We had the good fortune of connecting with Brianna Valdez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brianna, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote that I always look back on when I need a little motivation or courage is “life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” My favorite thing about it is that it encourages me to always put myself out there and push myself past that feeling of being scared to try new things. When you try something new, different, or even something that may scare you a little bit, it can lead you to some of the best experiences of your life. You never know what could happen if you step out of your comfort zone! This quote reminds me of this when I need it most.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being creative has always been something I enjoyed since I was very young. I was always drawing, coloring, painting, and creating art in some form or fashion. When I discovered you could be creative with makeup and beauty products, I had to try for myself! My love for creating makeup looks started in high school and has only continued to grow. I started my beauty instagram back in 2018 and I have invested my whole heart into it ever since. I am so proud of how far I’ve come with both my makeup skills and my growth on Instagram. It makes me excited to continue working hard and always push my content to the next level. Starting this journey wasn’t an easy road and still isn’t. The beauty community is incredibly competitive. You have to always stay on top of the trends and the latest products. You have to be willing to post more content, have new and fresh ideas that haven’t been done before, and always be creating new looks. Meanwhile, there are many other people in the community who are so talented and are doing the same thing. The industry seems very much like a race of who can stay relevant, who has the most likes, who has the biggest following and so on. However, when I face these challenges, I always remind myself that the reason I started was not for the notoriety, but to share my love of makeup and creativity with others. If I can inspire just one person to follow their dreams and do what they love, or make just one person happy with my content, that is truly all I need. Even if that one person is myself. That is what really matters. I think that is what most sets me apart from others.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I would take someone visiting the area to LACMA (LA county museum of art), L.A. Live and the Staples Center to see a hockey or basketball game, the beach (of course) and my personal favorite – Disneyland! We would also have to make a stop to In-N-Out Burger (a staple of mine), as well as The Grove for some shopping!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I always thank my family first and foremost for their love and support. They have always encouraged me to follow my heart and pursue my dreams. I know they are there for me every step of the way in everything that I do. I would not be where I am today without them. Second, I have to thank youtube and all the beauty gurus that started creating makeup content! I first found these videos in high school and it helped inspire my love of makeup and beauty products. I still watch the same beauty gurus to this day!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyybeeautiful/
Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC0mwW0m6-0gLra6LuYe5T4g