Marvella Akiojano’s rise from a teenager experimenting with her mother’s makeup to one of the most influential voices in beauty and fashion is a story of resilience, authenticity, and unwavering dedication. Today, with a thriving presence on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, Marvella has not only built a loyal following but also launched her own cosmetics brand, Marviano Cosmetics. In this interview, she opens up about her journey, the lessons she’s learned, and how she continues to stay true to herself while navigating the world of influencer culture and entrepreneurship.
Photographer
Tolulope Gangbo
Words by
Angel Neal
Marvella’s fascination with beauty began long before the world knew her name. “Honestly, I started off just planning my mom’s makeup,” she recalls with a smile. “As a kid back in Nigeria, when you’re doing that and wearing makeup at such a young age, people side-eye your parents. But my parents let me express myself with beauty and fashion, and they traveled a lot with me. London, especially, opened my eyes to the global world of fashion, beyond Lagos.” Her early exposure to different cultures fueled her creative energy, eventually leading her to explore platforms like Vine and Musically, where she initially started by making lip-sync videos. But the real turning point came when Musically evolved into TikTok. "That’s when I started doing makeup tutorials,” she says.
“I began on YouTube, doing wig videos, makeup looks – and that’s how the evolution of 'Marvella' began."
What started as a journey of sharing lip syncs, dancing, and beauty tutorials quickly transformed into a full-fledged career. "I started as a dancer, then I moved to wig videos on YouTube, followed by makeup tutorials. Now, I do it all,” she explains. "I just kept experimenting, trying new things, and seeing what resonated with my audience.” Building a brand isn’t without its challenges, and Marvella has faced her fair share of obstacles. "I remember being stuck at 50k followers for the longest time," she confesses. “It would go down to 48k, then 49k, then back to 50k. It was frustrating. At one point, I wanted to delete my Instagram account because it wasn’t growing.” Instead of giving up, she doubled down on consistency. “I made a promise to myself – I would post every single day for an entire year. I figured, if I gave it everything I had, it might change the algorithm, and it worked.” She encourages others to push through those moments of doubt, saying, “Give yourself one more chance, even when you feel like giving up. Your breakthrough might be right around the corner.”
In the world of influencer marketing, staying authentic is key. But how does Marvella maintain her connection with her audience while working with brands? “I’m very selective about the brands I work with. I don’t promote products that don’t fit my values or that don’t work for me,” she says firmly. “I’ve turned down collaborations because a product didn’t align with what I stand for. Integrity is important, and not all money is good money.”
She continues, “It’s also about filming when I feel my best. When I’m in front of the camera, I want to be excited to share what I’m creating. It’s about being genuine and letting that energy come through.” Marvella’s content is a mix of beauty tips, travel stories, and personal moments. When asked how she balances sharing personal experiences while maintaining a professional brand, she answers, “I believe everything is content. I’ll record whatever I’m doing, even if it’s just a casual moment. I’m always thinking about how I can turn a moment into something relatable for my audience.”
She adds, “I don’t have to balance the content I share. I just live my life, and my audience follows along. If they see me having fun or trying something new, they’re part of that journey with me.”
The beauty industry was always in Marvella’s heart, but creating her own line, Marviano Cosmetics, has been a game-changer. Her recent lip liner and gloss collection, especially the Brick Mocha shade, has been a huge hit, selling out in just one week. “The key to our success is solving a problem,” she explains. “Brick Mocha is our darkest brown shade, and I’ve always struggled with lip liners that don’t last all night. I noticed it wasn’t just me – my friends were constantly reapplying their lip liner throughout the night. So, I went into research mode, and Marviano was born.” She goes on, “It’s been surreal to see people embracing Marviano. I’m not crazy – people actually care about these problems I’m solving. It’s not just a product; it’s a solution.” With her background in marketing, Marvella is determined to make Marviano Cosmetics stand out in a competitive industry. “I didn’t want to skyrocket the prices. I focused on quality rather than just aesthetics,” she says. “That’s the beauty of having a marketing degree – I can blend traditional marketing methods with what I know works on social media.”
And despite her rapid growth, she remains humble and committed to her values. “I want to show my African sisters that greatness is possible for us too. We don’t have to fit into a box. You can be financially free and successful, no matter where you come from.”
For those looking to break into the beauty or fashion space, Marvella’s advice is clear: “Stay true to yourself. You don’t have to fit the mold. Consistency is key, and don’t be afraid to bet on yourself. Trust that God has given you the talents you need to succeed.”
Reflecting on her own journey, she says, “Five or six years ago, I posted a YouTube video where I had $20 in my backpack, dreaming of working with big brands. Look at me now – working with them. You can do it, too.” The future for Marviano Cosmetics is bright. Marvella is already looking to expand her product line with new lip glosses and perhaps even venture into fashion. “I would love to collaborate with a fashion brand on a collection,” she shares. “I originally wanted Marviano to be a handbag brand, but I knew my audience wasn’t ready for that. So, we’re sticking with makeup for now, but you never know what the future holds.”
As for her personal goals, she’s already thinking about giving back to her community. “I hope to host a brand trip for my Marviano dolls,” she says. “It’s all about uplifting and inspiring the next generation of content creators.”
“I want to use my influence to uplift women all around the world,” she says, “to show them that they can be themselves and get paid for it.”
Her mission is clear – to inspire others to chase their dreams and to never stop believing in their own potential. In the end, Marvella Akiojano is more than just an influencer or a beauty mogul; she’s a role model, showing the world that with hard work, authenticity, and a little faith, anything is possible.
To keep with all things Marvella make sure to follow her here @_marvella__ and shop Marviano Cosmetics.
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