I’m sitting on my front porch, dog by my side, thinking about how I would like to write this blog post. How do I want it formatted? How long or short should it be? How can I engage readers? And then it comes to me: be yourself.
First off, thank you so much to Buzz Beeuty for allowing me to create a guest blog on their account; I love the work that they do… So this is quite the honor.
Let me start off by introducing myself. Hi, my name is Danielle. I am 23 years old, I like long walks to the fridge and when gnats bother me. Just kidding, lol. But seriously, I loooove animals (really love cats) and I have grown a loving relationship with makeup and all things related to makeup. I have a YouTube channel called DaniLunes that I just recently started, about four months ago, and I’m excited to announce that I am freaking loving it. I thought I would share my story with you, in hopes that I can reach at least one person who felt like I did about starting my own channel.
My love for makeup began when I sat down one day to do my makeup routine that I have had for years (not kidding) and I thought, “Dang, I wish that I could do more than just basic look.” So I began to enter giveaways because I was too afraid to plunge into paying more than just drugstore prices (even though I now know there are great products out there in drugstores.) When entering giveaways you almost always have to subscribe to their YouTube channel, thus the rabbit hole began. If you have ever watched YouTube videos you can agree those five hours will pass by in the blink of an eye.
After about a month of just entering giveaways and watching YouTube more than Netflix I found myself watching makeup YouTubers for their actual content. I soon began to think, “Wow, how awesome is *insert any makeup YouTuber’s name*, they are so honest, so good, and seem so happy.” I slowly found myself wanting to create content just so I could maybe reach that one person who wants to learn more. However, like most times in my life, I found myself terrified to put myself out there. Until one day in late December on one of my binger YouTube nights.
I was going waaaaaay far back to my ALL TIME FAVORITE YouTuber – KathleenLights. (Who FYI is freaking AMAZING if you didn’t know already.) I watched her earlier videos, when she had just started out, not having too many subscribers yet. And it hit me – you don’t start out with the best content, you don’t start out with thousands of subscribers, you don’t start out with the best equipment/lighting/editing. However, you do start out with the best things you can have. Passion and drive.
In January I decided to take a leap of faith and create my own channel. It was so nerve racking and scary, but I wanted to try it anyways. The content was rocky, and the editing was crazy bad. But I was so dang proud of myself.
But after a while I had become pretty discouraged, and not motive. But I came across another YouTuber – Larlarlee (she’s pretty great too) and there were two videos I watched. First off, a reaction to her very first video. Here she watches her first ever video while recording herself and she becomes so emotional. Laura explains that back then she was so scared to post, and unhappy with her life and she wish that she could have told herself back then that everything was going to be okay. Laura explained that she keeps that video up for two reasons. To remind herself of how far she has come, and then for others out there (like me) that you can start with nothing (natural lighting, a crappy camera, and no viewers at all) but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put yourself out there. Secondly, I watched a video of hers that is a “tips for beginners” when it comes to a channel. She says – DO NOT spend crazy money on expensive equipment to record or edit. Create six or so videos to see if you like it. And that could not be truer. A channel isn’t for everyone, and you might lose interest.
My point is, after watching the early videos of KathleenLights, and those two videos from LarLarLee I became more encouraged and motivated. Those videos really helped me stick with a channel of my own. I am not in this for fame, for money, or for free beauty products. I am in this because it makes me happy. I have gained so much confidence in myself in the last four months that I didn’t know I lacked. I also think that I have found myself a little bit more, even though I thought I already had. While, all of the things I said I’m not in this for would be freaking awesome – they are not my reason for starting my channel.
I started my channel to reach others viewers that were in the same boat as me. The ones that are looking for honest reviews, and easy makeup looks/techniques. The ones that have a desire to expand their knowledge of makeup and beauty. The ones that want to buy something more expensive, but absolutely have to do way to much research before doing so. My love, knowledge, and technique have grown tremendously over the last four months, and I cannot wait to see what’s to come. Makeup is how I express myself, and also how I relax. It teaches you to not give a rats butt about what others thing, and to be yourself.
My point is that I hope my story encourages at least one person to step outside of their comfort zone. I won’t lie and tell you that it’s not scary – because it is! But it’s one of those good scares, like the moment before a first kiss with someone, or that moment at the top of a hill of a rollercoaster.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, I promise it‘ll be more rewarding that you can even imagine. And honestly this piece of advice goes for all aspects in life, but for me it’s for my own makeup channel. I am so happy with it, and appreciative of all the support I receive (in real life and online.)
Be yourself. Be spontaneous. Be unafraid. Be kind. Be empowered.
Thank you again Buzz Beeuty for allowing me to create a guest blog for your website. I truly appreciate it.
Thank you to all of you for reading this, I hope you enjoyed it! My wish for all of you is that you can learn and grow from my experience to not be afraid to take that plunge into something that scares you.
PS. You can find me on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. I have posted the links below!
https://www.instagram.com/danilunes/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIqcndbGfWDA-60rvbHiGA
Twitter: danilunes
XOXO,
Danilunes
