Today we’d like to introduce you to Daria Smith.
Daria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
For those of you who don’t know me… I am a rising junior studying Public Relations and Journalism at Georgia Southern University. I run a YouTube channel and blog centered around fashion and lifestyle content. When I was in middle school, my friends and I used to make music videos. I decided to post some of those music videos on YouTube the summer before high school in 2012. For some reason, people watched the music videos (which are no longer on my channel) and they received good feedback. I was then asked to filmed a “Q&A” video, which also did well. After that, I started filming makeup tutorials and fashion videos. I considered myself a “beauty guru” on YouTube back in 2012. After my first year of making videos, I had around 1000 subscribers. Heck, I can remember when I got 10 views on my first video and I thought that was amazing. In the summer of 2014, I partnered with StyleHaul who was the largest fashion/beauty network on YouTube at the time.
I also began working with Country Club Prep and Southern Proper during my junior year of high school; they would send me free product in exchange for promotion on my social media. SoPro and CCP were the first larger companies that I worked with and then, I began to get paid in the form of monetary compensation along with receiving free product. Throughout high school, I used to get made fun of for my YouTube videos; almost to the point of deleting my channel. I can remember walking into the lunchroom during my freshman year of high school and boys would chant my YouTube username “xcgal98,” while playing my videos on their smartphones. Due to the tormenting, I hated high school, but this experience taught me not to care what other people think. I am a firm believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason. I also started my blog in addition to my YouTube channel during my junior year of high school. During my junior and senior year of high school, I worked retail at Vineyard Vines.
Once I graduated high school, I started doing YouTube full time. When I started, I had no idea that my YouTube channel would amount to anything- let alone result in a paycheck. I just liked to share my voice and express my passions on the internet. However, I got lucky and my passion turned into a paycheck. In high school, you were made fun of if you were different. On the contrary, everyone wants to stand out and be unique in college and the real world. I entered college as a fashion merchandising major and ended up changing my major to public relations, eventually adding journalism. I realized that I was already completing a lot of PR tasks with my YouTube channel and blog, making social media the perfect career for me. For those interested in starting a YouTube channel or blog, you can’t do it for the wrong reasons or just to make money. People see right through the act and they’re looking for influencers full of passion who produce authentic content. You can’t fake passion. Also, it takes dedication and success to build a loyal following and brand. Overnight success is a myth, hard work and dedication are key.
However, if you’re thinking about starting a YouTube channel or blog for the right reason, it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made and the best creative outlet. Luck definitely plays a factor in going viral, but it’s undermined by hard work. I attribute all my success to God, and he has given me this platform to glorify him through creating faith content and telling others about the loving relationship he invites us into.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I was mocked in high school and bullied for making YouTube videos. I was picked on so much that I thought about deleting my YouTube channel on numerous occasions. There has been a period where I posted seldom because I was worried that my content wasn’t “perfect.” I’ve also gotten stuck in comparison to myself or my numbers to other influencers. Ultimately, a comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t forget God in the midst of the gifts he’s given you. Immerse yourself in the word and distinguish God’s truth from Satan’s lies every morning. Remember to be grateful for what you have, less is more. Also, quality over quantity when it comes to creating content. You must be dedicated, determined, hard-working, self-motivated, and passionate about this business.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Country and Class – what should we know?
I create YouTube videos and blog posts centered around fashion, faith, and lifestyle content. On my blog, I will curate outfit posts, shopping posts, short devotionals pertaining to the Christian faith, and whatever is on my heart. On YouTube, I film a lot of vlogs, haul videos, faith videos, life advice videos, college-related content, and a wide span of lifestyle content. I am most proud of glorifying God through my content. A lot of content creators do not hold glorifying the lord as a key value of their brand. I am different from other creatives because I am so happy and lively. I have so much passion towards the content I am creating.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Like I said earlier, I was always “different” and outcasted when I was growing up. I think unique people thrive and are set up for success in our society, no matter how “weird” they are. Being mocked and outcasted in my younger years taught me not to care about the opinions of others, and it built my character. Anything negative that comes my way just fuels my fire and makes me work harder.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.countryandclassblog.com
- Email: xcgal98@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariasmithyt/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dariasmithyt
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/xcgal98
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
