“Comparison is the Enemy”
Cutcreaser at The Crow Premiere, by Jason Mendez for Getty Images
Aside from my passion for film and television, I have always been intrigued by beauty influencers. I grew up competing in color guard—which meant that it was imperative that I learned to do photo-ready makeup quickly. It was also essential that I was able to do so with as few products as possible. I learned many of the tricks that I still use today from social media makeup artists who made professionalism seem accessible.
Years ago, I went online and was recommended a content creator, Cutcreaser, who immediately caught my eye. Not only were her videos well made, but there was a clear artistry about the makeup that I admired. As time went by, I had the privilege of becoming mutuals with Vanessa, as we both followed and interacted with each other on socials. We often connected on our love for superhero media and ultimately met in person at an X-Men experience hosted by Airbnb. Our interaction came after Vanessa made what she deemed a necessary switch in her content, a pivot to movie-based commentary.
Video by Cutcreaser, shown at the X-Men ‘97 Airbnb Experience. Cover photo by Skylar Ellis
“I thought that the beauty space was too surface level,” Vanessa notes. Her notable social media pivot was necessary, but also presented a through line that she examined quite frequently. “I decided I needed to find a way to make social media content interesting,” she says. “I felt like there was a lack of highlighting … beauty in media and how important the makeup is … to portray these characters.”
A self-proclaimed beauty, film, TV, and pop culture creator, Vanessa puts a twist on the contemporary makeup video style. Her insightful takes on films quickly gained attention, and I was thrilled to see her content evolve. However, she still occasionally incorporated her beauty expertise into her commentary, often blending the two interests seamlessly. This unique fusion of beauty and film offered a fresh perspective and kept her audience engaged across different topics. Amassing over 600K followers across platforms is no easy feat, especially with the harsh expectations for women of color on social media. In speaking with Vanessa, I quickly learned that her presence online was quite indicative of her personal interests.
Vanessa’s Instagram and TikTok bios, shown are details about her and her following
When asked about her Letterboxd favorites, she lit up. “Oh, my God! It's so funny! Because my friend just started a film club, and she just asked for all of our Letterboxd profiles. So, I just saw a whole bunch of people's, like, four favorites,” she says.
When delving more into her personal experience of changing her content, Vanessa first acknowledged the importance of people diversifying who they watch. She personally sought out creators who could relate to the media she was watching, prioritizing takes that were rooted in empathy. Despite having this fear of changing her niche, Vanessa also quickly found her footing.
Cutcreaser’s Instagram feed, shown is a variety of content including film and makeup content
“I decided to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first time, and before I found Buffy, I was kind of confused of what I wanted to do with content. I was like on the verge of quitting. … I didn't know if I belonged.”
She explained then that the experience had changed her mindset. With Buffy being an old show, there is no current competition in the influencer space, just fans of the show who make videos because they love it. Vanessa has done the same, making in-depth analysis videos about the show that are educational yet still intersect with the beauty industry.
Making content about the show allowed Vanessa to simultaneously combat something that hindered her mentally, comparison. Constantly looking at others, particularly as a woman of color, can be detrimental. The movie industry struggles with implementing changes that reflect our lives, and this is still true for fans who engage in discourse about movies online. Having attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, Vanessa incorporated her degree in advertising and marketing communications into her career. Unfortunately, this also proved detrimental to her mental health.
“I literally just took what I learned from my degree, and I was literally comparing my competitors to me and how well I was doing versus them, comparing our content, comparing our insights. That is the enemy of content creating, and I will stand by that. It's so bad for you.”
Not all days are the same, and not every creator has a seamless pivot. There are communities online that are discriminatory by nature. As a result, Vanessa says, “Do it for the love instead of for the opportunities.” This small but meaningful piece of advice to marginalized creators is essential to remember. While there may feel like a lack of room for new creators, the passion for the content should remain the foundation for every action.
Naturally, Vanessa and I eventually ventured to superheroes as we ended our conversation—Superman being a character we’re anticipating to become popular again soon. With a new era for the comic character starting, Vanessa revisited Christopher Reeve’s iteration. Frazzled by the amount of superhero content we have lately, she explained the necessity of Superman. “Superman has never been on my radar… and I thought it was so great because it still had that sense of wonder and hope. If I was a kid like this would have been like my everything. … It's so sincere.” That resonated here, as optimism is so integral for women of color. With years of disparities between people of color and their white counterparts, it was refreshing to end on a note of positivity. For Vanessa, her alter ego lies in the power of Cutcreaser, the part of herself that saw a void and filled it with a passion of her own.
Cutcreaser at Sony HQ in New York, by Ka’Neisha Davis
Vanessa's success in dominating a fandom for a show that centers around a predominantly white cast is not just impressive but deeply significant. This speaks to the larger challenges women of color face in media—often overshadowed by the overwhelming presence of white characters, both on-screen and in fandom spaces. As women of color, there’s a constant, silent comparison to white narratives, where our stories are often sidelined or minimized. Vanessa’s ability to carve out a space for herself in this predominantly white fandom highlights how powerful it is for women of color to take ownership of their voices, their narratives, and their passions despite the barriers they face. In a world where the media landscape can be so limiting, her success is a reminder of how resilience and visibility can transform spaces and make room for diverse perspectives, even in areas that have traditionally been exclusive. How do you see fandom spaces evolving to better support and celebrate diverse voices like Vanessa’s? Have you ever felt the need to carve out your own space in a community where representation was lacking? Are there creators that make your voice feel heard as an audience member?
