We were lucky to catch up with Sierrah Tann recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sierrah, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

Yes! The first dollar you earn is always exciting and gives you the boost you need to set the tone for your journey. It all began in the very beginning of my Makeup Career as far back as 2016-2017, the height of Makeup Trends took on a new era where social media became a direct platform for individuals like me to express themselves through the form of art. During this time creating makeup tutorials was the most trending entity of social media in order to gain exposure, be recognized and or reap the benefits of creating a network amongst beauty brands that could potentially land you a position of generating revenue or financially profiting for your skill set (like getting signed as a brand ambassador for a beauty brand or being front cover Vogue Lol). All the dreams I envisioned lied ahead of me. I became immediately empowered with finding my flow as an artist and exploring my creativity so it can allow my artistry to speak for itself and brand my Name. The empowerment also came from watching other Influencers on social media gain recognition for their skill sets within the makeup Industry. At this rate, my consistency surpassed my expectations for myself. From curating my makeup tutorials out of my bedroom, to using my windowsill as my makeup vanity to then creating the most detailed intricate looks that would create if not a storyline, a vision on my eyelids, to then utilizing my platform to engage with hashtags and tagging beauty brands I would use throughout creating my makeup looks in order to receive their attention. Rapidly taking off, along with being recognized and having my makeup looks reposted by worldwide brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills, NYX Cosmetics, Maybelline, Makeup Revolution and even L.A Color Girls– I knew my Artistry was special and it sparked an interest in the beauty world. This was my time to turn it up a notch and actually gain my first dollar, still maintaining my consistency. I grew a fondness for my confidence and not wanting to hide my magic from the universe. This mentality also derived from my sister Sypriah Tann who paved the way for my interest within the beauty industry as an Influencer, her involvement already on the Public Relations side of business, opened a door wide open for me. Luckily, my sister put the word in for me for my very first paid opportunity– having to submit a detailed brief and resume along with a bunch of other necessities in order to become an official Brand Ambassador for Boxy Charm also known as Ipsy today a multi-million-dollar market that promotes for thousands of high ends to up and coming beauty brands allowing for brand exposure and credible value within the beauty community. This opportunity afforded me to be able to receive a monthly commission rate of 15% of my profits while being able to use my platform to promote Boxy Charm as an entity but to give individual exposure to other beauty brands being promoted throughout the market. A monthly box was sent to my home with full sized products, and we were given a very direct and thorough brief to follow in order to ensure successful content creations. Oftentimes, this is where your creativity came into play & this is what also led me in different creative directions in my career. The goal ultimately with working with Ipsy is to be able to influence your audience, your platform, and your followers in order to have them become a part of this beauty experience all while still being relatable. It has been officially 7 years partnered with Boxy Charm aka Ipsy and I am so proud of the growth within the market over the course of these years all while being able to grow as an Influencer myself. This first dollar earned, was an opportunity that I could truly hold to face value because it was the first chapter in my book that defined who I am today and the influence I have on my community along with wanting to continue to share my magic amongst others.

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.

Well for starters, my name is Sierrah Ledora Tann also known as Sieglam (my beauty industry calling). With the influence of my older sister Sypriah Tann @sypslay is where my introduction to the industry came about. Having an older sister to look up to and be motivated by truly was a blessing for Who I am Today. My sister’s involvement within the beauty and fashion communities were a major impact on my growth as a kid and it allowed for me to have a typical upbringing as a girly girl playing dress up and my sister painting my face in makeup. Alongside, the camcorder that stayed in our faces throughout our entire childhood thanks to my mother and father who valued our creativity and confidence. Our creators played a valuable role in our confidence level as children and that evolved deeper into our adulthood. As my teenage years came about, wearing makeup to school minimally (mascara, eyeliner, lip-gloss) were all gestures of my fondness for enhancing my beauty and sense of fashion but also becoming a different version of myself with time and age. Evolving into my legal year (18) and into my early 20’s I just embraced my love for beauty and fashion, while social media became a big outlet to express one’s creativity through and I took full advantage of it utilizing it to create a media presence for myself and build my brand! Starting out as a Makeup Artist on social media, to then evolving into a Beauty Influencer that led me opportunities of not only influencing and empowering the beauty community but women as a whole to also perfecting my content creating through the means of beauty products, clothing brands and other essentials that I used to my advantage to connect with my audience even the male community (being able to promote skin care/ hair tutorials by recording myself care Sundays along with creating vivid stories on my story postings for my audience to gain more about WHO I AM in my personal life and why it’s extremely important to not shy away from your creative gifts and talent). Alongside my social media influences, it also has afforded me the opportunities to take on projects as a Creative Makeup Director (working on collaborations or within the Fashion Show Industry– being able to pursue shows like RiseNYFW, Runway 7, Brooklyn Fashion Week, Camden Fashion Week among many other). I believe what has always set me apart from others, is my authenticity and my ability to lead by example. Being a leader is a very challenging trait to maintain for many, but it is also a trait you have to have from within, and certainly from the heart in order to show up as a powerful force. One of the most compelling aspects of my career that I am most proud of would be my growth as an individual when you allow consistency and hope to lead your path, you find out there’s a greater purpose for you in this world, as God revealed that for me. As for, if there is anything I would want my audience and platform to know about me, it would be I was never afraid to challenge myself and through overcoming any fears I may have had, the power of confidence leaked so deeply through my veins it was stronger than anything that could conflict with who i was becoming which afforded me to never hide my magic from the universe.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist and a creative would have to be the acknowledgement and feedback you receive from those who feel most related to you or even the relationships and or rapports that end up being created alongside your journey. To know, you have the power to create a meaningful dynamic amongst others whether in your community or on the outskirts. It is beyond rewarding and empowering because it takes a special kind of person to create impact, to be heard and listened to much less empowered by.

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

The story behind how I built my audience on social media derived from one word that being “Consistency”, but it followed a number of steps throughout my journey that contributed to building my presence on the media. In the beginning finding yourself is merely a part of the process but it is a small portion of who you will become based on how consistent you remain. Understanding the power of social media in today’s day and age is extremely essential because there’s an algorithm that is expected to be followed but realistically you have the control and power to create your own algorithm, a cheat code that is catered to you as a creative and influencer or whichever direction you’re channeling. Hash tags and tagging social media brands were a big impact on exposure just because your content would circuit on the “Explore Page” platforms gaining exposure to your brand and to your profile. This primarily was for me, through the means of Instagram & TikTok. Aside from the tools social media provided, a big piece to your media presence is the content you actually put out into the universe and how the deliverance of your content is relatable to your audience. Story posting became super essential to my day-to-day life outside of beauty influencing and content creating where my audience got to know me as an individual, gaining more interest over my everyday life. Ultimately the key to your presence really depends on how consistent you remain and how much you put out that sets you apart from the rest–having your own self-identity is crucial.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sieglam
• Facebook: Sierrah Ledora Tann
• Youtube: SypnSieNation
• Other: Tik Tok @sieglam

Image Credits

@vvisuals__ aka @vbaptiste_
@spreadlovemedia
@mcclarymedia @mcclarymedia2
@jluz.photography