Ellarie Noel: Building Beauty Stardom, One Tutorial at a Time

Discover how Ellarie Noel transformed challenges into triumphs, inspiring millions as an iconic beauty influencer.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach
Created on

How Ellarie Noel Became a Leading Instagram Beauty Blogger

Ellarie Noel’s journey from persistent self-doubt to global recognition epitomizes how raw passion, talent, and resilience can redefine beauty culture on social media. As one of the first beauty bloggers to share tutorial videos on Instagram, Ellarie leveraged the power of authentic storytelling, building a community of over 1.3 million followers. Her rise integrates family collaborations, advocacy for representation, and navigating the complex terrain of being a woman of color in the beauty industry.

Early Beginnings: Finding Beauty in Adversity

In 2014, Ellarie Noel lived in Atlanta, Georgia, balancing single motherhood and a career in business development for a tour-booking company. When she was laid off, the sudden disruption threatened her sense of security but planted the seeds for transformation. Instead of job hunting, Ellarie accepted an invitation from Motive Cosmetics to experience the beauty world firsthand, sensing that her journey on Instagram was meant for something greater. Her instinct was right—her decision not to pursue conventional employment propelled her toward viral stardom.

  • First-mover Advantage: Ellarie was among the earliest to produce tutorial videos on Instagram, creating an indispensable niche.
  • Organic Growth: Her authentic approach fostered an engaged audience who responded to her enthusiasm and vulnerability.
  • Passion-Fueled Risk: Rather than succumb to pressure, she followed intuition, setting the stage for her iconic career.

Multiple Streams of Success

Unlike many influencers with narrow focus, Ellarie’s success is powered by diversified revenue streams and strategic brand partnerships. Her signature style and relatable presence have attracted collaboration offers and sponsorships from major beauty brands, including CoverGirl and her own ColourPop lip collection.

  • Sponsored Posts: Regularly showcases beauty products and techniques with transparency.
  • Brand Collaborations: Served as a CoverGirl model on drugstore displays, broadening her influence.
  • Entrepreneurial Vision: Launched Ellarie x ColourPop lip line, extending her personal brand into retail.
  • YouTube Presence: Her tutorials and product reviews draw thousands of views on her YouTube channel.

Family First: Collaboration and Viral Fame

Ellarie’s dynamic partnership with her daughter Zara, affectionately called Yoshidoll, has created viral moments that transcend traditional beauty content. Together, they have produced a popular series of mommy-daughter hair tutorials, which blend education, empowerment, and joy.

Motivation and Work Ethic at a Young Age

Despite being just six years old, Zara exhibits a remarkable sense of responsibility towards her platform. Ellarie routinely asks if she wishes to pause filming, but Zara insists on continuing for her fans: “No, how will people be able to see me on TV? I can’t do that to my fans.” This discipline reveals how Ellarie not only models ambition but nurtures it in the next generation.

  • Empowerment Through Visibility: Zara’s videos encourage young viewers to embrace creative pursuits.
  • Mother-Daughter Bonding: Joint projects reinforce positive self-image and shared achievement.
  • Role Modeling: The duo’s presence highlights the value of representation and mutual support.

Dealing with Criticism and Mom Shaming

Mom shaming and online trolling are frequent challenges for family-centered influencers. When videos featuring Zara go viral, Ellarie receives a surge of unsolicited opinions. She remains resilient, rarely engaging unless comments directly involve her child: “Even if they believe I shouldn’t have my daughter up there, that’s a decision they can make when they have their own children.”

  • Protective Parenting: Prioritizes her daughter’s well-being and autonomy over internet backlash.
  • Boundary Setting: Reacts with restraint, choosing not to fuel negativity.
  • Role Model for Influencer Parents: Demonstrates navigating criticism with dignity.

Identity, Self-Esteem, and Hair Culture

Both Ellarie and Zara confront identity challenges, particularly relating to hair and skin tone. Ellarie’s own journey—from elementary school perms to rediscovering her natural texture—mirrors struggles many Black women experience.

Embracing Natural Beauty

Ellarie stopped perming her hair, inspired by Zara, who also grappled with societal beauty standards. When Zara wished for straighter hair and lighter skin, Ellarie rallied her Instagram followers to affirm Zara’s beauty, helping to boost her self-esteem. The campaign reinforced that “there are people who want their hair to be like mine.”

  • Power of Community: Leveraging her audience to reinforce positive messages.
  • Personal Transformation: Giving up perms led to self-discovery and self-acceptance.
  • Influence Beyond Makeup: Uses her platform to advocate for natural hair pride.

