But Stell is not just an online celeb.
She is alsothe CEOof her own cosmetics line called Makeup Geek.
Here’s everything that you never knew about Marlena Stell.
She got her start in music
Stell was raised with a strong work ethic.
“My parents made sure I worked hard to earn my keep,” she toldL’Empereur Magazine.
“My first workers were actually former students, and one student still today works for Makeup Geek.”
Stellminored in stage makeupin college and had a side gig as a makeup artist for special events.
“Wow, the dynamic has changed tons!”
“My backdrop was these old school damask curtains!”
“Good times back in the day.
Now I feel like YouTube videos are so highly produced … very different from 2008!”
This gave her a lot of control over her cosmetics line.
“I finance my entire company I don’t have investors,” she toldForbes.
“My line of 50 eye shadows retails for $6 per shade.
Staying connected with her audience also works well for her business model.
Being active on social media helps her know what her fans want.
“I see how other cosmetics brands try and fail to connect with customers,” she said.
“No one wants to buy from corporations any more.
They want to buy from personalities.”
Combatting body-shaming
Stellloves her curvesand has no time for body-shamers.
“I’m calling this ‘My Life as a Fat Girl,'” she saidin a YouTube video.
I’ve always just had a struggle with keeping weight off.”
At my lowest weight I was depressed, starving myself to where I lost hair and was miserable.
Now I’m off most my meds, happy, and bloodwork came back A+."
The two are very close, and they spend a lot of time together.
“Every year I tell my mom to pick any destination she wants for a mother-daughter trip.
Last year we hit Paris and London and this year we’re headed to Seattle for spa treatments.”
Her close-knit family also includes a supportive dad.
Reichert helped start Makeup Geek with Stell, who was his college sweetheart.
Reichert has since left Makeup Geek, but he stayed on board until 2017.
Reichert now runsRacketboy.com, a website devoted to retro video games that he founded in 2004.
As of 2018, he is also the marketing manager at the Michigan-based Jackson School of the Arts.
“I have found it really hard to find a mentor,” she toldForbes.
“Women in this industry can be really catty.
In August 2018, she revealedin a YouTube videothat she had recently suffered a miscarriage.
She decided to share the devastating experience with her followers to help broaden the discussion about the often-taboo subject.
“It’s a really sensitive topic,” said Stell.
As noted by Stell, the line features many pieces that are loose-fitting and that can fit larger sizes.
“I think it’s passion,” she saidin a YouTube video.
Have something that you’re passionate about.
That’s what seems to drive your life.”
Stell said that her passion is “helping women to feel beautiful.”
“Under all of the, you know, exterior …
I really want women on the inside to feel beautiful,” she said.
“I don’t care how it happens, I just want women to feel beautiful.”
