I’m a very big advocate for bullying and mental illness. Growing up I was heavily bullied, which did not help my mental stability. My friend and I are actually teaming up this holiday season to fundraise for women in need of therapy but who cannot afford it. Selected participants will receive a grant for up to 4 FREE therapy sessions!!! Again, I’m all about women empowerment, and want to help women in anyway I can.
We often use the term “Influencers” to describe people with significant social media followings on platforms like Instagram, Twitter TikTok, Youtube, Linkedin and Facebook. Influencers have become today’s media titans, sought after for everything from product placements to timely trends. What’s the difference between influence and impact? Fans and followers? Sizzle versus staying power?
In this interview series, called, “How To Cultivate Community In A Click to Connect World” we are talking to influencers about how they define success and what we all need to discover about the true nature of influence. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Justine DiVanna.
Justine DiVanna is a content creator and makeup artist of 10+ years, making a huge statement in the online beauty world! With her TikTok account gaining millions of monthly views, Justine’s main focus is to make women feel beautiful and confident, no matter what they choose to do with their bodies. She is also a huge advocate for bullying and mental health, especially since gaining popularity online.
Thank you for making time to visit with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. How did you discover your career path and what got you to where you are today?
I’ve been a makeup artist for over 10 years, and have been creating content online for about 5. I remember in high school sitting in Cosmetology class when I was just 16 years old, and my teacher showed us a pie chart on the board. On the chart it showed all of the different avenues you can take in the beauty industry. On it said “makeup for TV & Film”, and I knew that’s exactly what I wanted to do. Fast forward a few years, I packed my bags and moved from Jersey to LA by myself with a passion and dream. Since then, I’ve worked with huge networks and celebrities such as MTV, TLC, & BET, singer Shontelle, Eric Roberts, and Jersey Shore’s Deena & Angelina to name a few. in 2015 I decided to start my social media journey. That has definitely been the hardest, as there is so much competition of so many beauty influencers doing the same thing. When I say it took me 5 years to even gain traction, I mean it. It didn’t come over night for me. It took years of tears and hard work, but eventually I had something click with an audience. The problem was, that I wasn’t being myself. I was copying other creators to try to fit in. The second I created a TikTok where I was 100% myself, is when my content creating career took off.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned along the way that influences how you operate now?
It sounds cliche but BE YOURSELF! Theres billions of people in the world, but only ONE of YOU! If you just copy creators like I did, it’s not showing who YOU really are. It’s not separating you from the competition, just blending you in.
We’re all searching for some good news. How are you using your platform to make a positive social impact?
Men are constantly body shaming women. They shame us for our weight, our looks, how much makeup we wear and even DON’T wear. I want to create a community uplifting women to be themselves and do what they want with their bodies, without feeling the need to have approval from men. I’m all about women empowerment, and want to inspire in every way I can.
Many of our readers are influencers as well. Others have tried and have yet to succeed. What words of advice would you offer to aspiring influencers, knowing what you know now?
Not only do you have to be yourself, but you have to be consistent. Consistency is seriously key. I upload at least 1 short video every single day on all of my social media platforms which is a lot of work, but you need to keep your viewers engaged. When they know to expect video’s from you daily, they’ll remember to come back for more. It’s also really important to keep your video’s short, simple, and to the point. In today’s world, viewers have very low attention spans. They don’t want to sit though the old school YouTuBe intro’s, or even watch a 15 minute long video anymore. Start the video out briefly explaining the topic, and then jump right into it. I also recommend keeping it MAX 1 minute long, since shorter video’s seem to perform the best.
Success is often a matter of perspective. I’ve always resonated with Henry David Thoreau’s quote, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” How do you see success — or define success — for yourself now?
I use to think success was being “famous” or having millions of followers, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Obviously you need to have a following to work with brands and make social media a full time job, but what I’ve learned is that success comes in many shapes and forms. There are so many successful people in the world that don’t have a public name, and couldn’t be happier. Its genuinely all about doing what you love FOR the love. If you do that, the success will come.
What are your strategies to make room for who and what matters most?
Always keep your priorities straight, and never forget where you came from. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past few years, family and friends are #1. When it’s your time to go, who’s going to miss and remember you? The people you care about most.
How do you reduce or mitigate stress?
YOGA! I hate working out, so I FINALLY found something that actually helps me stay in shape, and clears my mind.
I’m going to try a few of your tips, and I’m hopeful our readers will, too. Now it’s time for the big reveal — the moment our readers have been anticipating. What are your “five strategies to cultivate a large & engaged social media community?’ Please share a story or example for each.
1. Be yourself.
2. Consistency.
3. Keep it short and to the point.
4. Have something valuable to offer.
5. Have a genuine passion for what you’re doing.
What do you do to create a greater sense of connection and community among your fans?
I ALWAYS engage with my viewers. I try to comment back to as many as possible, even though it does get hard on videos that get larger views. When your viewers feel a personal connection to you, they will always come back to hangout with someone that feels like a friend!
As an influencer, you are, by definition, a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I’m a very big advocate for bullying and mental illness. Growing up I was heavily bullied, which did not help my mental stability. My friend and I are actually teaming up this holiday season to fundraise for women in need of therapy but who cannot afford it. Selected participants will receive a grant for up to 4 FREE therapy sessions!!! Again, I’m all about women empowerment, and want to help women in anyway I can.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world with whom you’d like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He, she or they might just see this. 🙂
As far as celebrities, Miley Cyrus and Little Mix hands down! I am so inspired by not only their work ethic, but how they effortlessly captivate and engage with their audiences. Plus they seem like incredible, genuine, and down to earth people that I would be honored to talk to!
As far as big names in business, I have always looked up to.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
Your readers can follow me on all my social media platforms for daily content!
TikTok: @justinedivanna_
Instagram: @justinedivanna
LIKEE: @justinedivanna
YouTube: Justine DiVanna
Thank you for these thought provoking insights. Here’s to your continued success!