Micaéla Verrelien Shares 3 Tips On How To Evolve As A Creator

The misconception about being a successful influencer is that you have to tie yourself down to one specific niche in order to gain popularity. But that’s simply not true anymore. Over the last two years, we’ve witnessed Black creators post whatever made them feel good and brought joy during the pandemic — no matter the topic. Many influencers were even fortunate enough to leave their 9-to-5 jobs to further pursue their passions. What isn’t discussed enough though is how Black creators maintain their success or how to evolve and expand your brand while staying true to yourself. Fashion and beauty influencer Micaéla Verrelien knows all about putting her true authentic self on social media as a creator and during each stage of growing her personal brand. 

In 2014, Verrelien used her accounting degree to help fund her passion for the arts and moved to New York City, even though her heart was set on pursuing acting school. Verrelien started blogging to help grow her Instagram account in hopes that more followers would help her book auditions. She simultaneously worked in accounting and went on auditions for commercials which taught her to juggle her job and side hustle and also how to manage dueling responsibilities. 

Now, Verrelien’s side hustle has become her full-time gig. The 29-year-old creator currently hosts Macy’s live beauty shopping events where she shares products she enjoys while chatting with industry leaders behind those brands. It’s refreshing to see major, reputable brands noticing the value in a Black creator and to get to see her work alongside them. In a phone interview with Unbothered, Verrelien shares what she’s learned throughout her eight-year journey of being an influencer and tips on how to evolve in this industry.

Photo by Patrizia Messineo Makeup by Iona Moura

Establish who you are as a creator

“Before focusing on the brand partnerships and making money, establish who you are as a brand,” Verrelien says. “Utilize the early stages as a way to experiment with what you like. People say pick a niche but it’s more important in the long run to follow your purpose within what you’re creating.”

To differentiate herself from being just a fashion girl, Verrelien would post boomerang videos of her dancing to trendy songs —  “Work” by Rihanna happened to go viral in 2018. The tactic worked to expand her brand beyond fashion but then she noticed that as she got invited to events and parties, people just wanted to see her dance. “I was kind of over it and wanted to be taken more seriously so I stopped doing the dancing videos,” says Verrelien. 

“The best advice I can give is to enjoy the journey, don’t let folks (aka the internet) peer pressure you into moving quickly into leaving your 9-to-5 to become a full-time creator. We all need to pay our bills so don’t let the internet allow you as a creator to fake the funk and think you should do everything altogether right now,” says Verrelien

Photo by Patrizia Messineo Makeup by Iona Moura

On switching up the content you post

She began to transform her content to be more editorial by putting together a concept and vision boards to execute personal and branded content. Which made the here work look seamless. Brands started taking notice and that’s when things ramped up, Verrelien says., “I do think that changing my page into more of an editorial space definitely shifted the ability of me working with brands on a higher scale.” 

Verrelien says that it’s pivotal to experiment with your content and recommends diversifying before diving into brand partnerships and focusing on earning money. You have to know who you are, and what you bring to the table. “The beauty of growing slowly was that I was able to take my time and find myself without the pressure of getting it right immediately.” You can’t go wrong by being patient and allowing yourself the time to figure out your voice and what really drives you. 

Experimenting leads to opportunities

Verrelien’s tenacious attitude towards her career ultimately led her to become signed with Wilhelmina model agency in 2019. While everything was at a standstill during the pandemic, Verrelien saw an opportunity to connect more with her audience and created an Instagram live series called Love To Hear It. In the series, she speaks with other creators and influencers on various topics regarding fashion, beauty, and mental health. The series, which was a departure from what she was doing before, furthered Verrelien’s experience and carved out a lane for her as a host.

Now that’s she hosting weekly live shopping events for Macy’s, Verrelien is getting so much closer to her goal in front of the camera. “For my future, I see myself in films and on top shows on Netflix or HBO,” says Verrelien “I want to have a principal role, reoccurring role, even a lead role.”

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The 2022 Met Gala Was A Lesson In American Fashion, According To Historians

Last night, as the first Monday in May tradition resumed, guests at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2022 Met Gala were given a dress code: “Gilded Glamour.”

