This Gen-Z influencer is one of the established and breakout names informing beauty and, more importantly, culture today. More from the series →
Like many other new content creators, Mireya Rios, 30, saw her TikTok career take off during the Covid-19 quarantine. Her videos that often feature ASMR and close-ups of product textures were a soothing respite from the realities of the pandemic. She now has 3.6 million followers and has worked with brands like Thayer’s Natural Remedies, Charlotte Tilbury and Philosophy. Rios, who was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico and went to school in Switzerland, said she has always loved acting and the performing arts, which drew her to the platform. She has also written for beauty and wellness sites like Organic Authority.
How did you get involved in the beauty community on TikTok?
“A friend was teaching me the ropes of TikTok, and I saw it had a lot of acting skits, where you would double the voice of someone like Sofia Vergara. I thought it was fun, and I liked that it was a space where I felt like no one was watching me. I tried everything — there were acting videos and fashion videos, but the beauty videos seemed to really engage people. Beauty is key when you’re on camera and you’re acting, because you’re [auditioning] and you have to look good and learn how to do your own makeup and take care of your skin.”
What is your interest in ASMR and product texture videos?
“TikTok is about thinking out of the box and going out of your comfort zone and exploring. I was creating 3-5 videos on a daily basis while in quarantine. I was trying all the trends, and one of those trends was an ASMR sound. I used it for one of the beauty products I had. I didn’t know what to think of it at the beginning. At this point, I’m still wondering. But ASMR is satisfying, and it does sort of hypnotize you.”
What are your plans for your future as a content creator?
“I have worked really hard. [Content creation] is not an easy thing, and the key to growth is that you have to love what you do. I want to continue making more videos and thinking out of the box. I would like to also have my own series on YouTube, where I can act and have my audience follow along with a character. I definitely don’t want to stick to just TikTok. There’s a lot more to explore and do and grow.”
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