Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Maldonado.
Hi Liz, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
How did I start my career on social media? Well, I have always been a creative. Since I was young, I have always in my free time filmed and edited fun videos for my parents, for school projects, even for job interviews! During the pandemic, like a lot of people, I did not work for 2-3 months in the beginning. During that time that I was at home Tik Tok was very popular and I decided then and there that during my free time at home while the world was shut down, I was going to learn how to monetize my social media! I wanted to share my confidence and show women, men, and especially young women that there is no real “beauty standard”. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and deserve to feel beautiful, appreciated, and confident in their own skin! I started participating in online webinars on how to monetize social media, I started listening to podcast every single moment I had from the time I woke up to the time I went to sleep about social media strategy and how to get brands to notice you and reach out for partnerships for paid brand deals! I still to this day continue to learn more and more every day about social media, it is constantly changing, and if I want to be the best at what I do I have to continue learning and growing every day!
Here we are a little over a year from starting my online career and I have grown my community to 37.6K on Tik Tok and 14.3K on Instagram. I have had the opportunity to work with brands like L’Oreal, JCPenny, even local brands here in DFW like Anna.be bridal boutique and so many others! I love working with brands that really align with my mission and beliefs. Brands that are size-inclusive, woman-owned, and minority-owned, I have a platform and I want to use it to spread positivity and really inspire women! I want to break the online “beauty standard” and show that it’s normal to have rolls, stretch marks, and cellulite! I put myself out there and share my outfits, where I find size-inclusive pieces that I love, and how to style and wear them to feel your most confident! I love talking with my community and helping them any way I can! That is something I love about working in social media too, you can connect with people from anywhere in the world! It’s crazy to me!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. In the beginning I was working seven days a week! I would work my office job Monday through Friday, 8am-5:30pm, planning my content in the evenings after work. On the weekends, Saturdays and Sundays waking up early to get ready, pack my outfits and create all of my content for the week on my two “off” days. I was determined to put in the work, so that I could make enough money to leave my office job and become a full time creator! When I decided to make the jump and resign from my office job to start my full-time online career, I struggled and went back and forth with the idea. I wondered “Is this really the right decision right now, in the middle of a pandemic?”, “Will I regret leaving my office job that I went to school and studied for?”, I had a lot of fear and internal conflicts! I made the decision in July 2021 to leave my office job, and I haven’t looked back since! It’s been the best decision I have ever made for myself! I am also very fortunate to have a fiancé that 1000% supports my decision to pursue this career, he is always there to help me, and family that also is cheering me on!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am still just in the beginning stages of my work, I have so many things I want to do! Right now, I partner with brands and bring inspiration to my community through curvy fashion and beauty! I share everything from what shapewear I use, to the best jeans to fit plus size and curvy bodies. I also do modeling for local boutiques in the area and I love sharing behind the scenes on shoot days! I love to share raw and honest content; I hope that whoever is watching on the other side sees me and finds some confidence in themselves! I show up make up free, with pimples on my face, and with my belly out unapologetically. We need to see more real bodies on social media and that’s what I want to be known for!
What are your plans for the future?
Future plans, hmm? I am looking forward to being the face of a body confidence campaign and being on a billboard or displayed in stores! Having my own wardrobe capsule collection for curvy bodies, with pieces that fit every beautiful shape and size! I would LOVE to meet my audience in person one day when it’s safer! I have met some of my followers in person casually at the malls or when am out and I love it, I would really love to host a meet and greet and hug every one of them!
Contact Info:
- Email: lizmal1994@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz_maldonado220/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizmaldonado220/photos/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8OPy3DL_fyZAgLHcuSgQiw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@liz.maldonado220?lang=en
Image Credits
@cuevasgonz
