Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonell Sequira.
Jonell, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my Youtube channel in 2016 when I was a junior in college. I was really into natural hair and got a ton of questions about my hair routine and the products I use. A few of my friends told me I should start a youtube channel, and at first I shrugged it off, but then one day I just decided that I was gonna do it. That way, I could just direct everyone who had questions about my hair to my YouTube channel. So I recorded my first video about my natural hair journey, and it got a few thousand views after just two weeks! After graduation, I decided to really take it seriously and become a full-time influencer and content creator because I had the luxury of moving back in with my parents. The rest history. Since then, I’ve gained over 85,000 followers across YouTube, Instagram, and now TikTok. Now, my content consists of beauty, fashion, and lifestyle videos and I’ve been able to work with a lot of really cool brands–both global and local businesses. These days, I’m working a full-time job in digital marketing, but I still create content and influence on the side and will continue do to so because it’s so much fun (and the extra money is great too!).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely NOT been a smooth road. I’ve had moments where I just wanted to give up because I wasn’t growing as fast as I would have liked. There are so many struggles that come with being an influencer: not understanding my value and being underpaid for collaborations, equipment malfunctions, and the worst of them all – comparing myself to other influencers. Comparison truly is the thief of joy, and at one point I was comparing myself so much that I didn’t even see how good I was actually doing. My current challenges are switching my niche from strictly natural hair content to more lifestyle and fashion and also trying to balance my 9-5 with influencing. This life ain’t easy!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
By day, I’m an Influencer Marketing Manager for an influencer agency. By night I’m the influencer/content creator for my own brand. I post about natural hair tutorials and tips, fashion hauls, and lifestyle vlogs on Youtube, Instagram, and now TikTok. I don’t really do anything super groundbreaking or innovative, so I think what sets me apart from others is my story and my relatability. Most larger influencers live this fancy, carefree, leisurely lifestyle whereas I’m just a regular girl who still works a 9-5 and just happens to create content on the side. I take my followers along my journey as a 20-something years old black girl just trying to navigate through life, and I think a lot of people really resonate with that. I’m working towards that leisurely, luxury lifestyle though 🙂
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
A lot of people don’t know that I’m classically trained on the piano. I’ve been playing since I was 5, and I originally wanted to be a musician growing up. Random – but most people don’t know that.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/jonellsequiraxo
- Youtube: youtube.com/jonellsequiraxo
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonellsequiraxo
