This A-Profiler we bring you Elessa Vavon of Pursebuzz.com, an online beauty consultant who reviews beauty products, writes about beauty tips and secrets, and has created many "how-to" hair and make-up demo videos on YouTube. Over 1.5 million video views on her YouTube channel has launched her into the spotlight as a mini-celebrity in the online beauty world. Find out how she got started with Pursebuzz, what she hopes to do in the future, and what motto she firmly believes in.

Your site URL:
www.pursebuzz.com

What is your ethnicity?
Vietnamese and part French

How did you get started with Pursebuzz?
I started in the beauty industry as a beauty consultant, and then freelanced for some weddings and dances. I would hear complements from my clients and friends about wanting to be able apply makeup themselves that same way, everyday. I'd show them and left it at that. But I always had that thought in the back of my mind, not sure what direction to take it in, and how it could be implemented. Recently, I had a friend who wanted to see a demonstration of this particular look she saw in a magazine. I posted it up on YouTube since the file was too large to email. Around the same time I started watching videos on YouTube and I figured this was a great way to test the waters before I put any other types of videos up. I went ahead and just posted it up. I received comments and requests almost immediately. Excited to try the new looks from the requests, I did them and posted it up. And it just grew from there. I [have] since then took down the super amateur video and created a whole collection of videos. Ultimately, I wanted to create videos and tutorials so that anyone who wanted to create certain cosmetic looks themselves could on their own. I firmly believe in the saying, "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime."

What inspired the name for Pursebuzz?
Pursebuzz is easy to remember and it has nothing to do with makeup, so I thought it was perfect :)

You've created "how-to" hair and make-up videos which broadcast on YouTube and have been viewed over 1.5 million times to date. What has the reaction been to your videos? Has their popularity surprised you?
I receive all kinds of feedback from all parts of the judgment scale. I received positive in-depth personal email of who my visitors are and how pursebuzz has helped them. I have also received some negative feedback about my lack of knowledge of cosmetic application or my bad choice of colors. Luckily, it's been mostly a positive experience. I really enjoy the feedback, photos, and videos that are sent to me. The look of accomplishment on their faces makes me so happy. In the end all feedback is good. It either teaches you to be stronger and challenge yourself or to continue what you are doing and always finding ways to improve.

Who do you think makes up the majority of your audience watching the videos?
They range from all ages. I have to say the youngest viewer is 5 years old, she watches it with her mom. I have chat sessions on my site here and there so that I am able to speak to my visitors and help answer questions and just get to know them on a more personal level. I have viewers of all ages and gender.

You've got to be awfully confident and have a healthy self-esteem to be able to get in front of a camera and do what you do and have such a large audience potentially watching your videos. Were you always a confident person, even as a child?
No I wasn't always confident. I gained a lot of my confidence in College. I took a lot of communication classes to break out of my shell.

When did you first learn to put on make-up and do your hair?
My mom wore make up and I just watched her. I tend to dissect looks when I see them and I just try it out myself. The hair styles are all through trial and error.

Have you ever been recognized offline by people who have seen your videos?
Yes, a few times

Have your family members seen your videos and what do they think of them?
They don't really know about it. My parents do, they think its one of my hobbies I'm tinkering in again.

What do you hope all of your Internet exposure leads to? Where would you like to see Pursebuzz in a few years?
I'd like to see a community of makeup and beauty lovers gathered together, sharing ideas, and having fun. It would be great to see a DVD and a makeup line of my own.

When not working on make-up and hair tutorials or reviewing beauty products, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy shopping and sleeping. I also enjoy time with my family and friends. I don't have a lot of free time, a good portion of it is dedicated to those things. Most of it is taken up with school, work, and this website.

Cooking is one of your favorite things.
I like to bake, mostly chocolate cake from the box.

What is the one dish you make that everybody asks for the recipe?
My baked macaroni recipe for sure!

Finally, any words of wisdom or final words for your fans out there?
Everyone is beautiful, makeup is just fun don't take it too serious. And thank you for all your support.

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong.
Special thanks to Elessa Vavon of Pursebuzz.com.

Photos used with permission.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).