Welcome back. Thanks to everyone who’s been sharing feedback on our Sunday issue. If you haven’t yet, let us know what you think—we want to make it the best weekend read in the creator biz.

–Hannah Doyle

How a Trend Forecaster Became a Full-Time Fashion TikToker

Mandy Lee, known as OldLoserInBrooklyn, quit her job as a trend researcher last week to create fashion trend vlogs on TikTok full time. 

Her videos have gained traction for debunking fashion myths and providing context to trends like the resurgence of prep and 60s fashion. For the first time this year, she attended fashion week as a guest instead of a volunteer and was one of the few selected to attend Alexander McQueen’s first runway show in 20 years. 

Her efforts have been six years in the making and in a recent TikTok, Lee broke down how she became a leading fashion creator on the platform. Here are some of our favorite learnings:

• Use TikTok as a resume “My videos are rooted in data and analysis. I put my own spin on it so I can communicate my brand voice. And this [TikTok] is essentially a living and breathing catalog of all the trends I’ve researched to show what I can do.”

• Create a brand voice “Because I have a proven track record that I am good at what I do, which includes using language specific to me and my platform, my work has inspired nearly every media outlet including British Vogue, W, Harper's Bazaar, Vice, and Daze.”

• Play the long game “I’ve been doing analytical-based forecasting for six years. I worked in ecommerce, tech, beer, and beauty. Each role, I focused on building my skill set as an analyst to make me a good forecaster. And with each role, I knew I was inching closer to being able to work in fashion.”

Our Take

The authority on fashion and trends has shifted over time from legacy magazines to social media—especially TikTok. Its fast-paced nature and hyper-specific For You page curate looks and trends while its creators make it practical. Creators like Lee who have captured both of those elements are having an outsized impact not just on the platform but in the greater fashion industry.

YouTuber Makes Movie Debut at SXSW

Beauty and lifestyle vlogger Claudia Sulewski was featured in I Love My Dad, which took home the top award at the festival.

The movie, directed by James Morosini and starring Patton Oswalt, is based on a real-life story of an estranged father who catfishes his son to keep in contact with him. Sulewski plays the woman who’s profile the father steals in order to contact his son.

How did she get here?

• Sulewski started making vlogs in 2009 when she was in middle school. Today, she has over 4 million followers across Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. 

• In 2015, she became Teen Vogue’s first YouTube host, interviewing celebrities on red carpets.

• She scored her first acting role in the Hulu series T@gged in 2016 and shortly after signed with UTA, when she began taking group classes, practicing scene work, and working with a personal acting coach.

Our Take

Aspiring actors used to move to Hollywood to gain exposure and learn the craft. Now, as creators, they arrive with their own audience and experience. The question is what to do next. By supplementing her YouTube experience with traditional acting education, Sulewski gave herself a competitive advantage for landing an indie film, which sets her on a promising route in Hollywood.

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Lil Nas X Returns From 3-Month Hiatus

The pop star took to social for the first time since December to tease his new album. In typical Lil Nas X fashion, his releases have been slightly subversive, with a lengthy audio clip of new music that looks like a bootleg leak you’d find on YouTube. He also posted screenshots of upcoming singles with NBA Youngboy and Saucy Santana.

Our Take

When a creator as online as Lil Nas X takes a break, it’s felt. As we’ve seen from other creators like Emma Chamberlain and PewDiePie, constant output isn’t sustainable for a healthy creative process. Breaks are necessary to get inspiration for new content and create scarcity, which drives value for a creator’s brand. We hope this trend continues and becomes a normalized workflow for creators.  

🔥 Press Worthy

• YouTuber Danny Gervirtz is raising money for a feature film.

• TikTok is testing a stories feature.

• YouTube channel Aperture is acquired by digital media company Underknown.

• Tinx launches pencils and stationery.

• TikToker 420doggface208 makes a music video with Snoop Dogg.