We recently connected with Jackie Wyers and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jackie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I have been able to earn a full-time living from creating YouTube videos for almost 10 years! My focus is on beauty tutorials, including re-creating iconic pop culture looks, exploring vintage beauty, and showcasing current trends.

When I first became interested in becoming a beauty content creator in 2012, I was fortunate to have role models like Michelle Phan and Bethany Mota who had already paved the way. I kept a journal filled with content ideas, and I invested time in learning how to film and perfect my makeup and hair skills by attending a makeup and design school. Eventually, a management team came on board, helping to turn my hobby into a career.

One of my first major milestones was collaborating with Covergirl, Pantene, and Olay to shoot a vintage-inspired makeup tutorial, which was also featured in a Canadian magazine. Reflecting on my journey, I wish I had diversified my presence across all social media platforms sooner, as algorithms change and it’s important not to rely solely on one platform. For instance, Instagram currently has the most engagement for my content, so I continue to focus on building that engagement while also managing my presence on YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and my blog. Social media evolves rapidly, so adapting content to fit different platforms is key to sustained success.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, my name is Jackie Wyers, and I am a makeup artist and content creator. I’ve always been fascinated by character design in TV and film. I enjoy learning about makeup history and iconic looks throughout time. I also love exploring trending looks to encourage my audience to switch up their style with confidence. On my YouTube channel, I create fun yet informative tutorials that break down how to achieve various beauty looks—from no-makeup makeup styles inspired by period dramas to trying out new, bolder trends like “latte makeup.” My goal is to help you find the style that suits you best or simply to have fun experimenting.

While there are many celebrity-inspired makeup looks out there, especially with the resurgence of “get the look” trends on TikTok, I think what sets me apart is my attention to detail. I incorporate subtle transformation techniques with contouring so that you can recognize the inspiration without needing to see a reference photo. My tutorials are easy to follow, especially the longer ones on YouTube, as I’ve been teaching how-tos for many years. However, the point of my videos isn’t to look exactly like someone else but to capture the vibe of different beauty looks and, most importantly, to enjoy makeup and celebrate what you love.

Having grown up alongside many of my followers, I feel deeply connected to my audience. I make it a priority to engage in the comments, build relationships, and promote confidence and self-expression. We also chat about the latest in pop culture and reminisce about the pop culture moments we grew up with—gotta love nostalgia!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Since I started my creator journey as a teenager, I relied on a manager to help negotiate deals, manage emails, and properly invoice companies for payment. This was incredibly helpful, especially as the industry was still fairly new and I was quite young. However, during the pandemic, I began noticing red flags within the management company I was working with, and unfortunately, they withheld almost a year’s worth of my income. This was a terrible situation, and it’s still unresolved.

After parting ways with the fraudulent manager, I took charge of managing my own emails and campaigns, while also enlisting part-time management support to ensure I always maintain control. I’ve learned that no one will work harder for you than yourself, and as a creator, it’s essential to manage your own inbox so you see opportunities firsthand. It’s definitely a challenge to juggle negotiating brand deals, filming, and editing, but I believe it’s crucial to stay hands-on and ensure that those you trust with your work are also working hard and can be relied upon.

Through managing my own deals, I’ve gained a lot of valuable experience and have built stronger, more direct relationships with brands. This has led to better communication and understanding, and I feel more empowered in both my work and people skills.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe the best way viewers can support their favorite content creators and artists, and contribute to a thriving creative ecosystem, is by engaging with content that genuinely resonates with them. Leaving a comment or sharing it with friends is always appreciated and goes a long way in supporting creators.

As fellow creatives, it’s crucial to credit those who inspire us. In a space with so many creators, there’s been an unfortunate rise in people copying each other’s work, sometimes word for word, or taking credit for someone else’s ideas in hopes of going viral. Instead of focusing solely on numbers, we should aim to build a stronger community based on respect and integrity to keep the creator space fun and engaging. I’ve seen many viral trends take off, and it’s always nice to see people acknowledging the original creator—it never takes away from the new inspired video, only enriches it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jackiewyers.beauty
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiewyers/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JackieWyers
• Other: https://www.pinterest.ca/jackiewyers/

Image Credits

photos by Jackie Wyers