Meet sarahbelle93x. She’s a YouTube starlet, a proud Kappa Delta, a fashion guru to the sorority world, and a senior political science and pre-law student at Northern Kentucky University. Her middle name isn’t actually Belle, it’s Elizabeth, which makes a little more sense for the first “E” in her ubiquitous SEE monogram. With five years of YouTube under her stylish (probably Kate Spade) belt, Sarah has garnered hundreds of thousands of adoring followers who look to her for everything from style tips to life advice. Naturally, this walking, talking TSM caught our eye, so we were thrilled when she agreed to sit down and answer a few questions.
TSM Staff: How did you get started as a YouTube personality?
Sarah Belle: “Back in high school, I stumbled upon the “What’s in My Purse?” videos and instantly got hooked on all these beauty and fashion channels. One day I decided to take the plunge and start my own channel using some digital camera I received for my 15th birthday, eventually I saved up enough money for a MacBook and used that often for filming. I had no idea that this channel I started out of pure boredom would take me to where I am today.
You’ve got an incredible following on social media. How do you cope with the scrutiny? Well growing up on YouTube, you develop a thick skin. Obviously you can’t please everyone, so as long as I’m happy with a certain thing I post or how I look, the scrutiny very rarely gets to me. The best thing you can do is smile and laugh it off!
As all of us writers at TSM know, people can be pretty nasty, especially behind an anonymous username and a keyboard. Do you have a saying or anything in particular you tell yourself when faced with criticism?
I I’ve taken a lesson or two from Taylor Swift recently. “Haters gonna hate hate hate hate… I’m just gonna shake shake shake shake shake, shake it off, shake it off.”
Your Instagram game is strong. What photo editing aps do you use?
I have an entire folder on my iPhone dedicated to photo editing apps because I am ADDICTED. My top two favorite ones are Afterlight and Camera+, but recently I’ve been getting into Retrica for more fall appropriate filters.”
Most college students can barely get up for class, much less look fabulous. How often do you get gussied up for class versus going the typical norts and T-shirt route?
I’d say half of the time I am a little more dressed up for class and the other half of the time, I am wearing an oversized top with norts or leggings. It’s just so easy and comfortable.
If you could do absolutely anything knowing you wouldn’t fail, what would you do?
I’d start my own jewelry line because I hoard statement jewelry. Seriously I own way too many items from Kendra Scott and BaubleBar. I probably sounded like a typical sorority girl just then, but really, who can not love statement jewelry?!
You do an amazing job of mixing designer and super affordable finds. If you had to pick one, would you prefer quantity, like a huge haul from Target or Forever 21, or quality, like one item from a designer?
If you had asked me this when I first started my channel, I would have said quantity, I would buy things just for the sake of having them. Then they would just sit around in my closet and never be worn. I eventually got annoyed with my habits and now I only buy things that I’m absolutely in love with. So if I am head over heels in love with a designer item, I don’t mind saving up because I know I’ll use it.
The sorority world seems to be pretty divided on Chacos, which you fearlessly rock. As someone renowned for style, how do you decide when it’s time for function over fashion?
Well, I personally think Chacos are cute and comfortable. Norts and Chacos are two peas in a pod. So whenever comfort comes into the picture and I’m feeling relatively lazy, I will probably choose function over fashion. Everyone has those moments! (Plus you get cool tan lines from Chacos.)
What is your absolute favorite part of college?
100% my friends. I’m a believer in that you can adapt to any college and fall in love with it as long as you are lucky enough to have found the right people by your side. My sophomore year I really found those people I will be friends with for the rest of my life. I owe a lot of it to Kappa Delta because I found my best friend through my sorority, as well as the rest of NKU Greek Life. I’ve become really close to the ATO chapter here, they have made my experience at NKU nothing but amazing and I will always speak so highly of them. Plus I live with 4…So everyday is a new adventure with them!
What is your go-to pick-me-up when you’re having a less than stellar day?
McDonalds Diet Coke always works wonders. Usually if I am having a bad day, my best friend will take me through the drive thru for my Diet Coke and we go cruising. That’s what I love about Kentucky; there are so many backroads that are great for cruising.
As a sorority woman, do you feel like you challenge the negative stereotypes that we face?
I hope I do! I truly think joining a sorority makes you a better person and challenges yourself to do new things. I feel like putting myself out there on YouTube, while being an active Kappa Delta, has proven the negative stereotypes that Greek Life has wrong.”
Tons of young women will see this. Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers?
Check out my channel on YouTube, I think you all will like it, or at least I hope you will! And if you ever see me out and about, feel free to say hi! I always get so sad when people tweet me saying they saw me at a certain location and were too shy to say hi, meeting my viewers makes my life! I’m just really thankful for everything!
Thank you, Sarah Belle, for taking the time to talk to us! Follow her on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram..
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