were like major brands, like it wasn't like you know, and it was I'm just sitting here and I'm like, if I got this email, you know, and I'm like like literally not doing this at all, right? And it's like if I'm getting this and this was a legit brand, I wonder what people are really getting, you know, where it's like, where do you, as you know, having your platform draw that line and say, like, okay, I will even no matter who you are, you know what I mean? I'm not crossing this line. Like, that's kind of what I'm asking.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I could never do that. I could never be like, if a brand thankfully, I've never I've never had a situation like that where a brand's like, this is the campaign, this is the deal, but we need you to lie and say that this changed this, this, this part of your skin or whatever it is. And I would never say yes to that. Because at the end of the day, if you think about it, right? If people are buying the product and it's not working, they're going to comment or they're gonna say, This is bullshit, girl. Like Marshawn, you completely about this. And it's like, I don't want to do, I wouldn't want to deal with that, you know, and I would never want my followers or the community that I've built on trust to feel like they can trust me anymore because then what it what what what is the point?
SPEAKER_00You know, what that's why that's exactly why I'm asking you because here's the thing not everyone is, you know, where you are, right? So there's like, I feel like there's this like this subculture that's developed over time where it's like, you know, the smaller content creators are like, well, I just want to get to this level, you know, like I want to have like three million followers or whatever their goal is, and they're like, I feel like I have to do certain things to get there. And I would love for you to like give advice to that demographic of like, how do you stay true to yourself? And how do you like kind of like pass up on the money if you have to, you know, but you stay true to who you are because of what you were saying, you know, like the trust aspect.
SPEAKER_01So I don't think doing that is going to get them to any level. I think it's going to hold them back because your audience is so smart, just audiences in general, people are so smart, they can they can find BS so quickly, you know. And not to mention, we're also in a day and age where everybody has access to the same products, you know, and like you make a video saying this worked on you, someone else will be like, girl, that is a lie, that did not work on me, you know. And if your audience is picking up that like you're just lying and it's a facade, they're going to know that. Like, trust me, like audio, like people on socials know when somebody's BSing, like there's no way to get around it, and there's no way of trying to level up when you're just lying to get your way because it will always come back full circle.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. No, I think that's such an important message, though, genuinely, because I feel like what influencer culture did for a lot of people was like this like just terrible understanding. I feel like it's just such a misunderstanding that it's like you become an influencer and you're instantly rich. And so it's like now we have no culture, yeah.
SPEAKER_01That is the biggest misconception. And I will be here to tell your audience that right now. Just because you make content does not mean you're gonna be rich. I was making content for years before I ever got my first brand deal. When I got my first brand deal, they paid me maybe like a thousand dollars. Okay, and that was like um them asking for like a bajillion videos, a bajillion reposts, a da da da da da. Like that is so not true. Even when I was making a couple brand deals here and there, I was still working at Matt Cosmetics. I was still freelancing, I was making more money doing freelance makeup as a makeup artist on the side for like six to seven girls than I was on social media for years, for years.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, see, that's exactly what I wanted to hear from you, you know, like that genuine feedback because like I just I worry so much about the youth, you know, because they're like a lot of people. I don't know if you've seen these videos, but like like I swear the other day I saw a video, and this girl was going, I'm not even bothering with college, like, I'm not gonna go to college, I'm not gonna do anything.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, do that, and and again, look at my example. I still got my degree, yeah. I still graduated, you know. I still was like, I'm getting a degree. I you need a plan B. Okay, yeah. Content, let me tell you something, okay? TikTok got banned almost like four times. Okay, all of the the these uh uh you know, content creators have millions of followers. Let's say TikTok got banned. What what the hell would you have done? Would you have what would you have done? You know, like you need a plan B, you know. Um, whether that's I mean, even even another advice that I I love to give is make sure that you are making content on more than one platform. Okay,
Authentic Brand Deals And Money Myths
SPEAKER_01your source of income and content should not just be, for example, on TikTok alone. You know, we and that was something that I learned from the start. That's why we have a platform on Instagram. We have over a million on Instagram, we have over, you know, millions on TikTok, we have almost several millions on YouTube, we have a Snapchat series, like you cannot rely on one platform because as we have seen time and time again, platforms come and go, and you have to be able to transfer everything. Threads just came out, like you have to be able to be relevant on several different platforms, and you cannot, um you cannot rely on on one at all.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, I'm so glad you said that. And I and I feel like that's so like there's a real business strategy to this. That's really what I was like trying to get at with my question was like that's where I think a lot of people don't realize, you know, like okay, you might be starting off and you might be blowing up, but like there's a strategy that needs to be here, you know, and a plan in place, and you cannot replace proper education with anything else. Like that's my belief, you know. Like I feel like you need in something in life, you need to be educated, whether you're going to college, whether you're doing something, like you gotta have something that it's more than social media, you know? And I I feel like a lot of the youth they just fall into that trap of like, screw it. And you know who I blame honestly for that is all of the bros, like the Silicon Valley bros that, like, you know, no, seriously, because they're like out here and they're like, Oh, I'm a high school dropout and I'm uh I'm this and this and this.
