Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Marren.
Hi Sophia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Oh boy, how do I begin? Growing up, I was super shy; you’d always find me in a corner smiling, not talking. I want to think of myself as an extroverted introvert. I always felt like there was a voice inside of me that I wished someone would listen to. I started my social media journey in college when I became interested in fitness. I remember figuring out what to do, how to make posts look appealing, and how to stand out. Creating a “fit page” embarked on my social media journey and helped me release that voice. As I left college, I slowly strayed away from my fitness account, and during Quarantine, “aka a time where we all found ourselves,” I joined TikTok. TikTok was 10 levels up from Instagram; I didn’t know what to post or do. It was a whole new world to me. I found myself posting what every new TikToker posts: lip-synching or funny animal videos.
Then I got inspired. I would see all these videos of girls posting their “it girl” routines or skincare. Aside from fitness, I loved taking care of myself. Self-care is super important to me and deeply affects my mental health, so I said, “Wait, let me try.” I began posting about beauty products, routines, clothing, and more. I had so much fun, and people noticed my content over time. Fast forward to now, I love just sharing my life. I don’t keep myself in a box; I feel so free and like I’ve gained a community on this app. Also, my voice is free, and it’s been so much fun getting opportunities I never knew existed. I recently signed with an agency called ONEManagement, and that was a dream come true. I have never felt more motivated and inspired, which has made me so grateful. It’s been quite a rollercoaster, but I don’t plan on getting off the ride.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been easy. Some days, more than I’d like, are pretty hard. I’m a perfectionist, so being in the influencer/social media world, it’s hard not to compare and easy to feel like you need to do better. I sometimes struggle because I want to be where influencers like Alix Earle or Lauren Wolfe are. I know that’s possible, but social media is so ebb and flow it can feel like a journey. Another struggle is maintaining life while putting all your efforts into your content. My personal and influencer lives are one, but balancing the two is hard. As someone who works a full-time M-F job, I work multiple jobs simultaneously. I call it my “girl boss days” because those are days when my brain never shuts off. I’m simultaneously working from home while using my hour lunch break to film for a brand collaboration. It’s all about finding what works for your lifestyle while keeping it fun.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I want to consider my social media career my primary job and my main M-F job as my secondary. Although I put more time into my primary job, I’m more passionate about my social media career. I never like to call myself an “influencer,” but at the end of the day, yes, I am. I’m a content creator who specializes in beauty and lifestyle. My followers know me for my realistic day-in-life vlogs, beauty routines, skincare recommendations, etc. I love showing a realistic side to being an influencer. That sets me apart. I’m not afraid to show the good, bad, and the ugly. I love talking and connecting with others on TikTok because, most of the time, social media is fake. We always show the aesthetically pleasing parts of our lives. Yes, that’s cute, but it’s not always real. I’m most proud of my ability to relate and connect with people. I once found myself hating social media because it made me never feel good enough, and that’s because my feeds were full of “It girl” routines or girls with tiny waists showing off their expensive clothes. I wanted to stop that and show what it’s like to be a Midwest girl who lives an everyday, calm life meanwhile working with brands such as L’Oreal, Lancome, Glow Recipe, etc. If you go to my TikTok, you can find videos of me ranting, getting ready for the gym, crying, doing a clothing haul, and even a get ready with me. You never know what my next video will be about.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
My biggest tips for being an influencer would be to #1, be patient. It takes time to build a following and to get where you want to be. Never feel discouraged because you’re not going viral or you don’t have a lot of followers. People will follow you if they can trust you and the type of content you provide. Also, don’t stress out. This world is fun; social media is amusing. If you take the fun out of it and have only one end goal of being famous, that will show. Another tip would be to realize there is a lot of ebb and flow. Some weeks you might have a lot of engagement or a brand reach out; others, you might not. I have those moments all of the time, and it’s fine. Good things take time. Post what you want to post about, enjoy the learning journey, get inspired, and most importantly, don’t be afraid!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@sophloafy
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiamarren/
- Other: https://onemanagement.com/New-York/Engagers/Sophia-Marren
