The power of the internet!
I know that is stating a blindingly obvious statement but I still find it astounding how you can literally become an overnight phenomenon with simply your computer and a webcam. One women in particular who decided to quit her day job in favour of YouTube is Lauren Luke who if you like make up and beauty, I’m sure you will have heard her name buzzing around like crazy in recent months.
If you don’t know who Lauren Luke is you will love her (even if you’re not really into make-up as she’s so funny and personable). An unassuming lass from South Shields in the North East of England who via the means of her Geordie twang, webcam and YouTube channel panacea81 has provided us with every make up inspired look you can imagine.
Lauren is a single mum and just over two years ago was stuck in a seemingly dead end job with no prospects. As more of a hobby and DIY experiment she had the idea of channelling her passion for make up into short ‘how to’ style tutorials and uploading them to youtube. Today there are hundreds of girls around the world who have caught onto this craze but Lauren was one of the first and quite literally became an overnight phenomenon.
The media is saturated with glamorous icons who are just so unreal that the internet and channels such as YouTube provide us with entertainment in all types of different genres from ‘normal’ looking types who we can all relate to and identify with.
This is exactly why Lauren has become so successful; she is a ‘normal’ size 16 working class lady in her 20’s and completely unpretentious. And most importantly her tutorials are really very good and easy to follow with no hint of an airbrush in sight. Of course, you can only do so much via a YouTube channel but Lauren became so immensely popular that she has recently launched her book Lauren Luke and an exclusive make up line Make up By Lauren Luke which consists of five gorgeous kits with different colour palettes all of which she has provided video tutorials on how to use according to your skin tone.
Lauren’s make up range is selling incredibly well in America and she is now making TV appearances and being labelled as a beauty queen. And a 100 percent real one. Hallelujah to that.
To see how good Lauren is, take a look at her recent tutorial which takes inspiration from fellow Geordie Cheryl Cole’s make up on her latest single "Fight For This Love" (regardless of if she mimed on X Factor or not). I love Lauren’s comment near the end “isn’t that brilliant – look at it” as if she still surprises herself. I think she is brilliant and a great inspiration of how to make your passion profitable.
You can follow Lauren on Twitter under the name of panacea81