S2 E.8 Authenticity and Building a Community with Social Media Legend and Comedian Erika Priscilla
In this EpisodeIn this episode, Adriana and Mariah sit down with social media legend, Erika Priscilla! The girls talk about Erika’s swift rise to fame, the Qelsi character we all know and love, and how true authenticity builds a loyal community.
To start, Erika tells us more about how everything began. She works full-time in the cosmetic industry, and when COVID hit, her typical work day shifted. Erika found herself working from home, and like many of us did, she downloaded TikTok. A random video blew up, and that led to a realization that this could be more than just a way to pass time during an unprecedented time.
A few years prior, Erika had a YouTube channel where she would post hauls and makeup tutorials. Nothing really came of it, so all of these eyes suddenly on her TikTok content was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Shortly after her first video blew up, Erika started the series that still remains her signature: the influencer parody series!
This series had a meteoric rise – Buzzfeed featured one of these videos, and Erika notes that she gained LOTS of Instagram followers. From reposts to shares, this series was gaining some serious engagement. As it continued, Erika said that she had an epiphany. She needed to create a character that was dedicated to this series. Enter: Qelsi.
If you know, you know…Qelsi is authentic, relatable, and downright hilarious. Even if you are not in tune with the influencer world, you will still laugh at the facial expressions and voices. Erika says that it was important to create an exaggerated character, but not someone who goes after specific influencers or women. Slowly, Qelsi’s identity became fully developed with lots of facets, and she is responsible for Erika’s fame.
As Erika (and Qelsi) began to grow, large brands reached out with an interest in partnering. We know what you’re thinking…how could Erika herself become an influencer when her whole shtick is creating parodies based around the influencer community as a whole? She came up with a compromise – accepting these brand deals, but doing them in a Qelsi fashion. Many brands were very open and excited for this fun juxtaposition and enlightened approach.
Erika stresses that her top priority is being unapologetically herself. If you have been following Little Words Project for a while - or even just for a little - you know that we share that priority. Followers want to see the behind the scenes and the REAL you. If you are in need of support, ask for it. If you are stressed, share it. The ones who are invested in you and your business will come through, and your community will grow in a solely organic way.
This philosophy applies to all aspects of Erika’s life. She met her boyfriend Scott at a bar and was authentic from the very beginning. Erika says that when you are completely yourself in your personal life, this will be reciprocated from the other person, and you attract who you want to attract. Adriana, Mariah, and Erika all agree that authenticity is the KEY to success, happiness, and confidence.
When you show your true self or speak out about your beliefs, there are always people who will disapprove. The girls note that even if you receive harsh DMs on Instagram, we should not ostracize anyone with a varying opinion. There are levels to everything. Give people a chance, practice being tolerant, and remember that we are ALL human.
In today’s world of influencing and social media, there is naturally a lot of comparison. Erika wants her platform to be neutral, no matter your beliefs or your race. She wants you to simply forget about any unrest and laugh – even if it is for just 60 seconds. That’s why we love her!
Today’s episode ends with Adriana and Mariah talking about an exciting LWP partnership with Erika! Erika has been a loyal supporter of the brand and it’s safe to say that she is always sporting a gorgeous stack. So, it was a no-brainer to partner! We couldn’t decide on just 1 word, so we did 2: authentic and unique. Those are the perfect words to sum up Erika, if you ask us!
We hope you enjoyed this episode as much as we did – go show Erika some love, and keep glowing! Catch you next time!
Important Times0:50 - Welcome back!
5:10 - The Making of Qelsi
8:24 - Being an influencer without “being an influencer”
14:29 - Navigating social media/building a community
30:20 - Erika and Scott
38:51 - Interacting on social media
56:51 - Social media etiquette
1:09:47 - Dreams, goals, and next steps
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Welcome bestie.
We’re so glad you’re here.
We’re Adriana and Mariah. Co-hosts, entrepreneurs, BFFs, and girls just like you trying to figure it out as we go.
