An Interview with Grace Ariya: Chatting all things Youtube, Blogging, Mental Health and Jewellery Design

 

Hello Grace! Thank you for agreeing to this interview. First off, can you tell us about you and your YouTube channel? How did you get started and what are your passions?

Hey everyone! Thank you, Maryam, for inviting me to do this interview on your blog. My name is Grace and I’m a 16-year-old YouTuber from the UK. I started my YouTube channel at the end of June last year, after having my blog for just over two years before that. My YouTube channel revolves around fashion, lifestyle and productivity, which are my main passions! I upload the odd foodie video and vlog too.

 

Where do you live and what is the best thing about your hometown?

The nearest city to me is London! I love living so close to the capital of England and I know how lucky I am to live where I do! What I enjoy most about London is how diverse a city it is, both in terms of culture and the variety of things it has to offer. You could go to London and spend your day shopping at the infamous Oxford Street or in the Theatre District! Alternatively, you could visit the landmarks, take a boat ride along the River Thames. Perhaps even work there in the future! There are so many opportunities in the city.   

 

 

 

 

What does your creative process look like? Where do you draw inspiration from?

My creative process starts with generating a video idea. Once this has been solidified, the idea goes into production. This starts with filming, editing and then making the thumbnail. Then, the final product is uploaded to my channel. It’s definitely a lot easier said than done. I tend to draw my inspiration from things around me, other creators and the trends I am currently obsessing over.  

 

How do you keep your YouTube videos relevant and unique with trending content changing so fast?

It’s hard to keep ahead of the trends on YouTube; they are ever-changing as you say. I tend to focus on creating the content I want to see or enjoy watching rather than getting too hung up in the trends. This isn’t always best for the performance of my channel but I enjoy content creation. I think this is the most important thing.

 

 

 

You seem very close to your mum! Too many people nowadays forget to nurture their bonds with immediate family as they live under the same roof and see a lot of each other. How do the two of you like to spend your time together? If I remember correctly, you’re an only child, right?

I am very close to my mum. I’d say our relationship has developed more in recent years, especially since I was diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder. My mum and I spend a lot of time cooking in the kitchen together as we have a family meal every evening. This is a new lockdown tradition that I’m sure will be continued post covid. Recently, we have also been recommending films to each other to pass the nights during the second lockdown. We often talk about those! I am not an only child though- I have a brother who is two years younger than I am.

 

What did you learn from your time as a blogger and what do you know as a current vlogger? What are the pros and cons of each platform?

Good question! Since starting my YouTube channel, I haven’t reflected much on my blog. It’s important not to lose sight of that part of my online journey though!

From blogging, I learnt that I have a voice and that people do want to listen to what I have to say or write. I think that is something that everyone needs to learn – blogger or not. 

As a YouTuber, I have learnt to create whatever content I want! Compared to the blogosphere, I feel as though it is much easier to get caught up in the analytics of the YouTube world. Having a video that doesn’t perform so well can be very demotivating, but I have learnt and am still learning that the process is worth it when it brings me enjoyment.

There are pros and cons to both platforms. On YouTube, I am much happier. I prefer to create and produce video style content. I feel as though I am better able to engage with my audience and supporting other creators has become easier. 

However, the blogosphere was a lovely community to be a part of. On my blog, I truly felt like I was writing for myself rather than an audience. It was much easier to write what I truly felt and express my real feelings without the fear of being judged. I never once received hate on my blog, which is unfortunately not something I can say about my YouTube channel.

 

 

 

Talk us through the process of designing a collection with Izzy from Indigo Jewellery! what look were the two of you going for when creating the range?

Creating my jewellery collection with Izzy was a very simple process and thoroughly enjoyable. She first approached me with a range of ideas and we developed them from there. As a lover of gold jewellery myself, it was easy for us to decide we wanted a full gold collection! We then selected charms and Izzy got to work creating the pieces. I was then sent the finished products to review and experience before we released them.

Overall, creating the collection with Izzy was such an incredible opportunity and one that I am beyond grateful for.

 

Does your anxiety disorder play a part in your online performance and interactions? What advice would you share with others who have a mental health condition and prominent social platforms?

My anxiety disorder is a part of me so it will always play a part in my life to some extent. Naturally, I don’t share the bad days online. In the past, my anxiety has stopped me from filming or caused me to feel overwhelmed when a video is due to go up but not yet ready. 

That being said, my social media is my escape from my mental health state. For many people, social media can be a negative place, magnifying poor mental health, whereas, for me, it is a distraction and an outlet for positivity. Therefore, my mental health rarely gets in the way of my online performance.

Your mental health should never stop you from doing something you want to do, whether that’s social media content creation or else. If Social Media content creation is something you want to pursue, do it! If you feel it has a negative impact on your mental health, I would recommend taking a step back and evaluating whether or not it is beneficial for you to continue in the present moment.

 

Let’s end with a life update! What’s going on for you at the moment? What are your goals for next year?

At the moment, I am working on growing my YouTube channel and continuing to create content I enjoy. I am on the home stretch to six thousand subscribers which is extremely exciting for me! I have a couple of pieces of content coming out with brands soon, along with some opportunities I never thought I would get. I am also working on building my small business, aka my side hustle! Next year, I want to continue creating content and exploring other opportunities as they become available to me!