We recently connected with Tonia Ranco and have shared our conversation below.

Tonia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you’ve thought about whether to sign with an agent or manager?

I currently have an agent, and I’m incredibly grateful for their support. My agency first reached out to me via direct message on Instagram back in September 2022. At first, I thought it might be spam. I honestly didn’t believe I was “big” enough to warrant an agent. Despite my participation in numerous brand collaborations and my success on TikTok, I thought you needed at least a million followers to attract an agent’s attention.

After receiving that message, I decided to research the agency further. I discovered they represented a mutual content creator, so I reached out to her to learn about her experience. She had nothing but positive things to say about them. The agency then arranged a Zoom call, and as they say, the rest is history. I always tell people, you never know who’s watching your content!

Tonia, 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?

I was 47 when my husband suggested that I start making YouTube videos. At first, I thought he was delusional. He said, “I bet there are many women your age who don’t know where to begin with makeup.” The idea of becoming a beauty influencer terrified me, especially since I grew up hearing about the things that were “wrong” with me—like my lips and eyes being too big. The thought of putting myself out there to be potentially torn apart made me hesitant for a long time.

As I searched for influencers who were Black and over 40, I found almost nothing. While there were plenty of white influencers in that age group, I saw very few women of color. This lack of representation ultimately motivated me to start my journey.

I absolutely love when someone messages me to say that I encouraged them to wear makeup again or that a product I suggested has worked for them. That connection is one of the main reasons I wanted to do this. About a year ago, I began creating story-time videos on TikTok as a way to share my life experiences. To my surprise, it really took off! It’s exciting to see that people actually look forward to my stories.

I truly adore the community I’ve built, and I’m so grateful that this is my job.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My audience really began to grow when I became consistent in my posting. At first, the excitement and motivation are high. However, when views, likes, and comments are low, it can be discouraging. The key takeaway is that you can’t focus solely on getting views and likes. While those metrics are important, if that’s your only goal, you might lose motivation quickly. I always tell people to post what they genuinely enjoy; your audience will find you.

My platforms really took off during COVID-19. I started sharing dance videos on TikTok, and people began commenting on my skin, makeup, and hair. I realized, wait a minute—they actually want to see this! As a result, my YouTube content began to migrate to TikTok. Later, my husband and I started creating content together, which became even more popular.

I love that social media has no age limit. The unique quirks that make you who you are – they’re often the very things that lead to your success.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

One of my ultimate goals is to become the face of a brand and have my image featured in major beauty stores like Sephora and Ulta. I also dream of seeing my face on a billboard in Times Square. Achieving these milestones would mean the world to me and serve as a testament that it’s never too late to pursue your passions. Ultimately, I believe that hard work and dedication truly pays off.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bio.site/Rancobeauty
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rancobeauty
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rancobeauty
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rancobeauty
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rancobeauty

Image Credits

Photos taken by: Bridget Daehler Photography