Inspired by the Gilded Age — a “time when Vogue [the host of the event] was established, a time when the Metropolitan Museum of Art was established, a time of opulence,” according to Keren Ben-Horin, a fashion historian and Mellon Fellow for Women’s History at the New York Historical Society — the night’s theme was meant to celebrate the extravagance of the late 19th century, a time rife with opera gloves, bustles, gold jewelry, corsets, and feathers. With that in mind, some best-dressed attendees went the literal route with lots of gilded and crystal-adorned outfits that screamed wealth and referenced the opulence of the era. 

Take, for example, Cardi B, who wore a gold dress made entirely from chains, paired with matching opera gloves, by Versace; or Kaia Gerber, who wore an embellished gown by Alexander McQueen; or Megan Thee Stallion who appeared to be dipped in gold in a gilded feathered dress by Moschino. Yet, for all the ostentatiousness and gold looks, there were also more modern interpretations of the theme. “I think the best-dressed people incorporated historical themes with works that seemed fitting for right now and also really played into this idea of glamour and over-the-top fashion,” says Ben-Horin.

The red carpet featured thoughtful nods to the city that gave way to the prosperity of the Gilded Age — New York — as well as the people whose labor made the intricate design elements that characterized this period possible. Blake Lively and Alicia Keys both paid tribute to New York City’s architecture. The former chose a gown by Atelier Versace that featured designs inspired by historic Manhattan landmarks like Grand Central Station and the Empire State Building, as well as an oxidized tiara by Lorraine Schwartz that drew from the Statue of Liberty. “If you think about where we are historically — coming out of the pandemic, coming out of a crisis — it symbolizes this idea of transformation,” says Ben-Horin, referring to how Lively’s dress changed color from copper to green once she dramatically let the skirt down. According to Rebecca Kelly, a fashion historian and professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, this design also nods to the over-the-top nature of the time. “I think Gilded Age fashion was a lot about spectacle and creating these great moments,” she says. “So I think she kind of captured that as well.”

Meanwhile, Keys wore a black cape adorned with the city skyline on the train. While the look, by Ralph Lauren, may seem too modern for the theme, Kelly points to how the era gave way to the Manhattan we know today. “The Gilded Age really does mark the beginning of the New York skyline and the solidification of the city as becoming a fashion capital,” says Kelly. For Ben-Horin, the dress is a reminder of one of the most famous gowns from the period, the “Electric Light” dress worn by Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt to the Vanderbilt Ball in 1883 and designed by Charles Frederick. “This to me is a more contemporary interpretation,” says Ben-Horin.

The night’s attendees also showed an appreciation for the less glitzy fashion of the Gilded Age. Billie Eilish wore a corset-and-bustle gown adorned with a purple flower on the neckline, paired with lace green opera gloves and a black choker. While the Gucci dress looked pulled from the 19th century, it was made from upcycled materials with sustainability in mind. SZA also highlighted the legacy of the time period via a gown by Vivienne Westwood, a designer known for her modern-day takes on the corset. Then, there was Paloma Elsesser, who wore a bare-boned corset with garter and lace skirt custom-made by Coach that highlighted the construction of Gilded Age fashion. “Putting that corset on the outside you can see all the details including the garter,” says Ben-Horin. “It’s all the historical references in a modern outfit.” 

Perhaps one of the most historically accurate nods of the night came when Sarah Jessica Parker paid tribute to Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, a seamstress, civil rights activist, and the first Black woman to work in the White House as a dressmaker for Mary Todd Lincoln. The actress wore a black-and-white tuxedo-style dress by Christopher John Rogers, a Black designer who dressed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2021 Presidential Inauguration, that featured a plaid-style print which Ben-Horin says is “a signature look of Keckley.” The outfit also supported the mission of In America: An Anthology of Fashion, which aims to highlight the unrecognized narratives in fashion history. “[The dress] really helps raise awareness to these historical [figures] that were overlooked,” says Ben-Horin. 

Kelly adds that celebrating the people who created the fashions of the Gilded Age is imperative to understanding this period of extreme inequality: “As much as I have studied Vanderbilt and women of these really prominent families, I’ve also looked a lot into the dressmakers of the time period, the women who were working behind the scenes in the fashion industry, the women who were working as ladies’ maids, all of these people are so important to the American fashion story.”

