Today we’d like to introduce you to Shirin Nahvi.
Shirin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my YouTube channel, queenshirin, on October 10, 2010, as a hobby for me to combine my passions for music, graphic design and film through beauty and fashion videos. From 2010 to 2016, I uploaded sporadically as I was in school and my education was my priority. In 2017, I began uploading more frequently and treating my channel as a business.
Great, 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?
Absolutely not! The road to success is paved with cracks and bumps, much like the roads here in Los Angeles. Lately, some of my most frequent issues are brands stealing my content for advertisements and people trying to monetize or pass off my content as their own work. To all content creators and influencers, especially young women who are new to the industry, my advice is to educate yourself on your rights from a legal perspective and speak up when a brand or individual tries to take advantage of your work. Know your worth and don’t settle for anything less.
These days, a lot of young people see their favorite YouTubers or online personalities making millions and might think they should drop out of school and pursue social media. Don’t expect success overnight. Producing content takes a lot of hard work and hours, plus there are no days off, unlike a typical 9-5 job. My top advice is to complete your education because social media could completely crash and disappear tomorrow, but you will always have your education to rely on.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Queen Shirin – what should we know?
I am a beauty, fashion and lifestyle content creator known for my editing. I am most proud of the ability I have to empower and connect with people from all around the world. My prior work experience in the event and entertainment industries gives me an insider perspective on my approach to social media. As an event planner, I gained skills like managing budgets, negotiating deals and writing contracts, which I apply to my role as a content creator. Thus, I am also able to advise those new to the industry, or who have no prior work experience, about the business aspects of social media.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
In the beauty industry, one of the biggest barriers for women is the lack of respect from brands pitching to us as a friend by starting a correspondence with “Hi, babe!” instead of addressing us by our names and treating us as businesswomen. Another barrier is that females tend to accept the first opportunity that comes their way instead of negotiating a better deal. Speaking up about problematic brands is also a controversial topic that many women tend to avoid, whether it’s because of fear of confrontation or hindering chances of working with brands.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.queenshirin.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queenshirin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shirinthequeen
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/queenshirinn
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/queenshirin
Image Credit:
Instagram: @nicoleneils
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