NEED TO KNOW
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In recent years, Manny Gutierrez, a beauty blogger known online as "Manny MUA," has increasingly used his platform to promote issues that matter to him.
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In an interview with PEOPLE, the beauty blogger explained the reasons for these changes.
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«"Maybe it's because I've been doing this for so damn long, I don't give a damn about anything right now," he says.
Manny Gutierrez, a beauty blogger known online as "Manny MUA," is the first to admit that he for a long time on the network.
The 35-year-old internet celebrity launched his YouTube channel in 2014, still hiding his love of makeup from his friends, family, and Mormon community. Even if those closest to him disapproved of his way of expressing himself, the rest of the internet was pleased: he quickly racked up millions of views, and by 2017, he became the first male ambassador for Maybelline New York.
Twelve years later, Gutierrez is still creating beauty content. And his long history online gives him a rare glimpse into how the industry has changed—from the early days of YouTube to the rise of TikTok.
In an interview with PEOPLE, he said he's seen brands gradually begin favoring male beauty consultants in the late 2010s, as well as what he calls a "regression" in male representation in the beauty industry over the past few years.
«"There are more guys in the beauty industry now than ever before," says Gutierrez. "But people have become more prone to homophobic and transphobic remarks and are more aggressive due to their disdain for LGBTQ people.".
Manny Mua. Photo: Manny Gutierrez/Instagram
As for Gutierrez, he says he's in a "great position" professionally: he's found brands he can trust, and he still has loyal fans, some of whom have been with him from the start. And so, he says, he feels a greater responsibility than ever to speak out when he sees injustice.
«I’m at a point right now where I want my opinion to reach people and not be silenced,» he tells PEOPLE, calling his podcast Fool Coverage, which he runs with his best friend, Laura Lee, is a place where he has the opportunity to do just that. "Maybe it's because I've been doing this for so damn long, I don't care anymore.".
He says this shift in his choice to use his platform to champion policy issues that matter to him is a result of both his own increased confidence and what he perceives as a greater national need to do so.
For example, amid increasing raids against immigrants this year, Gutierrez, a Mexican-American, said he felt it was his "duty" to share resources and "defend the interests of his people.".
Manny Mua. Photo: Manny Gutierrez/Instagram
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«"But I also feel more confident in my own opinions on various issues because, again, I've been doing this for so long," he adds. "I'm confident. I'm more confident now than I've ever been.".
When he does assert his rights, he says, there are always people in his private messages who "disagree" with him, and sometimes they let him know this very loudly.
«"But ultimately," he says, "I'm so firm in my opinion that it doesn't really bother me. I don't care because I truly believe in it. It's what I believe in, so I'm never afraid to express my opinion, even if it offends someone.".
Read the original article on People.