We were lucky to catch up with Kaylani Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kaylani, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I have mostly been happier as a creative lately but there have been moments when I have thought let me focus on regular work it is so up and down in the creative space, especially with the fact that I am a trans creative. We are generally overlooked and probably get the most hate comments so people never want to work with us but when I look at my work and the struggle that it took to get here I seriously just say to myself stop and get out of your head because the meanest person in the comment section is probably your biggest fan.

Kaylani, 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?

For anyone who may or may not have read about me before I’m kaylani Instagram: beautybarbiekaylani or TikTok kaylanijay I am a makeup artist activist and influencer I started makeup because it dre me in and gave me life I am trans but I’m also more than that I love to fight for causes like social justice equal rights for all and if anyone were to follow me you would probably see me being as authentic to myself and never just putting on a facade for the internet because i know it is hard to keep up appearances and how much time it takes rather than just being yourself and loving yourself. The thing that I want to be remembered for and what I want everyone to know about me is that I am more than the color of my skin the face I wear and my body I am just a person like them and I have thoughts, feelings, and always want everyone to feel seen in my presence.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my audience from the ground up by word of mouth meeting people in new circles letting them see me and my work and kind of going with the flow not trying to be someone I am never gonna be, In my head I never wanna be someone who has so much done to their face and body though I respect and the person who does that I just do not think that it is my journey personally. So I enhance what I have and hope that it is enough and somehow it is. If I could give anyone any advice stop trying to keep up with Kardashians and just learn that people want real they want someone that they can relate to and see their struggles in and know that they can too break through and make it.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goals I have I feel are attainable they will never be easy I can say that with a very big smile because I know that I can do it. My first goal is to work with specific brands that I love like fashion nova, savagexfenty, made by Mitchell, patmcgrath, danessamyricks, charlotte tilbury, hauslabs, Fenty beauty, and makeup by Mario these brands I simply adore everyday I wake up and i am strategizing for the new year to start right. But that’s just on my beauty side on my activist side I would love to debate some right-wing correspondents and also to be allowed to work with politicians like Jasmine Crockett or AOC they do such amazing work for the people in general and it would be a dream come true for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: beautybarbiekaylani
• Twitter: kaylanijay
• Youtube: barbiekay5464
• Other: Tiktok kaylanijay