Interview with Elizabeth Weber

@ewebbzz

Photographed by RYAN CHUA
Videography by NIKO VELASQUEZ
Location ACRE BAJA, MEXICO

I’m from Birmingham, Michigan, but currently live in Los Angeles, CA. My career today is a collective of hybrid creative jobs. I create social media content, I am the Co-Host of After the Island a live video podcast series, and I model for LA Models.

How can people stay up to date with you through social media?
People can follow along my journey through any of my platforms, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, & snapchat. As well as my career with After the Island and on Instagram and YouTube.

What can people expect to see from your social media platforms?
My social media is a combination of fashion, fitness, beauty, and travel! I try to be as authentic as possible when it comes to posting anything on any of these platforms.

Can you share insight into the process of creating the platform you have today? What challenges did you overcome and which part seemed seamless?
My platform started to grow earlier on in college when I was posting lots of modeling photos from photo shoots I did, that were paid and also non paid, as creative material for my feed. I then started to gain a larger following when I moved to NY for my advertising job, where I was scouted for the reality TV show, Love Island USA. I ended up winning and the majority of my social media following is now from that experience. It was challenging creating content in NY for my page while working, but it was something that interested me so I was okay putting in the time and effort outside of work to get it done. The following that came from the show felt seamless and my experience on the show was seamless for me, because I went into it with no expectations and was true to myself the entire time. I think that’s how the audience was able to relate to me and vote me as the fan favorite.

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I think people would be surprised to know that I have a very goofy light hearted personality and kind demeanor. I think my personality always throws people off that only know me through Instagram because the app is so one dimensional that it’s a lot harder to understand someone’s personality through a series of photos.

What’s a goal in your career you hope to accomplish?
I have a lot of goals I still would like to accomplish and am always trying to take steps toward reaching them. I’ve always wanted to be a creative director or run my own company of some sort, either owning my own agency or starting my own brand. I love creating my own concepts for brands and hope to someday move back onto the industry side of things.

What and who inspires you most? Why?
My parents, for starters, always inspire me. They both work so hard for our family and do a great job balancing working hard in their careers and still having time for friends and family. My mentor in life will always be someone I look up to as well. His name is Marcus Collins and he is the smartest man I’ve ever met in my life. He is the Head of Planning at Wieden and Kennedy and also teaches at U of M Ross Business School. He took me under his wing for 2 years as an intern and research student and I have never learned so much in my life. He is super committed to always staying true to what you believe in and always doing the right thing even if it’s the hard thing. He always remembers to make sure that what he believes and his roots don’t get left out when making work decisions.

As an influencer, how do you hope to influence people through your platform?
I’m a huge believer in always working toward your dreams no matter how big they might feel, always advocating for people to take risks and chances on themselves, and to never be afraid to do that. I hope that, through my examples of taking chances on myself, I inspire others to make those kinds of decisions as well.

Who are your favorite content creators?
It’s always changing as the apps evolve and new features roll out. Right now, I love Amelie Zilber. She is so inspiring with what she posts and stands by the things she believes in. She uses her education to share weekly news roundups to inform followers of important topics happening in our world, and she doesn’t stray away from controversial ones. I applaud her for that.

Are you working on any exciting projects you can share?
Currently I’m working on a few projects I’m excited about. First, I just designed my apartment from scratch and newly furnished everything. I loved getting to go through that design process. I also have been a part of “I Stand With My Pack”, fostering puppies and helping raise money and awareness. I also recently started attending art classes at the Raminfard School of Arts and have been loving getting back into my creative roots.

What are three items in your closet you cannot live without?
1. My tote bag from Godashdot. It’s the perfect travel/work/gym bag that can fit everything including my laptop for always being on the go

2. I’m always freezing when I leave the house, so my Alo jacket always comes with. It’s an easy throw on that mixes athleisure and fashion.

3. I love my APL running shoes. It changed the way my feet feel when I workout and inspires me to want to keep up with an active lifestyle. They also look super trendy so I can wear them for daytime excursions or to the gym while looking innovative and stylish.

Essential product in your beauty routine?
Using retinol at night before bed! I always wash my face in the morning and before bed and applying a retinol each night has helped clear up so much of my acne scars. I’m so thankful for the transformation it has given my skin.

What was your favorite part of staying at ACRE? What activities would you recommend for someone looking to visit?
My favorite part of ACRE was the feel of being at a wellness and luxury resort all in one. Everything was about giving back to the earth that had so many feel good vibes all around, between all the gardens and crop fields, the animal rescues, and all the pretty tree houses that were built. And not to forget my favorite, Fausto the peacock, who thought my villa was his home. He would sit on the perch each day and night as if he lived there, always greeting me by fluffing up his beautiful feathers.

What does the remainder of 2021 look like for you?
The rest of my year looks like a full schedule of working hard and grinding, with the expectation of getting to see family and friends over the holidays for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

What advice do you have for someone who aspires to have a career like your own?
To always follow your dreams and work towards them until you make them a reality, and never let anyone tell you that your dreams or goals can’t be accomplished.

What would you like to say to your fans?
Thank you so much for supporting me and always sending me love and that I appreciate all of it so much.