Conversations with Tonia Ranco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonia Ranco.

Hi Tonia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been obsessed with makeup. To be honest, I was terrified of becoming a beauty influencer. I grew up hearing all the things that were “wrong” with me. Your lips are too big, your eyes are too big, etc. So to put myself on a platform to be possibly torn apart, I was hesitant for a long time. My husband continued to encourage me and he is a big reason on why I started this journey. Over the years, I have gained confidence and have worked hard to dispel any negativity. I started uploading youtube videos in December 2016 and worked from there to build my Social Media presence.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a flawless, smooth easy road. I was almost 50 when I started my Influencer journey, so being a mature female, I was left out of so many potential opportunities. There were several brands that didn’t even want to work with mature Influencers. I had so many rejections and being rejected is never comfortable. I had to learn that who you surround yourself with is vitally important as who you are striving to become. We should all have a tribe of supportive, encouraging people who won’t allow you to dwell on the negatives and what-ifs. These people remind you of your strengths and hand you back your confidence when you drop it. I’m definitely blessed to have a supportive tribe of family and friends.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Beauty Influencer on Social Media which means I review products and topics on makeup and skincare. I sometimes do hair tutorials – people seem to be fascinated with my hair, which I find funny, especially since my hair is so short. My primary focus is makeup and skincare. I have also gained popularity with TikToks my husband and I share. We were featured on Good Day LA last year in December, which was very exciting for us.

I am extremely proud of my social media presence on TikTok and the following that I have gained. I currently have a following around 155K and that’s still unbelievable to me. My following has made it possible for me to secure major brand deals and collaborations that I never thought were possible. One of my proudest moments was being selected to participate in the 2021 TikTok for Black Creatives Program. This program selected 100 Black content creators out of over 5,000 that applied to amplify their performance and outreach as influencers. News about this program was featured in publications such as; Rolling Stone, NBC News, CNN, LA Times, Entertainment Tonight, etc.

One of the things that sets me apart from other beauty influencers is the fact that I’m a Black Woman over 50. You might be thinking “that’s not unusual” but you would be surprised. When I google mature beauty influencers, I never seen any African Americans. There seems to be a shortage for Mature Black Beauty Influencers. My goal has always been to provide a unique platform in marketing to mature women of color.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I have learned so many lessons due to Covid-19. One of them being – don’t be afraid to try something new. I started my TikTok during Covid, like so many others. I had no idea that it would lead me to where I am today, the community that I have and the endless opportunities that I have been so blessed to have come my way. I have also learned to not let fear and self-doubt stop my passions or creativity. Let’s be honest, no one wants to make mistakes or fail. But if we try too hard to avoid failure, we can also be avoiding success.

Contact Info:

• Email: toniaranco@gmail.com
• Website: www.Rancobeauty.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Rancobeauty
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rancobeauty
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Rancobeauty
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/RancoBeauty
• Other: www.tiktok.com/@rancobeauty