The advent and subsequent growth of various popular social media platforms led to the emergence of entire industries almost overnight, with individual careers and new opportunities for personal success arising alongside these platforms. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and, most recently, TikTok have enabled creative and driven individuals to build massive online followings. That cultural influence can snowball into a full-time career as a creator. From YouTube advertisement revenue to brand deals and sponsorships, as well as memberships and subscriptions on platforms like Twitch, an innovative and charismatic individual can turn their passions into a sustainable career like never before in history, regardless of their background.
Narin Ammara is one such individual. The young personality behind the makeup tutorial and showcase channel Narins Beauty has amassed over 50 million followers across her social media platforms since launching her channel at the age of 16, including 15 million YouTube subscribers and more than 16 million Instagram followers. The Gen Z influencer has won multiple awards, including Influence of the Year from the 2025 Joy Awards and Beauty Influence of the Year from EmiGala. It has snowballed her following and brand recognition into a clean cosmetics brand of the same name.
This runaway success stems from her authentic signature blend of Scandinavian minimalism and Middle Eastern boldness, reflecting her background as a Syrian refugee and now a resident of Scandinavia. Her content transformed makeup tutorials into a playful space for self-expression, joy, authenticity, and confidence, inspiring millions of people and turning unfiltered passion into an online cultural powerhouse. With her platform and brand, Narin aims to redefine beauty for a new generation and highlight her home region, the Middle East, as a burgeoning hub for beauty innovation.
“At the beginning, it was just a creative outlet – I didn’t imagine it could turn into a career,” Narin says. “But the support and love I received from my community inspired me to continue, and soon I realized the power of digital platforms and how they can make people feel seen and celebrated.”
From Passion Project To Full-Time Career
Like many creatives, Narin’s original goal with content creation online was to find a creative escape. She and her family had fled the Syrian civil war in 2013, and in their relocation to Sweden, she found herself in a new country, speaking a new language, and somewhat unmoored in the world. YouTube offered a platform where she could explore, create, and define herself online. So the resilient 16-year-old started sharing videos and beauty tips with no expectation of engagement, driven by her passion for connecting with others. That passion would attract attention, drawing in like-minded viewers and growing her channel into something truly significant.
At 19, Narin Ammara realized that her passion for creating content had evolved into more than just a hobby. The joy of sharing her ideas and seeing them resonate with others convinced her to pursue a career in social media full-time. “I was 19 when it became clear to me that creating content was more than just a hobby,” Narin Ammara recalls. “The excitement I felt each time I shared something new showed me how much I loved the process, and that passion is what led me to commit fully to social media.”
Her growing popularity didn’t really sink in until she started getting recognized offline by people on the street and seeing their reactions and positivity. People would reach out to share stories about how her content had made them smile and brought a positive light into their homes, and others would talk about how she’d helped their confidence. Other outlets like Forbes Middle East and the Joy Awards also proved significant, and together these events convinced her of the truth: her content wasn’t just a hobby anymore – it was a responsibility and an opportunity to build something bigger.
“Winning the Joy Awards for Influencer of the Year stands out as a career milestone,” she says. “But honestly, what I’m most proud of is building a genuine community that reaches millions of people. And now, I’m taking the step into launching my own brand, something I’ve dreamed of for years.”
Navigating Success On Social Media And Beyond
As an entrepreneur with a unique platform and brand, Narin Ammara understands the importance of defining her own success and working towards it while maintaining the core values and authenticity that drew people to her in the first place. She also has to manage the unique parasocial aspects of her business, including the expectations and responsibilities of her platform, as well as her own work-life balance. It’s a standard set of problems for an entrepreneur, but in a combination and form that only a peer in her space could truly appreciate.
“It’s not easy,” Narin says. “I’ve learned the importance of setting boundaries, resting when I need to, and leaning on my family for support. After experiencing burnout in the past, I now prioritize my health and mental well-being because I can only give my best to my community and brand if I’m balanced myself.”
Such prioritization is essential; when a young creative achieves success on a social media platform, they suddenly have to contend with numerous new concerns and fears. Looking back at her start, Narin knows that she often fell short of the confidence she portrayed on-screen and spent a lot of time and energy trying to anticipate what other people might say of her work or her person. The answer she came to, and her guiding beacon throughout her career, has been a hardline commitment to hard work and authenticity.
“Authenticity is at the heart of everything I do,” says Narin. “I never want to lose the connection with my community, as it’s built on trust. Professionally, I value consistency, creativity, and respect for my audience. As an entrepreneur, I add resilience and innovation. Always pushing myself to create something meaningful rather than just follow trends.”
So, given that she’s already amassed a following in the tens of millions and is launching her own brand, how does Narin Ammara define success? She defines it the same way now as she did when she launched her fledgling YouTube channel, even if the scale of it has changed: impact. If her work inspires someone to feel confident, to chase their dreams, to smile in the face of adversity, then she has succeeded. The financial metrics and viewership numbers will fluctuate over time, but the human connection is what she values above all else.
“Every time I receive a message from someone saying that my story gives them hope – whether they are facing war, migration, or simply personal struggles – I feel a deep responsibility to keep going,” Narin Ammara explains. “Their words remind me that our journey can inspire others to believe in their own strength.”
