Interview by Carol Wright | Photos Courtesy of Tatenda Luna
Melbourne-based content creator Tatenda Luna has charmed followers across platforms with her whimsical fashion and beauty content. Luna talked to NYOTA about her video creation process, beauty as an art form, and seeing a positive shift in brands prioritizing diversity.
Does Australia have a prominent fashion scene? What initially led to your interest in beauty and fashion?
Australia has an amazing fashion scene. I’ve always thought that we are at the forefront of summer fashion in particular and there are a lot of amazing small independent brands growing from here too.
Getting good at makeup and understanding what products work for your skin type and complexion can be tough. What worked for you when it came to mastering how to do makeup?
Definitely trial and error! I’ve made lots of mistakes that I thankfully don’t have photo or video evidence of! That and YouTube taught me everything I knew before I came onto TikTok!
I love how in your videos you show your curly hair appointments, wig installs and more. Is it exciting to be able to openly share your hair journey and connect with followers through that?
I love being able to share wherever I’m at with my hair! I have followers that can relate, learn or are simply curious. I’ll try anything once so I feel like I get to be a guinea pig for so many people that may be nervous to try something new with their hair.
You create content across Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. What’s your video ideation and creation process and does it change across platforms?
Sometimes I just sit and start filming. I like my content to feel as genuine and authentic to me as I can and sometimes that’s just setting my camera up while I get ready and forgetting that it’s there! Other times I’ll see what’s trending and if it’s something that resonates with me, I’ll plan content around that trend but find a way to make it feel more like me or relate more to my style.
Through your work you’ve been able to work with brands such as Loreal, Garnier, New Balance and more. Is there one brand partnership that has felt particularly surreal?
I think working with MAC in particular felt surreal to me as it was the first ever foundation I used growing up, mostly because it was the only brand that stocked my shade at the time! So it felt like a full circle moment that little Tatenda could only have ever dreamed of!
Diversity is a constant conversation when it comes to beauty and fashion content creation. Have you seen a positive shift over time when it comes to brands prioritizing diversity?
I’ve seen a major shift over the last four years in Australia when it comes to diversity. I do believe we still have a lot of catching up to do but from the conversations I have with different brands and creators it feels like we’re heading in the right direction as opposed to regressing.
As you’ve shared content on social media, how has your relationship with beauty changed?
I feel like my relationship with beauty isn’t as intense anymore. I still feel just as beautiful without makeup and sometimes after wearing makeup consistently for a time, I prefer how I look and feel without it! Beauty to me is art and it’s also subjective, I enjoy it in a more creative way instead of a way to seek validation.
What advice do you have for aspiring content creators?
Just do anything and everything until you find the one thing that lights a spark in you. The last thing you want is to build a career based on content that you don’t enjoy creating!
This story first ran in Issue 39: The Digital Issue. Read more from the issue here
