Beauty Influencer Offered $185,000 for 1 Post Said 'No' Because of Oprah

[jwkelly]

It doesn’t take a social media analyst to know that much of what we’re seeing on our Instagram feeds in sponsored. The reasoning behind it is simple. If you’re a successful influencer and entrepreneur with millions of followers, why not make some extra cash by hitting “upload,” right? Kim Kardashian doesn’t shy away from doing so, and spotting a paid-for post is easy: Just look out for #ad.


But not everyone is into this game. For beauty blogger and businesswoman Huda Kattan, of beauty site and company Huda Beauty, working with a brand on a sponsored post isn’t so black and white. In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kattan explains how followers can quickly sniff out the BS. “I don’t like to force content. If it doesn’t feel right, there’s no way in hell I’m going to do it. If it’s fake, you’re going to know it in my face,” she says. “If I don’t really have a certain beauty concern, I’m going to be lying, and it just won’t work.”

After leaving her career in finance, she’s made a living out of her Instagram account—it boasts 24.8 million followers—plus Huda Beauty. Last fall, she launched a makeup product designed to double as an Instagram filter: #FauxFilter Foundation ($40; sephora.com). Regularly, she shares photos, videos, and blog posts that she says come from an authentic place. Her own beauty qualms are where her ideas stem from.


Interestingly, though, it’s not the bling that she’s in this for. In fact, Kattan’s focus is on delivering real content. “I’m not looking to directly monetize our Instagram. Directly being able to do shoppable links—when that happens, sure, why not? But now, I don’t want it to feel like it’s not real,” she told Entrepreneur.

She turned down a major sponsorship opportunity because, funnily enough, Oprah inspired her.

“Once, I got offered $185,000 to do one post, and I was so close to doing it—I genuinely loved the product. We were just about to post it, and my team was like, ‘This is the caption,’ with ‘#ad.’ I just couldn’t do it,” she said, explaining that while the money would have helped her and her husband, she wasn’t comfortable with it.

“I thought about Oprah. I was like, would Oprah do that? No, she wouldn’t. Luckily, my husband was able to support our family financially, so we didn’t have to,” she said.

Let’s try this again: #Oprah2020, anyone?



Just too stupid     !!!!!    Oprah is Jesus and taking the money would make her Judas ?  I'm sure for her loyalty Oprah is writing her a check for that amount ? Or is Oprah just eating and going "dummy" as crumbs fall on her lap ?
 
   

[kaat1220]

Do you EVER have anything good to say about anyone?

Every single time you post, it makes me want to stick my finger in my brain and swirl it around.

Get off your soap box already.

[jwkelly]

Do you EVER have anything good to say about anyone?

Every single time you post, it makes me want to stick my finger in my brain and swirl it around.

Get off your soap box already.

                                               Would you turn down 185 thousand dollars for 1 post to kiss a celeb's butt ?  No you would not. No sane person would.   Get a clue !!!! So many brainless ppl looking up to celebs like they matter because of their opinions,money,fame.

[plennis]

Do you EVER have anything good to say about anyone?

Every single time you post, it makes me want to stick my finger in my brain and swirl it around.

Get off your soap box already.

                                               Would you turn down 185 thousand dollars for 1 post to kiss a celeb's butt ?  No you would not. No sane person would.   Get a clue !!!! So many brainless ppl looking up to celebs like they matter because of their opinions,money,fame.

  I agree, I usually skip this persons posts because they are always so negative.

[jwkelly]

Do you EVER have anything good to say about anyone?

Every single time you post, it makes me want to stick my finger in my brain and swirl it around.

Get off your soap box already.

                                               Would you turn down 185 thousand dollars for 1 post to kiss a celeb's butt ?  No you would not. No sane person would.   Get a clue !!!! So many brainless ppl looking up to celebs like they matter because of their opinions,money,fame.

  I agree, I usually skip this persons posts because they are always so negative.     Your loss,stay in your bubble where your world  isn't the real world.

[fillfran82]

It doesn’t take a social media analyst to know that much of what we’re seeing on our Instagram feeds in sponsored. The reasoning behind it is simple. If you’re a successful influencer and entrepreneur with millions of followers, why not make some extra cash by hitting “upload,” right? Kim Kardashian doesn’t shy away from doing so, and spotting a paid-for post is easy: Just look out for #ad.


But not everyone is into this game. For beauty blogger and businesswoman Huda Kattan, of beauty site and company Huda Beauty, working with a brand on a sponsored post isn’t so black and white. In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kattan explains how followers can quickly sniff out the BS. “I don’t like to force content. If it doesn’t feel right, there’s no way in hell I’m going to do it. If it’s fake, you’re going to know it in my face,” she says. “If I don’t really have a certain beauty concern, I’m going to be lying, and it just won’t work.”

After leaving her career in finance, she’s made a living out of her Instagram account—it boasts 24.8 million followers—plus Huda Beauty. Last fall, she launched a makeup product designed to double as an Instagram filter: #FauxFilter Foundation ($40; sephora.com). Regularly, she shares photos, videos, and blog posts that she says come from an authentic place. Her own beauty qualms are where her ideas stem from.


Interestingly, though, it’s not the bling that she’s in this for. In fact, Kattan’s focus is on delivering real content. “I’m not looking to directly monetize our Instagram. Directly being able to do shoppable links—when that happens, sure, why not? But now, I don’t want it to feel like it’s not real,” she told Entrepreneur.

She turned down a major sponsorship opportunity because, funnily enough, Oprah inspired her.

“Once, I got offered $185,000 to do one post, and I was so close to doing it—I genuinely loved the product. We were just about to post it, and my team was like, ‘This is the caption,’ with ‘#ad.’ I just couldn’t do it,” she said, explaining that while the money would have helped her and her husband, she wasn’t comfortable with it.

“I thought about Oprah. I was like, would Oprah do that? No, she wouldn’t. Luckily, my husband was able to support our family financially, so we didn’t have to,” she said.

Let’s try this again: #Oprah2020, anyone?



Just too stupid     !!!!!    Oprah is Jesus and taking the money would make her Judas ?  I'm sure for her loyalty Oprah is writing her a check for that amount ? Or is Oprah just eating and going "dummy" as crumbs fall on her lap ?
 
   

Hello!

I don't think its bad she turned down all that money for one post, what I find questionable is that she did it because of Oprah. I mean how do you know what Oprah would do? We don't really know what kind of a person she is. I just hope she never regrets her decision.         

[jwkelly]

I think she's a fool,that money would be nothing less than a pure positive esp. if you paid it forward to proper organizations,used the media to show you didn't use it selfishly and good karma is never a neg.

[JaniceSW]

JWKelly:  I don't mind your posts.  I actually thought this post was rather interesting and informative.  Sometimes I have a good laugh and sometimes I just shake my head, but at least you're not a bore!

[jwkelly]

Example of good Karma: I spend the day helping my sis with cleaning out my father's apt. and basement,giving items to ppl including to the fire dept.then I go to the Salvation Army and get 50 boxsets including bluray for 30 bucks.  Not that I'm a good person to get stuff but I do things right and certainly don't let Oprahs or Opies influence me.