Beyond the opulent looks and historical references, both Ben-Horin and Kelly agree that the night’s theme was a fitting tribute to the significance of the Met Gala and the Costume Institute. “If we go back to this idea of the Gilded Age with its opulent parties, it was really all about, not just showing off wealth, but also really having fun with fashion,” says Ben-Horin. “I think it is important for the fashion industry to celebrate itself in this way.” 

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The Met Gala Was Underwhelming But These Black Celebrities Ate

It’s the most wonderful time of year: when fashion enthusiasts and critics come together to virtually discuss the moments we loved — and hated — at the Met Gala. This year marks the first time the event has fallen on the first Monday in May since the start of the pandemic and all of its usual pomp and circumstance was back in full force. But after all the anticipation, did the looks live up to the hype? The theme of the night was In America: An Analogy of Fashion’s Gilded Glamour which served as part two of last year’s exhibition In America: The Lexicon of Fashion. While part one just barely captured the many facets of American culture,  this theme carved out a specific time period between 1870 and the early 1900s. 

Instantly, I thought of how Black people were in the thick of inequality during those times (with an exception of a few elite Black folks) and questioned how Black celebs would tackle the theme. Would they use this moment to educate viewers and shine a much-needed light on American history, or would they ignore the theme altogether, or not even show up? Last night, as I waited for the Black celebs to show up and show out, I hoped to see lots of ornamentation, extravagant puffed sleeves, corsets, and longed-boned bodices.

Unfortunately, that’s not what we got. Aside from a few standouts, this year’s Met Gala felt mid and underwhelming. Part of the excitement was lost before the red carpet even started. Folks were tweeting their predictions and asking “who all gone be there?” Zendaya (who confirmed she wouldn’t be attending) was trending on Twitter along with Rihanna and Beyoncé. When none of our Holy Trio of The Met (Z, Rhi, Bey) showed up, we were left with disappointment. Plus, photos of what celebrities were wearing hit Twitter prior to the celebs hitting the red carpet and that really took away from the red-carpet reveal moment. Fashion editor Shelton Boyd-Griffith tweeted it best, “The hotel streams/pictures kill the fantasy.” 

The fantasy was dead on arrival and the looks weren’t serving as well as they have in the past. But there were some exceptions. Even though the bar was on the floor and 2022’s Met Gala was disappointing, these Black celebrities saved the show. Here’s who slayed:

Normani In Christian Siriano

Normani’s abs stole the show as she wore a two-piece Christian Siriano gown. While speaking to host Lala Anthony she shouted out to her pilates instructor for the killer abs. The wild side singer broke a bit of the fashion rule by having her stomach on display but remained on theme. The decorated hat really sold the look.

Teyana Taylor In van Herpen

Taylor stunned in her purple dress by Iris van Herpen. The multi-hyphenated queen gave “Gilded Glamour” a futuristic spin. The high shoulders really added to the overall look. It wasn’t completely on the theme but Taylor always plays by her own rules so we’ll let her have this.

Lizzo in Thom Browne

Lizzo didn’t come to play at all! The assignment was clearly understood as she wore a black silk gown and jacket by designer Thom Browne with intricate embroidery which took 22,000 hours to make. Lizzo told Unbothered “I love how the dress hugs my curves just right and I’m wearing [my] Yitty thong right now.”

Janelle Monae in Ralph Lauren

Monae said on the carpet her gown was “gilded glamour from the future” and the sparkly gown and headpiece alone really stole the beginning of the night for us. It really gave 20th-century royalty.

Paloma Elsesser in Coach

“Model Paloma Elsesser wore Coach and even though the moment was a bit safe we adored this corset and lace beading of the bottom half of her gown. Her dress represented the first layer of undergarment women of the Gilded Era would often put on first.

Alicia Keys in Ralph Lauren

One thing Alicia Keys is going to do is make sure she represents New York City. The singer was dressed in Ralph Lauren wearing a cape with the NYC city skyline bejeweled onto the bottom half of her train. It wasn’t on theme or the right era (The Empire State building wasn’t even built yet) but we loved her long braid with sparkled discs that completed the outfit.

