Jamie has style... and touch of class
Online beauty guru’s top tip for success is to put on a happy face
A GLANCE through Jamie Genevieve’s social media portfolio and a fairly intimidating impression emerges.
Of course, the make up artist and YouTuber looks flawlessly gorgeous in every photo while lounging in the sun, flying business class and even looking impossibly groomed while munching pizza.
The stats make for a showstopper too: 757,880 subscribers on YouTube, 230,000 followers on Twitter and 1.2 million Instagram followers.
So what am I expecting from the 25-year-old? A bit frosty, maybe, a bit imposing.
And I couldn’t have been more wrong – a friendlier, bubblier woman you wouldn’t hope to meet, full of good humour and good spirits.
Jamie believes her own positivity is why she, unlike so many women with an online presence, has a pretty good experience of internet life.
Those comments that aren’t positive, she just ignores.
“My fans are so sweet. They are really committed,” she says.
“They are really like me in the way they are with people; they’re all really kind.
“I think you attract like-minded people so I’ve got something in common with all these people.
“I’m really proud of the group of people I’ve managed to attract. They are really brilliant. If you ever see a meet and greet it’s not like a normal meet and greet where you’re in and out for a photo, it’s a really special thing.
“It’s just quite surreal actually. I feel like I’ve got loads of pals and I’m really,” here she puts on a funny voice, “...popular!”
Her friendliness towards her fans means Jamie’s fiancé, Jack McCann, who she’s dated since she was 18, won’t come shopping with her any more.
He’s “a really efficient man”, she says, while Jamie can’t get round the shops without stopping for lengthy chats.
Jamie’s career choice is a job that even 10 years ago didn’t exist.
Having worked on a beauty counter for Estee Lauder, Jamie moved to Illamasqua.
Friends and customers suggested she put her make up expertise online so a wider audience could enjoy it.
Jamie said: “It taught me how to talk about make up in a professional way.
“Everyone would come in to have their make up done by me.
“People would say, ‘You are way more fun than I thought you were going to be and way less intimidating’.
“Friends said I should go on YouTube so I did it. My first videos I am timid, a little timid creature.
“You don’t start to see what I’m like for quite a while because I was so nervous.
“I did think, ‘This is weird, people aren’t really doing this.’”
She added: “I was making these videos and loving it, but it’s funny looking back because it was a whole industry that I didn’t know existed.
“I didn’t know it could be a full time job.”
But for Jamie, being a YouTuber is work and is has given her some amazing opportunities to travel and work with stars like Drew Barrymore.
Jack is a vital part of Jamie’s success and he works hard behind the camera to support his wife-to-be.
He also has to put up with some of her zanier make up choices, such as a trip to the cinema with one pink eye and one blue eye.
Luckily, though, it was an exact match to her Tango Ice Blast drink and blended right in.
Having worked as a bricklayer, Jack was used to hard labour but Jamie says he had no idea the amount of hours involved in being a full time internet celebrity.
But she would never complain about her success, having a firm understanding of just how lucky she is.
Jamie said: “I 100 per cent have my man working with me and supporting
me and he supports my job. I’m the main focus of the business but without him doing the background work I’d not be anything.
“It’s seen to be such a fun job and I would never moan about it because the stuff we’ve got to moan about is so trivial.
“I would especially never moan about it to my subscribers.”
Jamie, who went to Cathkin High School in Cambuslang, also believes being from Glasgow has given her a unique edge and the support she’s needed to succeed.
She said: “I think it’s made me the personality I am.”
With a laugh, she adds: “People watch me and some of the comments are ‘I have no idea what you’re saying but I love it.’
“I feel my Glasgow audience is really strong.
“Even with one million followers my Scottish followers are the most vocal.
“It’s really rare for someone like me who does this job to have the support of their country.”
She puts on another funny voice and says: “’LA’s really got my back’ you’d never hear that, but you can say that about Glasgow and Scotland.”
Jamie, who marries Jack in Italy in July, is appearing in a documentary for the new BBC Scotland channel and she can’t quite believe it.
She said: “You see me and Jack in our habitat and the totally true side of us.
“We didn’t know some of it was getting filmed and the cameras were on us so there are really nice candid bits that are really sweet.”
For Jamie, it’s really important to be a role model to her followers so she often goes out without make up.
Often, she says, beautifully made up fans will stop her for a selfie – and they end up being the star of the picture.
She said: “Being a role model is so important to me. I want girls to be positive about themselves.
“I was to focus on that one negative comment than the 999 amazing ones – I feel like Lady Gaga when she gave that speech – I think that would say more about me as a person.
“I do not mind what you think about the way I look.”
She added: “I know it’s hippy dippy but I just want everyone to have a good time.
“Look at me, I don’t worry what anyone thinks and I’m so happy.”
•Jamie Genevieve #Unfiltered airs at 11pm on BBC Scotland on Monday, February 25 and will be repeated at 8pm on Thursday, February 28.
Being a role model is so important to me. I want girls to be positive about themselves