Maria Luciani: Lights, Camera, YouTube
When it comes to expressing her opinions, Maria Luciani (marlovesmaybelline on YouTube), sophomore, is not shy, whether she’s standing up against famous English YouTuber Sam Pepper’s recent video or explaining the perfect way to shape eyebrows. Ever since starting her beauty and vlogging YouTube Channel this past summer, she has become “more confident” and hopes to continue her onscreen growth.
Although she’s been interested in YouTube since fifth grade, after moving here in seventh grade Luciani was on the Internet all the time. Inspired to start her own channel by other YouTubers like Savannah Brown, she went to work at learning how to become a YouTuber.
“I was kind of freaked out and I started over like thirty thousand times because it was so awkward, like I didn’t know where to look and I was like ‘Hi, hi, hi you guys, hi, ok let me stop this,’” Luciani recalls from the experience of creating her first video. “There were so many retakes, it was really awkward actually.”
After taking some time to find her voice, Luciani began to regularly upload more videos, with topics ranging from “Sweat Proof/Glowing Makeup” to “Summer Haul 2014,” until she started opening up more about her personal opinions on controversial issues.
“I think it’s important because the thing people forget a lot is that your opinions are so valid,” Luciani said. “Everyone has an opinion, whether or not you agree with it, (and) if you feel like what you’re trying to say is in any way wrong, I guarantee (that) there are billions of people in the world, (so) someone’s bound to agree with you. You’re welcome to say whatever you want.”
In her two most recent vlogs, Luciani discusses not shaming the naked body and explains her reaction to Sam Pepper’s latest video in which he groped multiple young women without their consent. Both subjects being important to her, she wants to make sure her voice is heard.
“Well I’m, like, huge on thinking that being naked isn’t a big deal, and I know a lot of people think that’s like strange and silly and they think I’m kidding, but I’m actually not,” Luciani explains about her video on not shaming the human body. “My parents, thankfully, have raised me to believe what I believe in, and so they were really proud of me for sharing my opinions and I’ve gotten pretty positive reactions to it.”
Luciani believes that it’s videos like these that really give viewers “a taste” of who she is.
She hopes to someday become a YouTube partner and continue making beauty videos as well as vlogging.
“I know it’s easier said than done, but you can’t care what people are going to say or do,” Luciani said. “I was really nervous about sharing them on Instagram at first and I remember telling my friend, ‘Everyone’s gonna think this is really weird.’ You have to actually just not care and realize that everything you do in high school is for you, and you’re not doing it really for anyone else. You should do whatever