Cardi B in Atelier Versace

The rapper stepped out looking like money in her atelier Versace gown. Cardi told Lala Anthony on the carpet, “A lot of fans don’t get the theme because they think gilded is supposed to be like an era, but gilded is gold, it’s regal.” Golden metal was actually stitched into the tulle fabric of the dress. 

Honorable mentions 
Other beautiful looks include Megan thee Stallion in Moschino, Tessa Thompson in Carolina Herrera, Jodie Turner-Smith in Gucci, and Gabrielle Union in Versace. Hopefully next year we will see more risk-takers and folks ready to give ‘Met Gala behavior’ as transwomen and creator Devin Halbal aka HalBaddie would say. The Met Gala is one of fashion’s biggest nights, but if this year is any indication, it’s starting to lose its umph and become predictable. Without our fave celebs and with the ones who do show up deciding to forgo the theme, the only thing that’s certain about the Met Gala is we’re going to be disappointed.

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Danai Gurira Reveals Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Is “Heart Wrenching” At Met Gala

Aside from its now-confirmed November 2022 release date, details about the highly-anticipated sequel to Marvel’s Black Panther have been kept largely under wraps.  But thanks to star Danai Gurira, we now know a little more about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While walking the red carpet at the 2022 Met Gala, Gurira made rare comments about the sequel, which wrapped filming in March. “We poured everything we had into it,” The Walking Dead star said after taking an emotional beat. 

The Black Panther cast and crew, including director Ryan Coogler, were faced with the unimaginable task of continuing on with the film after their lead, Chadwick Boseman, died from colon cancer in August 2020, just months before filming the sequel. “It tells a very heart wrenching story,” Gurira, who plays Okoye, general of the Dora Milaje in Black Panther, said. “And that is all I can say!” There is still no word as to whether Boseman’s King T’Challa will be written out of the film, or how. But Gurira’s admission that the story will be “heart wrenching” is one of the few hints we’ve gotten that the grief the cast and crew experienced while filming will be somehow reflected on screen. “We hope… that it resonates for everybody the way it does for us,” she said. “It’s all about [Chadwick] for all of us. It’s all an outpouring to love and honor him.”

Danai’s comments come on the heels of Marvel unveiling first-look footage from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at CinemaCon. According to film writer Erik Davis, the footage “included a great shot of Nakia, Shuri [and] Okoye all on the front line of what looked like a major battle approaching.” After the production has been plagued with injuries, delays, and vaccine controversy (it was rumoured that Letitia Wright, who plays Shuri, was unvaccinated after she made since-deleted anti-vax comments on social media), it’s a relief to know the film release date is confirmed and our faves will be back in Wakanda come November. 

Danai Gurira discusses how “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman at the #MetGala: “It’s all about him. It’s all an outpouring to love and honor him.” https://t.co/fJJbqtPY58 pic.twitter.com/4muSyIWcGe

— Variety (@Variety) May 3, 2022

We all know Wakanda is a fictional African country but Gurira took inspiration from the real continent for her Met Gala look. Wearing a Head of State gown, Gurira sung the praises of its designer, Taofeek Abijako. “This is an amazing young designer. He’s only 23 years old and started this when he was only 17,” Gurira told E! News. “He’s [a] Nigeria-born American and so it’s this beautiful intersection of culture — the expression of it and celebration of it which I love because I am also intercultural in various ways. It was just a very organic connection. I’m very excited to celebrate his work today. He’s very special.” 

Gurira also explained the meaning behind her unique accessory. “This is a little wink-wink to our shared African culture and heritage,” she said of the matching fly whisk she donned with her gown. “[Fly whisks are] used a lot by very royal-type of folks on the continent as they walk and, you know, meet the people.” Fly whisks were carried in various African countries, including Ethiopa, as “prestige regalia and during masquerades. Important people had attendants to shoo away pesky insects or may have used the whisks to emphasize both gestures and spoken words,” according to the National Museum of African Art.  

Fly whisks were worn in the early to mid-19th century, which fits perfectly in with the Met Gala’s 2022 theme of “Guilded Glamour,” where attendees were asked to celebrate — or make a commentary of — the Gilded Age of New York. Many celebs did not understand the assignment, but with this attention to detail, it’s clear that Gurira did. 

With reporting by Alexis Jackson.

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