Rising Stars: Meet Carina Ortiz of South Gate, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carina Ortiz.

Carina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My content creator journey started right before the pandemic, I’d say 2018-2019. I was posting makeup videos on Instagram before reels was a thing. Then the pandemic started and that’s when I started to post a lot more— I also finally decided to download TikTok and began to grow my platform on there. Makeup was my creative outlet at the time but as I continued posting I realized people were resonating with more than just glam. Horror has always been a huge part of my identity. I’ve always been obsessed with horror movies growing up. My first memory of going to the movies was my mom taking my siblings and I to watch Freddy vs Jason at the ripe age of 7 years old. As a kid I even used to sleep with a Chucky doll and my family still jokes about it til this day. I’d say today my content is a mix of alt-style beauty, horror, and storytelling. I’ve been able to carve a niche out where these can coexist authentically. At the end of the day my goal is to post content that I myself would consume, and so far my audience has resonated with it too.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think the biggest struggle when starting your creator journey is learning to be okay with being perceived. As a creator, you have to get over the fact that people are going to see your content and judge it. Once you learn to not care you get over the fear and can authentically be yourself. Even just hearing your voice back to you for the first time can be jarring. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned while being in the creator space is fearlessness.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My niche is alt-girl/horror content. I started with hair care videos and still make them but I’ve been able to mesh horror related content and my own special interests together. Some unforgettable moments include the time I was being flown out to New York City to be in a campaign. This was a huge moment for me that I will never take for granted. What sets me apart is the love I have for my community. I love being Mexican and I’m never shy about it.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
At the end of the day I’m not afraid to be myself. I’m a first generation Latina and I’m proud of it. If you know me personally you know that music is also a huge part of my identity and it reflects who I am and what I grew up with. I’m able to listen to Chalino Sanchez and The Strokes and feel equally connected to both. I think authenticity is the most important when building your platform.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@adorecarina
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adorecarina