Meet Cristal J | Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cristal J and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cristal, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose the pursuit of a creative career because I wanted an outlet to express myself. Growing up, I was only allowed to watch television during the weekends, and whenever I had the chance, I would spend all of my free time watching Youtube videos. I would watch get ready with mes, makeup tutorials, fashion videos, and etc., and I always wanted to make my own. I feel like it’s common for most to feel like the things we want to produce have no value or any sort of doubtful thought that could come to mind, but after a while I couldn’t come up with a reason to not start. Initially I started creating content on Instagram as a way to track my technical progress as I was learning how to do my own makeup for prom. I would find an inspiration photo, grab my brushes, and get to work, each day doing the same look until I felt I perfected it. It was just something I did for fun in high school, but I enjoyed it so much I kept creating while I began college at Howard University. That content became the catalyst of me becoming a makeup artist while I was at Howard. While on campus I did makeup for 3 years out of my dorm. I worked behind the scenes at many fashion shows, photoshoots, birthdays, graduation shoots, pageants, and events. Being a part of so many different events on campus behind the scenes really inspired me to continue my pursuits of creating content in different niche’s beyond makeup.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My newer “era” of content creation started in the summer of 2020. This was a time where everyone was online, and I had so much free time before school started again in the fall. Funny enough, I was doing a virtual Scientific Internship that summer, and while facilitating our research meetings, one of our Principal Investigators (PI) said that my personality was so engaging and if I had a Youtube channel he would tune in. That was the first time anyone said that to me, and I guess he must of said it with a lot of sincerity because I have not forgotten that to this day and I still acknowledge it as the thing that prompted me to begin my Youtube channel. To answer the next question, NO! Getting past the oddness that is creating, doubting your creative abilities, doubting your ability to execute your visions, and everything that comes with beginning something new, just for it to get 5 views in 2 weeks is heartbreaking. There’s so much stuff you make and dislike before you can ever get to making things you actually enjoy enough to post, and over time you have to learn to love what you make regardless of viewer count. You learn to fall in love with progress and process and not numbers. Each piece of content I make is getting progressively better because I am learning and bettering my skill. Certain videos that use to take me hours to film, I can film in 30 minutes. My editing, thumbnails, b roll, voiceovers, and on camera presence has all improved as time passed and I have documented proof of it on all of my platforms. I’m very proud of that. Falling in love with the act of creating rather than the feeling of response is something that must be learned as well. I think what I’d want the world to know is that I’m documenting my evolution in real time, and the best has yet to come.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Support is something so important for creatives, especially smaller creators. Having people in your circle who cheer you on or care can be so helpful and special. My greatest supporters are my Mom, Aunt Deb, and cousin Lauren. All have shown immense kindness to me by not only championing me when I started my journey, but taking time to watch, like, and comment on all my videos, celebrating my small and big milestones, and just always choosing to speak life into me. I know a lot of times people discuss their “haters” or naysayers as means for motivation, but I’m so glad that I’m able to shine a light on my family, the people who love and support me. It makes me happy to know that there are people in my life that believe in my dreams just as much as me. It’s very special.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrs__007/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CristalJ/featured

Image Credits
All photos uploaded were taken and edited by me!