SPEAKER_01And I'm like, but do people not there's some stories that okay, yeah, there's outliers, you know, there's stories that you know 1000%. I have several family members that did not go to college, but they are millionaires right now. Um, and they are killing it. So yes, uh sure, but I always think that there needs to be, yes, like you said, a strategy, a plan, and it has to make sense, you know, because at the end of the day, when you are in your 18 and your 19 and your 20, like you're dreaming, you know. But when you start getting, you know, older, you know, now you're 25, 26, now you're getting into 30s, like real world sets in where you're like, wait, I may get married one day. You know, my husband may may not be, you know, may you may not work. Oh, God forbid, something happens and they get injured. You're responsible. You have kids now. You know, what if your kid has a disability? Like, there is real world problems that actually end up happening, and you have to financially be ready for that. You know, some people are blessed to have um rich parents. A lot are are not. I was one of them. My dad was a security guard. He, you know, uh worked two jobs, you know, trying to feed six kids, you know. So like it was not like a thing where like it was like, I'm gonna just go make content and I'm gonna make bajillions of dollars and I'm gonna know, you know. And I was also a part of that thing, uh, that era where TikTok was getting banned. And I'm like, shoot, like we had like three million followers on here and gone in gone in a night. You know, so now you now you have to figure out now what are you gonna do? Like, what's what's what's plan B?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's that's really like that's what it is, is like I feel like you gotta build your skills in some way, you know what I mean? If that's not school for you or it's not college, that's fine. But like there needs to be some sort of a skill you're building over time. It's that's that's genuinely what I feel like. And I think a lot of times the youth just thinks, like, if I have an iPhone, if I'm sitting in front of my phone making content about, I don't know, eating pizza, you know, like I'm gonna just turn into an influencer. Like, I've seen that, you know, I've seen these videos, and I'm just like, guys, what are we doing? Like, let's go to school. Let's go back to let's go back to college, you know.
SPEAKER_01The thing with me is I never but see, some some can make it though. Yeah, oh, and so I think I think there's there's it's like a it's this thing, you know, there's also like pretty culture, you know. Some people blow up just because they're pretty. That is a very, very real thing. I have seen it time and time again, you know. So it's like everybody's situation and scenario is different, and some are blessed to become overnight successes, period. Others, like me, have had a, you know, we have worked day and night. It has been a long um time to get to places that I want to be. But I'm so grateful that I have been able to stay relevant for almost every single era of social media now, right? So, again, strategy comes into place. You have to know your audience, you really have to know what you want to do. And, you know, also you need proper teams. You know, back when I started when I'm there was no blueprint, there was no blueprint. Now that there is blueprints, there is a lot that goes into place. There is managers, there is PR people, there is agencies, like there is a whole bunch of stuff. And also keep in mind, in order to get into those um rooms, you have to be able to show that you have something to offer, you know. So you can't just be like, I'm a content creator. That's fine, but also so are a lot of people. You know, this industry also has become very, very saturated, and you have to be able to be like, you have to kind of stick out nowadays, also.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. No, I can imagine how competitive it is. And it's really no, I I have a lot of respect for like the influencer, like, you know, just community at large because I know it's really, really tough. And I think that's why I asked you that question to when we started off was like, you know, like kind of walk us through some of your war stories or something because I know it's tough. And I just I I really hope that whoever's wanting to go into this, like they understand that, you know, like like anything else, this takes work, it takes dedication, it takes consistency. Like you gotta, you can't skip over that part, you know, that kind of thing. So yeah, very interesting.
