We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Miguel Cardoso Farano. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Miguel below.
Miguel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Miguel Cardof – Taking the Risk to Start Over
Some people chase their dreams. Others survive first – and only then dare to dream.
Miguel Cardof did both.
Born in Brazil and raised in Italy from the age of 16, Miguel’s life has been a series of hard choices and bold risks. Alone in a new country, he faced deep culture shock, no support system, and a growing sense of depression. He dropped out of school and ended up working long, grueling days in a sushi restaurant – 12 hours a day, paid just €50, exhausted both physically and mentally.
No one believed in him. He had no friends, no emotional support — just a vision that life had to be more than survival.
In a moment of courage (and pain), Miguel took a risk: he left his job, returned home to live with his parents, and decided to bet on himself. Italy’s job market made it feel nearly impossible: long hours, low pay, and no space for healing. He tried to escape through trading — and was scammed, losing over €800 at a time when he had almost nothing.
But still, he didn’t give up.
Instead, Miguel started creating. One video at a time, he built his voice through skincare, glow routines, fragrance, and beauty storytelling. He found peace in making content that felt soft, soothing, and real — and slowly, he started rebuilding both his confidence and his future.
Today, Miguel is a rising UGC and beauty creator on TikTok (@beautywithmiguel), Instagram (@miguel_cardof.ugc), and YouTube. His work is known for its emotional honesty, calming energy, and aesthetic appeal
-A reflection of his journey from rejection and burnout to self-expression and purpose.
Taking a risk didn’t just change Miguel’s life – it gave him one.
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.
🔹 About Me, My Work, and My Why
Hi, I’m Miguel Cardof, a beauty and lifestyle content creator with a focus on skincare, fragrance, and personal transformation. I’m originally from Brazil, but I moved to Italy when I was 16 — and that move changed everything for me, both positively and painfully.
Adjusting to a new culture as a teenager was difficult. I didn’t know anyone, I didn’t speak the language well, and I felt completely out of place. I ended up dropping out of school and working long, grueling hours in a sushi restaurant — 12 hours a day for just €50. I was exhausted, depressed, and felt like I was disappearing into a life I didn’t choose.
I had no support, no friends, and every time I tried to take a different path, something went wrong. I even tried to get into trading and ended up getting scammed, losing over €800. That was a breaking point for me. I took a risk — I left my job, moved back home with my parents, and decided I’d try something I truly loved.
That’s how I found content creation.
I started making videos about skincare and self-care — routines that helped calm my anxiety and made me feel more human. My work is now focused on helping others feel good in their own skin too. I create aesthetic, fast-paced, sensory videos across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube that feature real results and real feelings. My content is not just about looking pretty — it’s about choosing yourself every day, even when life feels heavy.
What sets me apart is that I create from honesty. I don’t pretend to have a perfect life — I show the healing, the glow-up, the joy, and the fear. I want my audience to feel seen, especially if they’re going through a hard time. My mission is to show that beauty is an act of survival, softness is strength, and your glow is yours to claim.
I’m most proud of starting with nothing — no followers, no money, no direction — and building something that now resonates with others. Every time someone says my video made them feel peaceful, or inspired them to take care of themselves, that means everything to me.
Whether you’re a viewer, a brand, or just someone passing by, I want you to know: I’m not here to be perfect. I’m here to be real — and make beauty feel like a safe space again.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
🌟 The Mission Driving My Creative Journey
I’ve always felt different — like I never truly fit in. Not at school, not at work, not even in most social settings. I was the “creative weirdo,” the one who loved makeup, skincare, aesthetics, contact lenses… all the things people didn’t always understand or take seriously. But deep inside, I knew I was meant to shine through the things I love.
That’s what drives me now: the mission to turn my passion into purpose, to build a life where I get to create what makes me feel alive — and be recognized, respected, and appreciated for that.
My goal isn’t just about success. It’s about showing others that you’re allowed to dream differently. That you can choose a creative path, even if no one else believes in it yet. I want to turn this journey into a kind of rebellion — against judgment, against shame, against playing small. I want to show people that confidence and freedom come from doing what you love without apology.
For me, that means sharing beauty in all its forms — from a glowing skincare routine to the right lip tint or a bold pair of lenses — and making that space welcoming, inclusive, and real. I want people to feel seen, inspired, and empowered through what I do.
I believe in myself now — and I’m ready to work, fight, attract, manifest, and become a star in the space I once felt too scared to enter. And I want to remind everyone watching: you can believe in yourself too. Let’s put our minds to our dreams, support each other, and create a world where doing what you love can also give you freedom — creatively, emotionally, and financially.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
💡 A Lesson I Had to Unlearn
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was this idea that you have to suffer to succeed — that you need to work endless hours, do things you don’t enjoy, and completely ignore your happiness if you want to be someone in life. That was the advice I constantly heard, especially from people around me who weren’t even living the kind of life I dreamed of.
Eventually, I realized something powerful:
Why would I take advice on success from people who never reached it themselves?
That shift changed everything for me.
I stopped listening to people who told me my dreams were unrealistic or that loving skincare and content creation wasn’t a “real job.” I stopped believing that burnout and self-abandonment were the only ways to survive.
Instead, I chose to believe in alignment. I started focusing on the things that light me up — and I found that when you do what truly fulfills you, the energy, motivation, and opportunities flow more naturally. The real work is choosing yourself, your happiness, and your calling — every day — even when it’s scary or uncertain.
Now, I build my life around that principle: do what you love, and allow it to love you back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://miguelcardosofugc.my.canva.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miguel_cardosof?igsh=MTIxOGxtN3FqY241ZQ==
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-cardoso-farano-554201370?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@miguel_cardofugc?si=kXLlAgjbkPYzD4L6
- Other: Tiktok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@miguel_cardof?_t=ZN-8te3LpmN2UY&_r=1
