Today we’d like to introduce you to Poca.
Poca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my journey in the beauty industry as a lash artist back in 2017. What began as a small side hustle quickly grew into a full career that connected me with some of Atlanta’s most influential women. I spent years building that business, training artists, and learning how powerful it is when your work and your presence speak for you.
After retiring from lashing, I took a year to reset. That time away helped me see how naturally content creation was already a part of my life. I was documenting everything—my lifestyle, my travels, my beauty routine—long before I realized it could be its own lane. In 2023, I made the leap into full-time influencing and everything shifted. My first viral video confirmed what I already felt: my everyday life had a story worth sharing.
Since then, my brand has expanded far beyond posting pretty content. I’ve worked with global brands, built a digital education company called Rich Off Influence, launched creator events, and started mentoring other lifestyle creators who want to monetize their personal brand. What keeps me going is knowing that my journey—from a lash tech to a full-time influencer—is helping other women see that their lifestyle can be the foundation of a career too.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. From the outside, it might look like things just fell into place, but my journey has had a lot of moments that tested me.
When I stepped away from lashing, I went through an identity shift. I had built a name for myself in that industry, so walking away meant starting over—financially, creatively, and emotionally. There was a period where I felt lost, trying to figure out who I was without the business I spent years building.
Content creation came with its own hurdles. I had to learn how to be consistent, how to trust my voice, and how to show up even when the numbers weren’t matching the effort. I dealt with comparison, burnout, and seasons where I questioned if I made the right decision.
On top of that, life didn’t pause for me to get it together. I navigated personal losses, creative dry spells, and moments where I felt like I had to rebuild myself from the inside out. Becoming the “strong one” for everyone around me while still trying to grow my brand wasn’t easy.
But every challenge pushed me to grow. The setbacks made me more intentional. The slow seasons forced me to develop systems. The pressure made me level up creatively and as a businesswoman. And the personal storms reminded me why I do what I do—because my platform is bigger than aesthetics; it’s about resilience, reinvention, and showing other women what’s possible.
Looking back, I’m grateful for the obstacles. They shaped me, sharpened me, and prepared me for the opportunities I have now. My journey hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a lifestyle, beauty, and travel content creator, and the founder of Rich Off Influence—a digital education brand that teaches creators how to monetize their lifestyle with intention. My work sits at the intersection of luxury storytelling and strategy. I create content that feels aspirational but still attainable, and I show women how to turn the way they live, move, and show up into opportunities.
I’m known for blending high-quality visuals with real guidance. Whether I’m documenting my travels, sharing beauty routines, or teaching creators how to pitch brands, everything I create is rooted in personal experience. I’ve worked with brands like Prada Beauty, YSL, Covergirl, Amazon, and hotels around the world, but what I’m most proud of is the impact I’ve made on emerging creators—especially those who never saw this path as something accessible.
Through Rich Off Influence, I’ve built digital products, mentorship programs, and creator events that give people the confidence and strategy to actually grow. My Creator’s Mixer events, in particular, have become a space where creators can network, build community, and experience the “brand trip” feeling while learning how to elevate their presence.
What sets me apart is that my influence isn’t based on aesthetics alone—it’s built on reinvention, consistency, and community. I didn’t come from a traditional media background. I built everything from the ground up, first through my lash business and later through my online presence. Because of that, I teach from a place of experience, not theory.
I’m proud that my brand shows women that you don’t have to fit a certain mold to succeed as a creator. You can be yourself, show your real life, and still build something powerful. My mission is to make influencing feel more accessible, more strategic, and more aligned with the lifestyle you want to live.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
When I look back over my journey, I don’t really see it as luck—I see God’s hand in every chapter. The moments that people might call “good luck” were really moments of alignment, grace, and timing that only He could orchestrate. Whether it was going viral at the exact moment I needed a breakthrough or meeting people who opened doors for me, those weren’t coincidences. That was God placing me exactly where I needed to be.
I’ve been through seasons that felt like bad luck too—loss, transitions, starting over, and navigating uncertainty. But even in those moments, I can see how God was redirecting me, strengthening me, and preparing me for the opportunities that came later. Every setback pushed me toward a version of myself I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
So yes, “luck” has shown up in my life, but not in the traditional sense. My luck is God. He’s the reason the right content reached the right people. He’s the reason I had the courage to pivot careers. He’s the reason doors opened that I didn’t even know existed. My job has simply been to stay ready, stay faithful, and walk through the doors He places in front of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saypoca.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saypoca/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raven-thornton-85413b395/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SayPoca
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@saypocaa