SPEAKER_01No, I sometimes my husband wanted to get into content creation. Like sometimes he'd be like, Oh, I come, you know, like and he and he'll try it and he's like, I don't even know how you're doing this, this is way too hard for me. But he's a doctor, he's you know, he's a dentist, and you know, he has an established career, and he's he even him, he'd be like, Oh, like content creation, like like whatever. And then he would try it and he's like, Babe, like just standing and talking in front of a camera is such an awkward thing, and it's so cute. Cause we would, I would do a trend, like in my we went to Miami Swim Week and I was doing a trend with him, and it was like he had like three words he had to say, and he couldn't do it. And he's like, It's mirror, like practicing, and it's so cute. But he's like, babe, like this is actually really difficult, you know. And there's also a sense of like, as a content creator, you have to have the phone this in in in in public, in private, and and that's also a sense of like uh I don't know how you do that. I don't know how you do that. You have to be able to be like in an airport and you're like, hi guys, and you know, embarrassed that the people next to you think you're a psycho, you know, or you're like you have to do things like in the moment, and it's there's also that fear that like you know, some people can't do, but you if you want to do it, you got you you you you have you have you have to do those things.
SPEAKER_00I love that, and yeah, thank you for keeping it real because that's that's true, that's so true. And you know, I'm I'm curious like what have been some of your favorite, like I don't know, like maybe like brand collaborations or just opportunities you've gotten, you know, as you've progressed on on your journey.
SPEAKER_01Oh my gosh, my first billboard in Times Square was that last year, I think that was. And it was three billboards right where the ball dropped on New Year's. And I was just like, oh my god. When you don't have that representation, or when you are not
Plan B Strategy And Career Milestones
SPEAKER_01the ideal candidate of someone that should be on a billboard in Times Square. And to see, you know, us being represented or having those opportunities, it's like such a surreal moment. And it makes me emotional. I don't want to cry, but like it makes me so emotional because it's like you look back on times and the hard work and the dedication that it took, and being able to be a part of those opportunities is just like it's so surreal, girl. You know, and when we went to New York and we like saw it and it was like so massive. Oh my God. And I was just like, I cannot believe that's me on a billboard in Times Square, you know, and we went there again at night and I was like, this is crazy. Um, and I'm I'm just I'm just blast, or you know, when you go on brand trips, like we literally went to Paris with Clarence and like, you know, be even being able to fly like business class and first class. And these are just experiences that like I don't ever want to take for granted, or I don't want everybody, anybody to ever think that I'm not, I'm so grateful. I so bl I'm so blessed um to even be in spaces like that. I think it's it's it's amazing. So yeah, I love that. So I am the face of the campaign for Sephora in Times Square for the entire month of July. Oh my god. I am the face of Dermalogica's campaign, you know. Yeah, in Sephora. So I'm literally after this, I'm flying out to New York to see the billboard. It runs every five minutes, every five minutes run for the entire month of July. I'm I'm so excited. Congratulations, I'm so excited. I've been so emotional. Like, you have no idea. I have been crying almost every single day because it and it comes down to like the fact that like you I look back at my career and I just think about like I was that girl that like you know grew up with six siblings. My dad, you know, like you just think about that. Like, we did not have the easiest life. I did not come from a rich family, you know. When you would think when I would go to New York and I would go to Times Square, I would look at these billboards and I'd be like, there is no way that I could ever see myself there because I'm like, I don't have the resources. How would how would you do that? How would you even make something like that possible? You know, coming from the backgrounds that you know some of us have, you know, it was always like a like a dream, and I would be in uh rooms where I felt like I was looked at like, yeah, I know, okay, yeah, billboard, yeah, let's put that in as a goal. But like, uh, who's gonna put you on a billboard? Like, who, who, like, who's gonna put you on a billboard? You know, I don't fit the stereotypical like uh model, you know, look or you know, whatever. So, you know, for it to happen, it just I just look back at my um just my my life, and I'm just I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful.
