As you ladies know, I’m in college and I really like makeup. Well, should I just be real and say OBSESSED? Okay, I will. I’m obsessed with makeup. But it all began with YouTube. I was never beauty-crazy until my sophomore year of college when my Spanish teacher showed the class a haul video that was in Spanish, duh. But I was like, what?? There are videos on the Internet of girls just discussing what beauty products they buy and love?! That’s so right up my alley. So, inevitably, I went home and searched a bunch more (in English, though) and the rest is pretty much history. I’ve been hooked ever since. I’m a senior now, and it’s taken this long to turn my love of beauty videos into something more… which is this blog, if you couldn’t tell. Plus, I’ve even begun making some videos myself. They aren’t anything spectacular, but I really enjoy filming and editing them. It’s fun to take part in something I’ve loved being on the other side of for so long.
So, that was a bit of a ramble. What I’m trying to say here is: I’m a college makeup girl. But you already knew this. However, there’s another collegemakeupgirl out there on YouTube you may or may not know about. But her content is WAYYYY better than mine. And she’s gorgeous. And she’s really sweet. And I got to do an interview with her. Eeep! ♡
Amanda (collegemakeupgirl) and I have similarities beyond our school year and beauty obsession. She, too, was sucked into this glittery-glam world of makeup by the lovely ladies of the YouTube beauty community. “The first person I ever watched was MakeupbyTiffanyD. I loved everything about her videos and how honest and real she was,” she said. “I honestly wasn’t even that into makeup so I kind of blame her for my addiction!” I’m with you girl.
It wasn’t just Tiffany (who is fabulous, btw) that turned Amanda into a makeup lover. It was “the whole beauty community, honestly,” she said. Eventually, Amanda decided she wanted to join that community by doing more than just viewing; she wanted to create the types of videos she loved watching so much, too. But it was Tiffany who got her to finally do it. “After watching her for a while, I decided to enter one of her contests where you had to film a tutorial, which, btw, came out horrible,” she said. Somehow I doubt it was that bad. But what beauty guru is in love with their first video?? Probably not many. That didn’t deter Amanda though. “I realized how fun it was and that’s what made me want to do it more.”
Now, five years later, the collegemakeupgirl channel has just over 20,000 subscribers! Though this may seem like quite a following, Amanda wasn’t always thrilled with her subscriber count. “Compared to a lot of other beauty gurus, it’s not a lot. But the numbers don’t really affect me anymore,” she told me. But “I will say they used to.”
Like many budding gurus, Amanda’s focus early on was on raising that number and increasing channel views. “I was constantly thinking about how I could improve my viewers and subscribers,” she said. “But I finally realized that that’s not really that important.” It took time for Amanda to refocus and remember why she started her channel in the first place: because she loved makeup and wanted to share that with others. “I never started doing this thinking I was going to be the next MakeupbyTiffanyD. I did it because I just wanted to talk about beauty and fashion and have a creative outlet for my new obsession.”
Like many budding gurus, Amanda’s focus early on was on raising that number and increasing channel views. “I was constantly thinking about how I could improve my viewers and subscribers,” she said. “But I finally realized that that’s not really that important.” It took time for Amanda to refocus and remember why she started her channel in the first place: because she loved makeup and wanted to share that with others. “I never started doing this thinking I was going to be the next MakeupbyTiffanyD. I did it because I just wanted to talk about beauty and fashion and have a creative outlet for my new obsession.”
The outlet YouTube offers beauty lovers and makeup artists alike allows for more than just creative expression. Interacting with subscribers, whom Amanda describes as “awesome,” is a big part of the draw, too. “I’m a mass communication major, so I love that I get to talk to girls and some guys that genuinely like to watch me. I love that I am able to communicate with people all over the world that share my interests,” she said. “It really feels good to know that I’m helping them in some way.” Amanda feels that offer fashion and beauty counsel is one of the best things she can do for her loyal subbies. “Even if it’s just helping them pick out an awesome beauty product or a cute shirt, it’s rewarding to know they look to me for advice on style and beauty,” she said.
For all she does for her beauty-fanatic followers through communication and interaction, they do just as much to make her smile, too. “[My subscribers] really make my day when they comment on a video or tweet me on twitter,” Amanda said.
(A link to Amanda's twitter can be found below! Go follow her :) )
For all she does for her beauty-fanatic followers through communication and interaction, they do just as much to make her smile, too. “[My subscribers] really make my day when they comment on a video or tweet me on twitter,” Amanda said.
(A link to Amanda's twitter can be found below! Go follow her :) )
In addition to making her day, her followers, and YouTube as a whole, make Amanda more marketable in a professional sense. “Since my major is mass communication, specifically public relations, I do hope that adding my YouTube channel to my resume will help me hopefully break into my dream job,” she said. What job is that, you may ask? One that’s beauty-related. Duh. “I would love to work for a makeup brand at their corporate level,” Amanda said. “Or maybe be a clothing buyer for a department store.” These are all admirable and totally attainable goals for someone so clearly driven and talented. But this girl has something in mind that’s a bit more ambitious.
“My ultimate dream job would be to work for Chanel’s public relations department,” she said. “That’s probably really far-fetched but hey, who knows!” With skill and charm as copious as Amanda’s, I would say it’s so out-there at all.
“My ultimate dream job would be to work for Chanel’s public relations department,” she said. “That’s probably really far-fetched but hey, who knows!” With skill and charm as copious as Amanda’s, I would say it’s so out-there at all.
Though Amanda is still in the process of obtaining a degree and that killer career, she’s involved in pretty big things right now, too. She became a YouTube partner about two years ago, and she’s a StyleHaul partner now, too! But when the massive YouTube beauty network first approached her, she wasn’t so sure. “To be honest, I had no idea what it involved or how it worked,” Amanda admitted. So, to find out more, she chatted up two ladies she’s known since first beginning YouTube. They’re talented and stunning – just like Amanda. You may know them as EleventhGorgeous. “They told me all about it and how it was an awesome network,” Amanda said. Stef and Tracy talked her into joining. And Amanda’s super glad she took their advice. “[StyleHaul] helps you with your channel, whether that means helping you with creating your banner, or tips on growing your channel or helping you sync up with other YouTubers for a collab,” she said. Essentially, StyleHaul is a coalition of big sisters, offering support and aid when and where it’s needed. “It’s nice because they are always there to answer questions you may have,” Amanda said. “YouTube is, in a lot of ways, a personal business and sometimes it can get very confusing to navigate alone.”
After five years, I think it’s safe to say Amanda’s got it down. Not only does she create amazing videos and work for StyleHaul, but she attends college full time, too! As a student myself, I can only image how stressful that must be at times. This girl is clearly committed to her channel and her viewers.
If you’re not one of said viewers, I’m assuming you’ve been convinced by this point that that needs to change. If you haven't yet searched her channel and subscribed, allow me to insert here a few additional videos that will undoubtedly send the message home. And, once you decide that you need Amanda’s videos in your subscription feed, you’ll find a direct link to her channel below, as well.
If you’re not one of said viewers, I’m assuming you’ve been convinced by this point that that needs to change. If you haven't yet searched her channel and subscribed, allow me to insert here a few additional videos that will undoubtedly send the message home. And, once you decide that you need Amanda’s videos in your subscription feed, you’ll find a direct link to her channel below, as well.
As promised, here’s a link to Amanda’s channel, as well as links to her various social media accounts. Make sure to check them out!! If you’re a student and a beauty-lover like her and I, you’ll find a lot to relate to.
And, of course, big huge thank you to Amanda for participating in this interview! She’s such a sweetheart and we have so much in common. This was a blast to write ♡