Meet Leslie Hall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Hall.

Leslie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, what is now business was first a hobby for me. I started content creating in July 2016 right after my first deployment to Kuwait and also after a very life-changing event. I needed something to occupy my time outside of my military career. So, I created my youtube channel, Leslie Latrice, and promoted my videos via my personal Instagram, at the time @whhooagiz (now @leslielatrice) and other social platforms like Facebook and Twitter. My current niche is beauty and lifestyle content with an emphasis on natural hair and my military career.

I received some great advice about remaining consistent and deciding the focus for my channel and that is what I did. I created a consistent schedule and started learning what I could about editing my video footage and it just all took off from there. I ended up deploying to Poland and Germany and started vlogging my travel adventures overseas which really helped to grow my audience. Shortly after, I returned from that deployment and was extended the opportunity to join the Impressions of Beauty (@impressionsofbeauty) organization which took the beauty and branding aspect of my “hobby” to a whole other level.

After joining Impressions of Beauty, I really began to brand myself on Instagram and through that my creator audience grew. Creating and engaging with my audience is the most fulfilling experience I have gotten since joining the military and I absolutely love it.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road isn’t the smoothest but I am working on a solution. It is challenging managing my military career and my creator platforms especially because the Army is a full-time occupation for me. But I have created some courses of actions to help me try and manage time for work, self, and hobbies which I explain thoroughly in my latest blog post.
“Find your Balance” https://fierceisshe.com/2019/07/05/finding-your-balance/

Regardless, I truly believe in manifesting my desires, so I try to remain positive and grounded through that. It has gotten me this far so why stop now!

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I essentially create video and photo content from brands/companies/organizations that are searching to expand their audience. I aim to provide honest reviews to my audience while also promoting that brand/company/organization.

Additionally, I do model and dabble in photography however, I specialize in branding, modeling, and video creation. And I am known for those same specialties as well as being an officer in the U.S. Army.

I am most proud of my business’s authenticity. Often times I feel like influencers and creators are not honest with their audience and will tell them anything for a quick buck. I value honesty wholeheartedly and refuse to “secure the bag” by lying to my following. I enjoy the fact that my personality is on full display and that resonates with my audience (GizArmy/Naturalestas is what I call my audience). I can truly be myself and the majority of people can feel how genuine I am even through a screen; that is one of the most rewarding parts of doing what I do.

The authentic and genuine engagement I have with my audience, as well as my personality and honesty, is what I believe sets me apart from other creators. I love what I do and I would do it for free as long as I continue to provide my audience with the truth and remain true to myself and my brand.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My mother for sure, Rechetta Stevens. She has always pushed, supported, and encouraged me to thrust past what I believe to be my limits. She encouraged me to join JROTC in high school and it turned into a career for me. She also supports all of my endeavors and gives me advice and motivation every step of the way.

I have two mentors who I would like to give credit to and two creator friends who I started my journey with. My military mentor Della Mack and my creator Mentor Zaria Brown and my YouTube friends, but more like family, Aaron Sterling and Andy Jane. Both of Della and Zaria have helped me so much and instilled in me the drive to continue down my path and not give up. Just watching their growth was inspiration in itself. Thank you both!

Della Mack: IG @macks.perspective
Zaria Brown: @adoseoffab

Aaron and Andy are my creator sounding boards and always helped me get through those “creator ruts”. If it as just asking questions or listening to me vent, I know I could count on them. These two are more like family and if it wasn’t for them, I know that first year of getting my YouTube Channel off the ground would have been so much more of a struggle. So, a huge thank you to them as well!

Aaron Sterling: @crown.me.sterl

Andy Jane: @beingandyjane

And lastly I want to shoutout GIZARMY! Y’all are the real ones! You all consistently support me and are the reason I continue to do what I love every single day! The loyalty, love, and support y’all give on the daily across all platforms and even in person is unbearable! I can’t thank y’all enough! I love you all XOXO -Leslie Latrice

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youtube.com/LeslieLatrice
• Email: leslielatrice7@gmailcom
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslielatrice/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leslielatriceoffical/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leslielatrice_
• Other: https://fierceisshe.com

Image Credit:
Isaiah (IG: eyesunphotography), Jasmin Moses (iG: slimreshae)

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