SPEAKER_00It's so I'm gonna be crying the whole time because it's so so well deserved. You are such a beautiful human being, and your content resonates with so many of us, and I'm so excited for you. Seriously, my heart. Congratulations, dude. That's cute.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so much, and it's it really, I I give it all to all of the girls out there in the world that you know have these dreams and these goals, and they don't think it's possible because they're living in situations where they're like, you know, struggling, you know, living with you know uh uh you know, families where it's like so difficult to put even put food on on the table, and you're just like, oh my god, like this is a dream that I have, but there's just no way I'm there's no way it's there's a way.
SPEAKER_00There is like that's what that's honestly like what I had asked you. Like when I I remember asking this question earlier in the interview where I like that's exactly it, right? Because like there was a post you made, and I swear I was bawling for five minutes watching it over and over again, and it was like a simple post, but like you were just it was just words on like you know, two pictures, and one of the bottom picture was a woman that you know she full hijab, like you know, she couldn't like do certain things, and like you were like in the you write you're writing, like don't complain about little things. You know, like think about everybody that cannot do this and can't have this opportunity. And I think that's to me what stands out so much about you is that you're like you're putting this in a in a place that like a lot of women are gonna see and they're gonna be like that's me, you know, like that really resonates with them. They can really understand, like, oh, this is an actual thing that can happen, you know, in the world. Like I and that's so so powerful, dude. Like on so many, so many scales. And I I'm so glad that Sephora is doing this first of all. That's amazing, you know.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, it's been something that I I've had to keep a secret for like a good two months now, and it's happening literally tomorrow. And I'm I'm so grateful. I I cannot, I can't wait. And I'm I'm just so grateful. I'm so grateful. I'm so happy, it's gonna be amazing. I I I can't wait.
SPEAKER_00You're gonna kill it.
SPEAKER_01You're gonna kill it, and it's gonna be amazing.
SPEAKER_00I'm so excited for you. No, that's beautiful. I'm so excited. And yeah, I just want to wrap up the interview, Marjon, just by asking for you to kind of give some words of wisdom, you know, for all of the the young ladies out there that are, you know, trying to make their way through life and the world and navigate this whole crazy social media scene, you know, that's going that's happening right now. Like any words of wisdom you can offer about like where to start, what to do, how to like keep yourself going, you know, motivation.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I would tell people to stop waiting until they feel ready. You know, I think a lot of us believe we need to have everything figured out before we start, but that's really how it works. You know, I didn't have any answers when I started creating content. I learned by doing, by making mistakes, and really by staying curious. And sometimes you just have to start and trust that you're gonna figure it out along the way. So do not do not wait, just start. And that has nothing
Start Before You Feel Ready
SPEAKER_01to do with content creation, that's with anything, anything, you know. Like we as women are so we can we really can do anything, you know. And I think maybe there's like this stigma of like, you know, you we can't, or it's harder for us. Like it's not, it's not, and I think age is just a number. I love that. I love that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it is just number, it is just a number, yeah. Absolutely. I mean, that's that's awesome. And I and I really, really just I I love your content. I hope you keep going forever.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you're even the sweetest. You're such a you're such a joy.
SPEAKER_00Like, I just talking to you. No, I just I I love these kind of like just normal conversations, you know. Like I love just being able to sit down with women and just talk, just talk, you know. I feel like women don't get to talk a lot. We don't get to like learn about each other enough, you know. And and it's it's so cool. It's so cool to learn about what you stand for and like you know who's behind the content. So this has been very cool for me to get to know you a little bit.
SPEAKER_01I've had I had the best time talking to you. You I felt like you were a friend. Awesome. Well, thank you so much, and I'd love to do it again if you ever have time. So always thank you, my love, and you have a wonderful day. Me too. Take care.