We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Arleny Agramonte a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Arleny, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I remember being in middle school, watching all these lifestyle YouTubers and thinking, “Why does no one look like me?” Growing up, I didn’t see many people from my community—Latinos and Latinas—represented in the way I wanted. I wanted to see someone who looked like me, spoke like me, and had similar experiences. So, one day after school, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I started my YouTube channel with the goal of showing other Latinas and Latinos that we can make it in this industry too. My mission as a creator has always been to be that representation—to show that people like us belong in this space just as much as anyone else. It’s about making sure our voices are heard and seen.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Arleny Agramonte, and I’m a 23 year old content creator based in Philadelphia, PA with a passion for showcasing diverse voices and stories, especially within the Hispanic/Latino community. I started my journey in middle school when I noticed that most of the lifestyle YouTubers I watched didn’t look like me. I thought, “Why isn’t there someone who represents people like me?” That’s when I decided to create my own YouTube channel to provide representation and empower other young Latinas and Latinos to pursue their dreams, no matter what industry they’re in. My mission is all about showing that we belong in spaces that have traditionally been underrepresented.

I create content across platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, focusing on lifestyle, culture, and personal development. I share everything from beauty routines, fashion hauls, and day-in-the-life vlogs to personal stories and cultural reflections. Through my content, I aim to inspire and encourage my audience to embrace their identity, push past boundaries, and never feel like they need to conform to a mold that doesn’t reflect their true selves.

One of the key problems I aim to solve is the lack of representation in the media, especially for young Latinas and Latinos. I believe that seeing people who look like you and share similar experiences is a powerful thing—it helps build self-confidence and inspires you to chase your dreams. I want my content to be a source of empowerment for my community. I also provide relatable and accessible content that bridges the gap between lifestyle trends and cultural authenticity.

What sets me apart from others is my focus on cultural pride and representation. I embrace my heritage, and it’s woven into everything I do—whether it’s mixing Spanglish in my videos or sharing stories that celebrate our traditions. I’m committed to making sure that my content isn’t just fun and entertaining, but also meaningful. My audience doesn’t just see me as an influencer—they see someone they can relate to, someone who understands their unique challenges, and someone who is creating space for them in a world that often overlooks their voices.

I’m most proud of the community I’ve built. When I started, I didn’t know how many people would connect with my message of empowerment and representation. But over time, I’ve heard from so many young Latinas and Latinos who’ve told me that seeing someone like me gave them the courage to pursue their own dreams. Knowing that my content has helped people feel seen and valued is incredibly rewarding.

I want my followers to know that my brand is built on authenticity. I’m committed to staying true to myself and my community, and I’m here to represent people who often feel overlooked or underestimated. What I share isn’t just about trends or products—it’s about creating content that empowers, uplifts, and inspires. My mission is to continue breaking down barriers and showing others that they belong in any space they choose to occupy.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My social media journey started when I was in middle school, but it really gained momentum in 2020. Like many others, I found myself at home with a lot of extra time when school went online. I had always loved creating content, but that period gave me the space to really dive into it. I decided to give TikTok a try, which, at the time, was exploding in popularity. I started posting dance videos, and, to my surprise, a few of them went viral. That was a huge turning point for me—it helped me gain a lot of followers quickly and gave me the confidence to keep creating.

Once I started growing my audience on TikTok, I realized that my followers weren’t just interested in the dances—they were curious about me and my life. So, by the end of 2021 and into 2022, I began shifting my content to focus more on fashion, lifestyle, and beauty. These were areas I was passionate about, and they resonated well with my audience, especially with my community of Latinas and Latinos who were looking for more representation. My goal was to blend style and beauty with my cultural identity, and that’s when I really felt like my content started to take off in a meaningful way.

The key to my growth has been consistency and experimentation. TikTok gave me the platform to test different types of content and figure out what worked for me. But what really helped me build a solid audience was being authentic and true to myself. I wasn’t just trying to create for the algorithm; I was sharing parts of my life, my culture, and my interests in a way that felt real and relatable to my followers.

Advice for those just starting:

Take Advantage of Trends, But Make Them Your Own: TikTok is all about trends, but don’t just hop on the bandwagon. Use trends as a way to express your own creativity or share something unique about yourself. For me, I started with dances, but I always tried to add my personal touch to make it more “me.”

Be Consistent, but Have Fun: It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of posting regularly, but don’t forget to have fun with it! If you enjoy the content you’re creating, it will show, and that’s what attracts people to follow you. Consistency is important, but passion is what makes your content stand out.

Find Your Niche, But Don’t Be Afraid to Evolve: My niche started with dance, but it evolved into fashion, lifestyle, and beauty as my interests and audience grew. Don’t feel like you have to stay boxed in by your first few posts. As you get to know your audience, you’ll start to see what resonates with them and where you feel the most comfortable.

Engage with Your Audience: TikTok has a very interactive and community-driven feel. Responding to comments, asking for feedback, and creating content based on what your followers enjoy can help you build a loyal following. It’s not just about the number of views; it’s about the relationships you form with your audience.

Experiment with Different Formats: One of the coolest things about platforms like TikTok is the ability to experiment with short-form video in so many ways. Whether you’re doing challenges, storytelling, or tutorials, it’s all about seeing what clicks with your audience. Don’t be afraid to try new things and adapt based on what works.

Stay True to Your Story and Identity: For me, incorporating my Latino heritage into my content has been such an important part of my brand. There’s power in sharing your authentic self, and the more you do that, the more people who resonate with your story will find you.

Building a social media presence is a journey, and there’s no one-size-fits-all formula. Just remember to stay true to what excites you, be consistent, and engage with your followers. The more authentic you are, the more your audience will connect with you.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think one of the biggest things non-creatives might struggle to understand about my journey is just how much emotional labor and vulnerability goes into being a content creator. On the surface, it might seem like it’s all about posting fun, polished videos or pictures—but behind every post, there’s a lot of work, decision-making, and often, a bit of emotional exposure.

As a creative, you’re constantly putting yourself out there. You’re sharing parts of your life, your identity, your voice—things that feel very personal—and opening yourself up to the public. And while there’s a lot of joy in that connection, it can also be draining. There’s always the pressure to be “on” and to keep creating, whether it’s for your audience or the algorithms. Sometimes you’re not just crafting content, you’re crafting your persona—figuring out how to balance your authentic self with the persona your audience expects.

Another part that non-creatives might not fully grasp is how much of a creative’s journey is about trial and error. We experiment constantly, not just with our content, but with the way we express ourselves, the way we communicate with our audience, and how we position ourselves in the industry. Failure is often an inevitable part of that process. Whether it’s a video that flops, a concept that doesn’t land, or simply not getting the engagement you were hoping for, these moments are part of the growth.

But on the flip side, those moments of failure are often the most valuable learning experiences. Being a creative means you have to be comfortable with imperfection and risk. That’s not something people outside of the creative world might easily understand, because when you put something out there, it can feel like you’re exposing your soul to critique. But at the same time, there’s immense reward in it. Every time you create, you’re growing, learning, and ultimately finding your voice and your purpose.

So, for anyone who might be considering a creative journey or doesn’t quite understand what it takes, I’d say: it’s not just about the glamor of “making it” or the excitement of creating viral content. It’s about vulnerability, resilience, and finding ways to keep going even when things don’t go as planned. Creativity is a deeply human process, and like anything meaningful, it requires both heart and hard work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arlenyagramonte/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHU3f3HjZGJ9b_E0fVxpBsQ
• Other: TikTok:

  https://www.tiktok.com/@arlenyagramonteee