Since creating her Instagram account in 2012, social media influencer Tamika Young has racked up over 180,000 followers on the platform.
While her rise to social media prominence was unexpected, she’s fully embraced it over the years.
So last year, with more time on her hands due to covid19, she decided to explore a new way to capitalise on her online presence with the launch of “Body by Meekzz.”
Launched last August, the brand is described as one which provides women with products to help with their health and wellness.
And it’s been a successful venture.
[caption id="attachment_890678" align="alignnone" width="819"] Tamika Young had no expectations of becoming a social media influencer when she created her Instagram in 2012. Yet, she has fully embraced the role as she has always searched for a purpose and way to find her voice. - Dejean Balfour[/caption]
To date, over 10,000 units of the brand’s products have been sold.
Young, who is simply known as “Meekzz” to her social media followers, recently spoke with Business Day about creating a full-fledged business from her social media presence.
“The idea for Body by Meekzz came just like that, like a thief in the night. I got the name first and then decided what the brand would be like.
“I didn’t know what the brand would have been, but I knew I wanted it to be about women empowerment,” said Young, 28, about the initial stages of conceptualising the business.
Leaning into its health and wellness focus, the brand offers products like face and body scrubs and anti-aging skin serums.
It also offers a range of gym wear, jackets, ventilated gloves, caps, and shapewear.
But this isn’t Young’s first venture into the business world.
For the Port of Spain native, the journey of finding her life’s purpose hasn’t been a straight road.
[caption id="attachment_890676" align="alignnone" width="819"] Local social media influencer Tamika Young. - Dejean Balfour[/caption]
Young told Business Day she has grappled with trying to figure out exactly where she fit in as she always felt different.
While she dreamt of becoming a journalist, Young never pursued a career in the field because she always thought she was too shy for the job. So, she tried her hands at makeup artistry.
In 2016, she did a professional MUA course with internationally recognised makeup artist Dion Samuel and, in 2017, opened her “Beats by Meekzz” studio in Woodbrook.
“I loved being an MUA as it’s a unique approach for making the lives of women better. Every day you get to enhance a unique face and in doing so, put smiles and confidence back into their lives.
“But I closed my MUA business in 2018 to reassess both myself and my purpose. In doing so, I didn’t feel it was wise for me to continue as a MUA without being in purpose. I left the beauty world to focus on me.”
[caption id="attachment_890672" align="alignnone" width="682"] At 28, Tamika Young has become a social m
