What It’s Really Like to Be … a Viral Beauty Content Creator on TikTok
Stephanie Valentine
Name: Stephanie Valentine a.k.a. Glamzilla
Area: Toronto, Canada
Job: Attractiveness Written content Creator
Folks: Where did the name Glamzilla occur from?
When I was 15, I would have to get all set for school but we only had 1 mirror and it was in the washroom. I have 5 siblings, so while they were having completely ready I would go in concerning each individual of them and try and complete my makeup. I would be operating late and my mother would say, “Stephanie, halt becoming these types of a glamzilla!” The title trapped and I’ve been employing it ever considering that.
What had been you accomplishing before you decided to turn out to be a creator complete time?
I in fact went to law enforcement university. I’m Asian so my mother was like, “You might be both going to be a health practitioner, nurse, attorney or policeman.” I selected law enforcement school and I graduated with honors.
In university, the women would say, “Are you informed this isn’t really fashion course?” I was mortified. I should’ve been in style course! Police university took two decades to end and when I started out doing work in the subject as a court clerk, I was not happy. The happiest part of my day was matching my lipstick to my patterned pants, which was the only fashionable product I was allowed to wear. I would place on MAC lipstick and share it on the net as my lipstick of the working day. I’ve been in essence accomplishing that ever considering that. Even even though police faculty was not for me, it was even now the most astounding studying expertise of my lifestyle. It built me enjoy human beings, and recognize community.
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What made you come to a decision to quit and how did you make your mind up to produce articles right after that?
I was functioning and emotion disappointed, but nonetheless posting my looks on Instagram. Just one working day, I was at perform and my manager spilled espresso on the flooring — then told me to clean up it up. That moment was the very last straw. I known as my boyfriend crying and told him I was likely to give up. He asked me what I was going to do and I informed him I was going to be “an Instagrammer,” and I have by no means appeared back again. It can be been officially 7 many years.
When I quit my career, my manager laughed at me. She explained, “So you’re quitting your job to put up on the internet and become a make-up artist?” My household also failed to get it at the time. As considerably as I would really like to tell you that I felt supported, I didn’t. I experienced anything stacked towards me. I was kicked out of my household at 16. I had to stay with my boyfriend’s family mainly because my spouse and children disowned me. It was a tough time.
My boyfriend Byron told me not to fear. He claimed that we would focus on me and my aspiration whilst he labored his $20-an-hour task. Then, when I produced it, it would be his transform to abide by his dreams. I am so content to say that Byron lastly give up his work this yr, and it can be all about him now that my desire has occur correct.
Can you walk me by way of your initially yr as a written content creator?
When I initial obtained started, Instagram was definitely well-liked. It was the Insta-filter and slash-crease era. I wasn’t doing complete protection make-up at the time, so I did not come to feel like I in good shape in but I usually caught to what I favored and considered in. The 1st yr was the hardest. I acquired make-up in its place of paying my rent or groceries simply because I felt like it fed me more. I understood it was likely to do much more for me than nearly anything else, so I caught to it. There was hardly ever a Prepare B, there was only Glamzilla. I was identified to make it operate.
What was your activity approach?
I decided that I was likely to be all the things I failed to see in the splendor neighborhood at the time. Most people had been publishing something just to make a brief buck. If I was going to article a video clip, I was heading to be honest with the intention of introducing value to the group. I needed to be that person who I actually required at that time.
When did you very first start seeing it economically pay off for you?
I did it for absolutely free for about five yrs. For the very last 10 yrs, I have posted every single solitary day. It was hardly ever about the revenue for me. It was about me freaking out about how a great deal I cherished a new lipstick simply because I located peace in it. It’s my legitimate enthusiasm. I however freak out about lipstick to this working day.
What did you do to have spending cash while you have been producing information for these to start with five decades?
My boyfriend Byron labored 12 hrs a working day, 6 times a 7 days. Which is how we paid out for our rent, foods and makeup palettes.
Glamzilla/Instagram
We all want a Byron in our existence.
I know. I am content he last but not least will get to refresh and obtain his passion now. He is my other fifty percent. I would not be nearly anything if our paths in no way crossed at the appropriate time.
What manufactured you make the soar to TikTok?
