Teni Panosian first became known as a beauty and lifestyle creator through her rapidly-growing YouTube channel, expanding to Instagram and TikTok. She has since been an ambassador for brands like Maybelline and YSL Beauty and has collaborated with Bobbi Brown, Dior, and Tom Ford Beauty among others. In March 2020 she added ‘founder’ to her list of achievements, announcing the launch of Monday Born.

What inspired you to start creating and filming content?

I'd been keeping up a blog for about a year when I discovered YouTube. At the time there were a handful of beauty creators there, and I remember thinking, "I can definitely do this." I had so much knowledge to share, so I started my (then) small collection of filming equipment and through trial and error learned how to produce my content.

What is your intention when people read your digital diary?

The content on my website is almost a not-so-secret secret space. It's for anyone who has taken the time to really get too close to me, so naturally, they will have discovered my digital diary. I've always loved to write, and what you'll find there is a little more of a stripped-down, vulnerable me. I've started to share some more personal elements of my life there, just sort of my way of connecting with the people who truly want to take the time to get to know me.

What is the philosophy behind your brand, “Monday Born”

As someone who began building a community many years ago, the whole mission behind Monday Born is to continue that relationship in a production capacity. The Monday Born community is involved in not only helping us decide what product to launch next, but a small group helps us test out the products, (we've been officially doing this since August of 2020. We are the first beauty brand to do this.) and they even help us pick the final packaging design. It only made sense to continue that open dialogue, only now as a founder who has tangible products to share. And just like its founder, Monday Born is committed to a minimalist existence, only producing what we truly feel skin needs and keeping our impact on the environment as small as possible.

How has your online presence changed/grown since you first started sharing your content versus now?

I'm much more willing to be vulnerable now and share more intimate details of my life. Some things will remain sacred, but in the beginning, I couldn't have even imagined talking about my childhood, my relationships, or anything that ventured past makeup or skincare! I'm much more comfortable opening up now, mostly because I've seen how it's impacted people.

What is your advice for someone who wants to start creating content but may not know where to start?

My advice would be to resist emulating anyone else. You have something no one else does, and there's a community for whatever that unique value proposition is. If you authentically go forth and share what's on your mind, your talents, your passions, whatever it is you want to share, that's all you need.

How do you successfully achieve a “simple, back-to-basics” way of living?

It really comes with the desire to want those things. That way the transition is effortless. I've come to a place in life where all the things that used to excite me before no longer seem interesting. What's most fulfilling now are things like making homemade butter, baking my own bread, tending to my garden, standing barefoot in the grass, and cooking a meal for my family... In years past, it would have been such a bummer not to spend New Year's Eve somewhere buzzing with excitement and glamour, but these days I spend it with my extended family in one of our homes, not dressed up, just cherishing moments together.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

Connecting with people. My audience is approximately 85% women, and though I enjoy connecting with anyone and everyone, there's something so special about this giant tribe of women from different cultures, backgrounds, and geographic locations, and we're all navigating life with the same hopes and fears, supporting each other along the way. Being able to talk about these things on a daily basis with people I would otherwise have never met is the most special thing about what I do. □

Article Credits

Teni’s Instagram: @tenipanosian

Teni’s Twitter: @TeniPanosian

Teni’s Facebook: @TeniPanosian

Teni’s TikTok: @tenipanosian

Teni’s Website: www.tenipanosian.com/

Monday Born’s Website: beaubble.com/monday-born

Photo Credits: Kristen Hahn