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.
Visit Marjan's Instagram
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