My buddy from Maybelline claimed my material was awesome, but it was intended for TikTok. I tried out it and my 1st video clip went viral on Dec. 23, 2020. I was performing one particular-moment makeup evaluations for 10 many years, so I felt like the platform was made for me. The pandemic designed TikTok even more well known, so it was good timing.
The moment your initial video clip went viral, did you feel pressure to continue to keep pumping out viral movies?
I write-up organically. The crazy element is that I posted my 1st one at 1 o’clock in the early morning due to the fact that is when I was producing material. I really don’t attempt to be strategic. I seriously just publish when I come to feel like it and I only submit items that I genuinely appreciate. My films have been getting tons of views since there was nobody executing a just one-moment critique. It was all about makeup transitions at the time, so I was equipped to arrive in with a thing distinctive.
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As a person of the best natural beauty creators on the app proper now, can you wander me by way of an regular working day?
I wake up when my human body needs me to wake up, or when the mailman buzzes my door. We have grow to be ideal close friends and he will get a great Xmas gift every single yr because he has to provide all of my PR packages. Once I kind what I am heading to check out and what I’m heading to incorporate to my donation pile, I get ideal into it. I occasionally film up to 30 video clips a day, but only the best of the greatest make it to TikTok that week. I would say half of my evaluations are from PR and the other 50 % are items I acquire. I am always actively searching for what is new and attention-grabbing. I also publish back to each individual single DM I get. If anyone normally takes the time to publish to you, it suggests a whole lot.
My donation pile will finally go toward the Glamzilla Vacation Elegance Travel I host each individual 12 months. I develop baggage of the most effective natural beauty items I have and then my followers occur to satisfy me to invest in a bag from me. Then, I donate that money to the Red Doorway Family Shelter in Toronto.
When I was 16, the Pink Doorway Family Shelter assisted me. I was remaining at that shelter with my family members, and I will under no circumstances neglect it due to the fact I bear in mind feeling so unfortunate. There was a woman there who told me not to worry due to the fact one particular day I would do fantastic matters. She was this kind of a beautiful girl and her text stayed with me. Now that I am in this situation in everyday living, I make giving back a precedence. Numerous influencers pick out to donate their make-up, which is excellent, but when it comes to larger triggers, what men and women definitely need to have is food stuff, clothes and shelter. I preferred to change all that makeup into money so people can buy little one system and things they genuinely need to have.
Glamzilla/Instagram
You have opened up about getting a curvy woman in the magnificence place and how it can feel isolating. Can you discuss about what you’ve got discovered from remaining so open up and susceptible about it?
It took me forever. It’s been a challenging journey, but a gorgeous a single at that. When I started out, there was no one particular that looked like me. There ended up also no moreover-dimensions girls on the brand visits I would be on, and I felt so significantly pressure to be “bikini-body prepared” and contour like outrageous. On a recent excursion, I realized I would be surrounded by men and women in bathing satisfies and stunning clothes and I understood I had two alternatives: keep in my home and be unhappy or get up this place I never experienced in advance of whilst I was trying to turn out to be a elegance articles creator.
Now, I come to feel empowered mainly because I made a decision to consider up house as an Asian, curvy lady. This is the new generation of splendor, and I am a section of it now. This is me, and I hope I inspire some others to do the same.
With so a lot of celebs coming out with manufacturers these days, which brand do you consider is fully worth the hoopla suitable now?
There are two: Rihanna’s Fenty Natural beauty and Selena Gomez’s Unusual Natural beauty. Both are productive simply because they align with the celebrity driving it. There is certainly a tale to each individual brand, and they’re also actually inclusive. They are undoubtedly top the new era of splendor.
Have you experienced any movie star encounters that have left you thoroughly starstruck?
Rihanna. Rihanna understood who I was when she observed me. She mentioned she viewed my video clips and enjoys them. That was awesome!
What is the best assistance you can give to a person who feels intimidated to turn out to be a natural beauty articles creator?
Stick to your enthusiasm and lead with kindness. Be trustworthy, susceptible and constant. Most importantly, just take up the place you have earned and be your self. Some thing I generally say is remain fierce and be unapologetically you. I’ve said that because the initial working day I started off, and it signifies a whole lot far more to me now.
