Patiently using her brush to make a sharp line, with one stroke she has created the perfect winged eyeliner. You can call them college students, or you can call them beauty gurus. From colleges around Los Angeles, you can find makeup artists who are passionate about the industry and are trying to build a business out of their talents. They use social media as a platform to build and increase their fanbase.They use their social media platforms to build a fan base. Not to mention, YouTube of course, to teach you how to recreate a specific look.

Many people are starting up their own brands, all thanks to popularity gained from social media. Desi Perkins, Kathleen Lights, and Jeffree Star are examples, as makeup fanatics can’t get enough of them

Glendale College is located in the San Fernando Valley. Not surprising since it’s also a destination of fashionistas with big aspirations.

Gigi Estrada, for example, studies business at GCC, but also has a big passion for beauty and coming up with different eyeshadow looks. Once an active subscriber to beauty channels on YouTube, she found her inspiration through other beauty bloggers. She has since started creating her own content for others to follow.

“Watching makeup gurus on screen definitely encouraged me to start doing my makeup,” said the 21-year-old. “Eventually, it became one of my passions.”

Through her field of study, Gigi hopes to gain knowledge about the business aspect of one day building her very own beauty empire. Her accomplishments include collaborating with photographers and models, and even doing a live interview for Pasadena City College’s Lancer Radio.

According to an article from Tartan, beauty bloggers with lots of subscribers can be sponsored by companies have companies pay them to promote their products in their videos, they make an average of $33,000 per month.

Beauty bloggers have to work hard to make their content and their makeup skills better in every video.

Not to mention that you have to consistent with your content and you have to keep posting because your fans will demand to see videos of you all the time. The life of a beauty blogger isn’t that easy!

So many college students are ready to for the goal and hopes of become a YouTube sensation. With a decent salary, YouTube can give one a great career in anything you are good at. According to Information is Beautiful, “YouTube may pay as little as $0.0006 for every view, which adds up to $1.8 million for 3 billion plays.” Meaning you can make a living from a YouTube check.

So, take a risk if you believe in something don’t let anyone tell you, “you can’t be a YouTube star” because now it’s possible.    With social media growing more and more, college students are using their degrees to help them build a business. Gigi’s final highlight… no ladies, not the “Becca highlighter she is wearing on her face,” she says, make up has been a blessing to her, and has opened so many doors for her.