We were lucky to catch up with Arly Canizales recently and have shared our conversation below.
Arly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?
Before becoming a content creator, I would always post TikTok dances and silly videos. I always knew I wanted to do more with my platforms, but I was very scared of being judged and made fun of. In September 2020, I was scrolling on TikTok and bumped into a micro-influencer named Paola Ochoa, showing her journey as a content creator. She went from being bullied for making YouTube videos as a young child to now being able to work with big brands. She didn’t care about what others would say and started her journey. This inspired me to give it a try and followed her tips to be successful on social media platforms.
I was able to work alongside her in managing her social media platforms such as YouTube and Pinterest and learned a lot of useful skills. I eventually began using these skills in my platforms and began receiving small packages. My family did not believe I could do it and disagreed on what I wanted to do, but I continued to create content. I am now so happy I took the leap and emerged myself in this industry and have been able to work with amazing brands for over 4 years.
Arly, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello everyone, my name is Arly Canizales and I am a college content creator. I started my journey in 2020 focusing on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. I now make videos on anything that catches my interest and share my life with my audience. I joined the industry after finding another micro-influencer, Paola Ochoa, showing how she was bullied for creating content and then being able to work with big companies and attend brand events.
What sets me apart from other content creators is that I always try to show my real life. I show small snippets of different aspects of my life: dating, personal, and academics. I like to be honest and not follow many creators’ trends. I show my fails and talk about personal things that many people struggle to show on social media.
I am most proud of the long-term partnerships I have achieved. I sometimes get discouraged when I am not chosen for partnerships, but I have seen bigger opportunities out of it. The main aspects I share with my audience and fellow creators is that we all start somewhere and even if we grow fast or slow, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I never had a clear goal in mind when starting my creative journey. All I ever wanted was to have fun with my page and be my true self. My goal now has been to be realistic about my life. I don’t always have time to go out and take pictures, I don’t always take aesthetic pictures, I am not a perfect person and that is okay. Showing my life as a college content creator, my struggles, and being able to relate to others is what I strive for.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In February of 2023, I experienced my first pivot of my business due to being very busy with my academics and joining an organization on campus. I shared less content on certain social media platforms and saw a dramatic decrease in engagement. I was not getting brand partnerships or collaborations and I was starting to give up. I felt I couldn’t go back and it discouraged me and wondered if I was meant for this line of work. Being a college student, it is sometimes difficult to be organized and have a balanced life with everything that is going on. It took me some time, but in June of 2023, I decided I was not going to allow myself to give up a dream I worked so hard for in the past 3 years. It has taken me longer than most creators to grow, but I love the community I have built and wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arlyiivon/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arly-canizales-matute-3b1b18234/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF_zte5DxAFoIrK5c9w8BNg
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arlyiivon/
Image Credits
Elena Bermudez @elenaamichellee Blanca Hernandez @marivihrndz