We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aminah Anderson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aminah below.

Aminah, appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Oh most definitely! Sometimes I have thoughts about just getting a regular job or going back to a 4 year in anthropology, especially on those not so great days as a creative. Last year was an example of that. I was in a bit of a funk and just not really feeling like things would progress like I wanted them to but in any scenario where I had to work for someone else has generally made me sadder and more anxious. No matter how hard this life gets as a creative/artist, there’s no other thing that I’d rather be doing. Without my creative expression who would I be, so yes I wholeheartedly am happy as a creative/artist.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For those who haven’t seen me before or read my last article with VoyageATL, my name is Aminah Anderson but I’m known as aminahthesleepiest on my social media platforms. I am a freelance makeup artist of eight years. I started modeling and creating beauty content simultaneously in 2018 but me creating beauty content has taken more of the drivers seat over the past couple of years. I definitely want to fully get back into modeling but outside of those two things, I write poetry, paint, and draw. I feel what sets me apart from others is that I’m a one woman show, I absolutely love being fully hands on in anything that I do creatively. I am great team player, I love to collaborate and pitch in ideas to effectively execute the concept at hand, but I LIVE for my content being made by one person. The main things that I want my potential clients/followers/fans of my platform to know is that all of the content I put out is organic, made with good intentions and that it’s purely for them. Whether it be inspiration for a makeup look, a muse for a collaboration project, or just because my content truly makes you happy or has impacted you in any way. I also want them to know that this is merely the beginning and I can’t wait for my content to be spread on a grander scale.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started creating beauty content in 2018, but it wasn’t until 2020 when the pandemic hit and when reels was first introduced did I take it more seriously. It was a very long journey not only discovering my niche but getting used to recording my makeup process and getting familiar with the ever changing algorithm. My advice to those starting out would be to be kind to yourself, do not let the likes and views suck you into a rabbit hole because it can easily consume you. There will be times where you create simple content and it will go viral and there will be times that you may do something more complex and get little to nothing views. That in no way means that you are less creative than others or not going in the right direction in your career, even the greats experience it! My second piece of advice is get used to the word organic, create genuine organic content, establish organic connections with your followers. Give them a reason to keep supporting not only your content, but to support you in your future endeavors.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I believe that one of the main things that non-creatives struggle to understand about not only my journey but if I safely speak for all creatives is that art cannot be forced nor made with the intentions of money. In my experience, I’ve come across so many people who either immediately asks about how much this pays me or believes that this is something I can do on demand. I don’t believe the intentions are ill but understand that creatives are not machines, and art is not logical. Any form of art is made with feeling and with the intentions that it will impact someone else’s life, even the artist. Not to say that we don’t want to make a living off of our art, but it is never the main objective over the pure love and joy of just being able to create.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @aminahthesleepiest
• Facebook: Mina Simone
• Twitter: @aslumberboy

Image Credits
First photo : @b.gov_ Sixth photo: @corbincreatives Seventh photo: @_uniquekeyyy