Unexpected Journey I Published October 11

By Josephine Carrillo

What seems to be almost everyone’s dream nowadays is to “go viral” on social media platforms and make a profit out of their desired content, which appears to be working for a lot of so-called “influencers” all over the world.

“When people think of influencers and how they create viral videos, they often imagine a professional setup—tripod, lighting, a perfect background, etc. However, my first viral video, filmed in my room in 2021, was far from that,” said Andrea Velasquez, a 21-year-old student at Kean of Peruvian descent with a dream.

Her influencer career began on a random night in the summer of 2021. Vasquez had heard tips online from different content creators and she used these to her advantage. The tip that worked for her was to post a video overnight, forget about it, and check the next morning.

“All I had was my iPhone 12 and an idea: a video sharing beauty tips for Hispanic girls with Indigenous features like mine,” Vasquez said. “ I posted the video around 10 p.m. and forgot about it. The next morning, I woke up to 20,000 likes. I was shocked, in disbelief, and excited, especially since I had fewer than 100 followers. I had never had that many eyes on me before, so I was nervous about what people would say in the comments.”

The video got 763.2 thousand views, 175.9 thousand likes, 893 comments, and 20.4 thousand saves.

Social media platforms have their pros and cons, there is no right or wrong way of using one’s platforms, and everyone is free to post whatever they please. Unfortunately, the major con that exists in such platforms is cyberbullying.

Vasquez’s video was focused on a specific target audience, yet the video would be available to anyone with a TikTok account. She mentioned she was nervous about the feedback she would get, and she expected the worst.

Growing up in Peru, Vasquez suffered from bullying from a very young age. Kids and teachers at school would make her feel insecure about her looks. She often questioned why she was “different” than everyone else.

After moving to the United States, back in 2019, she discovered a whole new world. The diversity and the multiple ethnic backgrounds that are present in New Jersey, the combination of all cultures, and the beauty industry here made her realize that she was a beautiful flower bud that needed to bloom.

“To my surprise, the comments were filled with Hispanic girls who resonated with the tips. Many mentioned that they grew up hearing the same advice. Others said they had never seen a makeup tutorial featuring someone with the same features,” Vasquez said. “While there were some mean comments, the overwhelming support from other girls made me feel so happy. That inspired me to start creating more videos for them.”

This video marked the beginning of a new era for Velasquez, she made a promise to herself, make a change.

Her content on TikTok and Instagram, the main two platforms she uses, varies from fashion, vlogs, daily routines, podcasts, and more; yet all her content is still dedicated to her specific target audience, girls who relate to her and her experiences.

“No matter the type of content, I try to incorporate Peru and my culture into it. Over the last five years, I’ve met other Peruvian friends who share the same love for our culture as me, we joined forces and founded the first-ever Peruvian Student Organization at Kean University,” said Vasquez.

The Peruvian Inclusive Community Association (PICA) is a space dedicated to building a Peruvian community at Kean. Whether students want to reconnect with their roots or are completely new to Peruvian culture, PICA welcomes everyone to join us in celebrating their heritage. “ In my last 5 years in the United States, I’ve learned that it is through originality, passion, and determination that great things are achieved. Always let your authentic self shine.”

---