Now Casting: Amanda Steele

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If you’re closer to 30 than you are 15, it’s likely that you might have become slightly out of touch with the trends of the younger generation. Sure, you may know who Maddie Ziegler and Zendaya are—and the name of Disney’s latest all-dancing and singing signing might ring a bell—but you’d be forgiven for not being able to reel off the many YouTube stars watched by millions of teens everyday. Amanda Steele (also known as MakeupbyMandy24), is one such figure that’s risen to fame on the video chanel. Sixteen-year-old Amanda has a dedicated following of 2.8 million YouTube subscribers, so if you’re one of them, please be patient while we explain:

Amanda is something of a vlogging veteran. She began filming makeup and outfit tutorials in her California bedroom when she was just ten years old and has since achieved a highly profitable career. More recently, Amanda signed a modeling contract with IMG Models and has her sights set on conquering the fashion industry. Here, she shares her hopes for the future, her beauty routine, and what it takes to be one of YouTube’s biggest stars:

Why did you begin your YouTube channel?

“I used to sketch and make my own clothes off the top of my head, but then when I was ten I started watching some tutorials on YouTube on how to make more intricate things. From there, I was really inspired to start my own channel and then I fell in love with making videos.”

When did you realize that your channel was taking off?

“The first videos I made weren’t good at all, but I was just a kid and I loved making them, so I carried on doing it. Essentially, I grew up on YouTube and I think that my viewers grew up with me, so they became attached to me and my story. At the time, there wasn’t really anyone my age doing what I do, so I was think I was very relatable and people reacted well to the realness of my world—when you’re young, the life celebrities feels really far away.”

How long does the average video take to make?

“I used to film everything in my tiny bedroom in Orange County, but now I go to the YouTube office in Los Angeles. It’s a dedicated space that YouTube built for channel creators to go and film whatever they want. I go about once a month with a suitcase of new makeup and clothes and film four videos in a day. Now that I’m traveling more, it’s important to set aside days to film, otherwise I get inundated with comments asking where my next video is.”

How much time do you dedicate to social media every day?

“I’m on social media literally all day. I use Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat—everything. I try to post a lot of stuff because seem to respond well when I show them what I’m actually doing. It’s not enough to just post selfies, so I go out of my way to show my life and go to cool things so that my audience can maybe see something that they wouldn’t have the opportunity to otherwise. I try to Snapchat consistently, but sometimes I’m just laying in bed and no one needs to see seven snaps of that.”

What’s your favorite beauty tip?

“My favorite beauty tip is to keep it natural. It’s become really trendy to wear full makeup everywhere, and even though it’s fun to do sometimes, I think you get to see more of someone’s identity when they wear less—it’s about enhancing what you have, rather than masking it.”

What beauty products can’t you live without?

“Concealer is my thing. Also: highlighter, bronzer, mascara, and something for my eyebrows. Becca does an amazing highlighter—it makes your face really glow. Then for bronzers, I always prefer something matte rather than iridescent. It makes your face warm instead of sparkly. Drugstore mascaras are the best and for brows, nothing beats Anastasia products.”

Who are your roles models?

“My mom is my biggest role because she works really hard and inspires me to be the best version of myself. I can’t say a celebrity, because I don’t know any of them personally and you never know what they’re actually like until you meet them. That being said, I do follow a lot of fashion bloggers. I don’t necessarily copy what they’re wearing, but I like to see what new stuff is out and how other people express their style. I’m also obsessed with those 15-second time-lapse makeup tutorials on Instagram—they’re so weird and satisfying to watch.”

How did the contract with IMG Models come about?

“Because of my YouTube channel, I get booked by certain brands to travel or attend their events. From that, I was encouraged to try and secure a modeling contract, so I met with some different model agencies and decided to go with IMG. Everything is still really new, so I haven’t worked as a ‘professional,’ model yet, but I’m super excited to see how things take off.”

What do you hope to achieve as a model?

“It’s probably everyone’s dream, but my life would be made if I was to become a Victoria’s Secret Angel—that I definitely cannot do through YouTube alone. Other than that, I would love to do anything with Dior or Chanel.”

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to your career?

“There is an audiobook and movie called The Secret, and I recommend it to everyone. It’s about positivity. The concept is that the more positive you are, the more good things will happen for you. So if you want to start your own channel, be genuine when you talk to people and if something doesn’t work out, don’t be disheartened. Instead, find a positive lesson in it and you’ll be able to grow and be happier as you move forward.”

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

“It’s hard to imagine where I’ll be because a year ago from now, so I have no idea where I’ll be in ten years. When I first started my YouTube channel, it was my dream for it to be successful. Then it took off and I started making real money from it and I couldn’t believe. I don’t want to give that up, but now I’m really focused on trying to model professionally too. I’d really love to act and design my own brand also—the world is filled with an endless amount of opportunities.”

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