Themes for the Interview Data

In this section, the researchers emerged three (3) themes in discussing the data they’ve
gathered from the interview. These themes were: The reason and the journey on how they
become an influencer, the influencer’s perception about beauty standards and lastly, the
influence of beauty or appearances on their career.

The Influencer’s Journey

Danielle Justine Godoy started her career in her YouTube channel due to her passion in
dancing. That was her inspiration that urges her to express her talent. Aside from her huge
passion on dancing, the contents of her channel were also her daily vlogs. Because of these
contents, she became an ambassador of some local make up brand. Hence, Danielle admitted that
the majority of the reason on gaining her sponsorship is because of her physical appearance. That
would be 70% of the reason on why she became an ambassador of that local make up brand. As
it is, Danielle stated that the appearance of a person gives a huge contribution on becoming
popular. On her own perspective, ‘popularity’ is also needed to influence a certain community
and to easily promote the product through social media platforms. Indeed, beauty and popularity
has really a great impact on influencing other people.

Perception of Beauty Standards

“Beauty is not only about the characteristics that we have, it is a matter of having confidence
and trust in yourself.”

Danielle has a different perspective about beauty. She stated that it is not only on a
physical appearance of a person but beauty is also defined as being confident and believing on
their own self. Nonetheless, Danielle believed that Filipinos doesn’t really have a certain
standard of beauty but it is mainly based according to their own perspective of being beautiful.
She also stated that in this age, the beauty standards of Filipinas has been influenced by other
countries- having pale skin complexion, skinny and curves in the right places and unending
‘glow’ that most Filipinas admire. These statements of Danielle was also been discussed by
Rondilla on her research Filipino Color and Complex, Filipino beauties was somehow influenced
by the post-colonizers of the Philippines as well as to the Western thought, (Rondilla, 2009).
Also, looking at the Perceptual Control Theory by William T. Powers, people tend to follow a
certain trend and think that it’s alright. Looking at this generation, just like what Danielle has
stated, most Filipinas today conform to the beauty standards that the other countries possess.

Influence of Beauty in Career

As a social media Influencer and having a thousand of viewers and subscribers on her
account, Danielle thought that it is important to look presentable for her audiences. In her
opinion, being presentable enough for them manifests herself on being responsible as well as to
show positive traits that will influence her viewers in YouTube. However, despite of having
good looks and showing a presentable appearance for her viewers, Danielle sometimes cannot
help but to feel like she had to change her appearance in some ways. Whenever she spends her
time too much on social media, her insecurities somehow attack her thinking that she’s not good
enough as an influencer and she could’ve been ‘prettier’ or better. In relation to the Cultivation
Theory of G. Gerbner, Danielle, as an influencer tends to make herself look presentable as well
as to share positive traits on her viewers but somehow still feels a bit of insecurity towards other
influencers by just surfing on social media.

In addition, Danielle looks at beauty as not that significant on being an influencer.

Though in Danielle’s opinion, influencers should only look good in order for them to gain
admirers and viewers. But then, she hardly believes that people will really admire her if she will
be genuinely true to herself. Nevertheless, physical appearance will never be a basis on
expressing and voicing out someone’s opinion and perception of things.