Meet Erika Persaud

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Persaud.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always been interested in beauty, fashion and technology. I recently moved to the USA and as I was awaiting my paperwork, I started a YouTube Channel (focused on editing tricks) as a creative outlet whilst I was home alone most days. As my account started to grow, I decided to create an Instagram profile where I could show more of my personality and interests so that my audience could connect with me on multiple platforms.

I have always been told that I have a unique taste and Social Media has given me an outlet to showcase my take on beauty and style people from all over the world. I was able to find my community by establishing my niche and style but also by being laid back and relatable whilst still entertaining. This has helped me to make friends in the industry who genuinely support me. As my page started to get exposure, brands started taking notice of my work and extended collaboration opportunities. I’m still a very small creator, but I believe that by being consistent, authentic and producing high-quality work, anyone can be successful in this industry.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Creating content is difficult when you’re putting yourself out there. At first, I think the biggest struggle is finding your audience. It took me a while to see progress in that area, but by staying consistent and authentic, I was able to overcome that struggle.

My next biggest issue is finding good lighting. I first started off creating only beauty content which I only shot in natural light. I would have to wake up at 6 am so that I could catch the only good lighting that came into my apartment and shoot a week’s worth of content on that day. If not, I would have to take my products outside to either a park or anywhere with a plain wall so that I could get the shot I envisioned. Apart from these factors, creating content requires discipline. You have to wake up early and set aside time to get things done.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create unique beauty, life and style content on Instagram featuring creative editing, styling and photography. I am most known for my editing skills and product photography. My edits are usually in video format. I have worked with well-known brands like Lancôme, Fable and Mane, Mejuri, MVMT, Korres Skincare, etc. where I have tried, reviewed, styled and photographed their products to showcase on my platforms. They give me complete creative freedom over anything they send for content. This in turn, makes me happy that they understand that my vision, though different, is still something worthy.

I am extremely proud of my photography skills. I started off by teaching myself everything I know and developing my skills along the way. My content isn’t the same as it was last year and in another year, I hope it will be better than it is today. I admire all forms of art and content creation, but I believe that the thing that sets me apart from others is that I see the beauty and fashion industry from a different point of view. I like to add unique graphics to everything I create to give it that authentic touch because that’s genuinely what I like.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
At the beginning of the pandemic, my social channels saw a huge increase in traffic due to so many people being at home. Unfortunately, it didn’t last as these channels also saw an influx of new users and it became harder to become discovered. I learned to just enjoy what I create and share more of my everyday life because people don’t only want to see the pretty photos, they also enjoy the behind-the-scenes content. This has helped me to build a stronger relationship with the audience I already have because now they know the person behind the camera.

Contact Info:

• Email: islainthecity@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/islainthecity
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/islainthecity
• Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdCRKLnc/