Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamila Daura.
Hi Jamila, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey as a beauty and lifestyle content creator was an intentional journey that I started in 2019 (coincidentally, I just filmed a video about this for my Youtube Channel). But back to how it started, I first made this decision at Memorial Hospital Savannah, while I was watching Youtube videos to while away time. I had just had my baby at barely 27 weeks in August 2018. For every time I was at his bedside, I would spend hours pacing back and forth his incubator praying and watching him survive each day. So one day, a nurse told me to go get some break, noting that I was still healing myself from a CS, but in situations like that, you almost forget about you! Well, thanks to the nurse that insisted on that day, for the first time in almost 3 weeks journey I discovered the parents/visitors waiting area. I went in, confused as to what to do, but definitely not sleep! I brought out my phone, connected to the WiFi, went on Youtube, and the first video that would show up was a video of Tati Westbrook (AKA Tati beauty). I binged watched her videos, thereon, Youtube started recommending a whole lot of beauty videos, and I kept on watching as they came! It became like my therapy to help me deal with all that was going on then, watching women apply makeup, review product, and most importantly be happy while at it, I took it as a direction from God!
I always knew I was not cut up for a 9-5 life, I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset because I was already a skincare business owner which I started in 2016, so the only thing that came to mind in that moment was to decide that I would be a stay at home. We were still not sure at that time what would be the “worst case’ scenario for my son, and what his life would be like after NICU! By the grace of GOD, and the amazing care he received, he came out of the NICU hale and hearty, but we still had to be hands-on on his care till he was about two years adjusted age. So while I was nurturing my son, I was also working on myself and building my knowledge and skills in skincare and makeup. I attended online schools, got my certifications in the first quarter of 2019, and by summer 2019 I officially launched my brand “Aado Lifestyle”. There was the inspiration from the women I encountered on Youtube, but there was also a burning passion for beauty and lifestyle from a very young age, so when I said God directed me, I meant, he opened my eyes and cleared a path for me to pursue my passion.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To say it’s been difficult is an understatement. But when you do not know people’s success stories and you meet them at a point when they are reaping the benefits of their hard work, it is really enticing for the other person watching and makes you wish to have what they have! I thought being able to speak eloquently, not being camera shy or just being knowledgeable was enough, but hey, there is more to being a content creator/influencer and no one knows how to crack the code when it comes to being known and recognized in the world of influencing or content creation. So I would say the first and biggest challenge for me is getting the publicity and getting brands to see you and understand how you can be of value to their brand. And when I say this, I am not saying the big brands (not that I mind), but even the small business within my environment can’t be reached. Every brand wants you to be already made before they associate with you, better still, want you to create free contents for their brand because you are small.
My second biggest challenge would be finances, I am still not earning as I should because I am a nano influencer, yet I use my money to buy products to review, because this is business just like every other business, so you have to invest, that is how I see it, and that is why I still do it. I hear a lot of bigger influencers wishing they don’t receive the PRs they receive because they almost do not have a need for so much products, yet the PR agencies would barely take on smaller influencers. And lastly would be the time and resources that goes in. As a nano content creator, I can say I work twice as hard at this stage I am in, because I am the creative mind, the muse, the videographer, photographer, editor and promoter. Perhaps, someday, the story gets better, and I come back to share!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Youtube Vlogger and content creator. I specialize in creating makeup and skincare tutorials that are very beginner-friendly. My knowledge for beauty has spanned over a decade but professionally started pursuing this passion of mine in very recent years! I am big on self-care, and I always emphasize and advocate for that, that is what sets my platform apart. I love to see women of all ages and from different works for life feel confident and beautiful. Self-care must be intentional because it opens the mind for so many things that a woman thinks she can’t be because of age, race and largely the societal stereotype. So when I talk to my audience about products, or share diy recipes or even self-care tips, I present it in a way that they can connect to it, always reminding them that it is for their own good! I also provide one-on-one virtual classes for makeup, basic at home facial and Youtube content ideation classes (this is a new class I recently introduced). I have worked with different brands in both the skincare and makeup industries (some of which can be seen on my Instagram page). I am also a beauty content writer and social media (Instagram) branding creative. This means I help “beautify” Instagram pages.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think the shift in the beauty industry has reached its peak, and in the next 5-10 years the beauty brands would have to work 5 times harder to reinvent their products formulas and repurpose the usefulness of their products. The competition is closing in as more and more equivalents are emerging and giving an almost equal look and feel that a beauty lover or enthusiast is willing to settle for. In today’s world, the influencers are the ones seeking relevance, tables would turn in such a way that “name” alone would no longer sell products. This will also be influenced by the “minimalist’ trends becoming more and more a fashion and beauty appeal for people. It is almost as if people are recognizing that as they grow older, they want less. And we just have too much in the market today that combing through to get to the good stuff is so hard for someone that isn’t a professional.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: jamiladaura.com
- Instagram: https://www.instgarm.com/aadolifestyle_
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aadolifestyle
- Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/AadoLifestyle