Table: Ellarie’s Impact on Hair Identity

StageChallengeActionOutcome
ChildhoodPermed hair, uncertain about textureExperimented, followed trendsDissatisfaction, continued search for identity
MotherhoodSeeing daughter’s struggles with hair/skin toneStopped using perms, fostered open dialogueRediscovered natural beauty, built confidence
InfluencerConfronting negative stereotypesLaunched community support campaign for ZaraPositive self-esteem for both, viral public inspiration

The Realities of Being a Woman of Color in Beauty

Representation for women of color in the beauty industry remains limited. Ellarie emphasizes how scrolling Instagram surfaces an overwhelming majority of lighter-complexioned individuals, with little visibility for others. This lack of diversity not only discourages newcomers but shapes industry competition.

  • Minimal Representation: Large shade ranges rarely include diverse undertones and skin types.
  • Industry Challenges: Brands often select a single influencer to speak for a wide spectrum, perpetuating tokenism.
  • Internal Competition: Rather than collaborating, beauty influencers of color are often pitted against each other for limited slots.

Ellarie explains, “It can be frustrating at times, especially because there’s a lot of brown girls, women of color, who have different undertones, different skin types, different everything.”

Tokenism and Brand Selection

While Ellarie appreciates the honor of being chosen for campaigns, she resists the token narrative. “I don’t want to feel like the token. I would like to see more people like me represented.” Her candid perspective highlights how progress requires industry-wide change—not just individual success stories.

Promoting Collaboration Over Competition

Ellarie advocates for unity among women of color in beauty, lamenting that brands create artificial competition. “I wish we could come together more, collab more, bring each other up more, but the brands kind of make it that way. I just feel like there’s room for everybody.”

  • Advocacy: Supports more collaboration and collective growth in the influencer community.
  • Mentorship: Provides inspiration and guidance through online content and interviews.

Ellarie Noel’s Lasting Influence and Entrepreneurial Impact

Ellarie’s story is not just about makeup tutorials or viral videos—it’s about resilience, entrepreneurship, and changing the face of beauty branding. Her mid-six-figure annual income, robust following, and diverse portfolio position her among top African American beauty influencers.

  • Leading with Authenticity: Ellarie’s transparency about personal struggles builds deep audience trust.
  • Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Her journey from unemployment to celebrity status serves as a model for aspiring influencers.
  • Empowering Next Generation: Through mentoring and content, she catalyzes growth for other creators.
  • Active Social Media: Her multi-platform presence (Instagram, YouTube) adapts to evolving media trends.

Global Reach and Cultural Legacy

Her expertise, relatability, and bold style have made Ellarie a renowned name in beauty vlogging, particularly within the African American community and among women of color who find inspiration in her journey. She remains a role model for young women everywhere—showing that perseverance, self-knowledge, and creative courage can overturn expectations and create opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who is Ellarie Noel?

A: Ellarie Noel is a top beauty influencer and entrepreneur based in Atlanta, known for her viral makeup and hair tutorials, especially featuring collaborations with her daughter Zara. She has over 1.3 million Instagram followers and a successful YouTube channel.

Q: How did Ellarie start her beauty career?

A: After being laid off from a business development job, Ellarie focused on Instagram tutorials and accepted opportunities in the beauty industry. Her innovative content and authentic storytelling quickly grew her audience and income.

Q: What are Ellarie’s key challenges as a woman of color in beauty?

A: Ellarie highlights minimal representation and tokenism in the industry. Brands often choose only one influencer of color to represent a wide range, making competition intense and collaboration difficult.

Q: How has Ellarie influenced her daughter Zara?

A: Ellarie empowers Zara by involving her in content creation, boosting her confidence, and promoting natural hair and skin pride through community support and positive messaging.

Q: What advice does Ellarie give to aspiring beauty influencers?

A: Ellarie encourages authenticity, consistency in content creation, and persistence. She advocates lifting up fellow creators rather than viewing them as competition, believing there is room for everyone in the beauty industry.

SEO Optimized Summary Table: Ellarie Noel’s Impact

AspectDescriptionSEO Keyword
Instagram Growth1.3M+ followers, early tutorialsInstagram beauty influencer
Brand CollaborationsCoverGirl, ColourPop lip linebeauty brand partnerships
EntrepreneurshipSelf-made career, mid-six figures incomebeauty entrepreneurship
Mother-Daughter ContentViral hair/makeup tutorials with Zaramommy-daughter tutorials
AdvocacyChampion for women of colorwomen of color in beauty

Takeaways from Ellarie Noel’s Journey

  • Be a Pioneer: Early adoption and innovation build legacy online.
  • Celebrate Diversity: Representation matters—let your story elevate others.
  • Community Power: Sustainable influence arises from connecting with and empowering fans.
  • Embrace Authenticity: True success follows when you remain genuine to your values and experiences.
Sneha Tete
Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer
Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete