BeautyCon is the the ultimate destination for mascara junkies and lipstick devotees alike. However, the purpose of BeautyCon isn't just confined to cosmetics. In fact, this year's 2015 BeautyCon in NYC was designed to unite content creators, brands, and fans who all share one trait: a passion for everything beauty and fashion and its thriving role in the media.
This isn't child's play — at BeautyCon Los Angeles this past July, the headcount was over 9,000, counting everyone from Instagram influencers to junior high girls. Despite the glossy hype behind BeautyCon (with events in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, and London), a dark side has emerged on YouTube fangirl culture, according to Vice — a dark side where childlike innocence is fighting a losing battle against YouTube megastars.
In spite of the negative results of YouTube culture, BeautyCon NYC was still a massive success. Playing host to a bevy of beauty vloggers and industry professionals and hosted at Pier 36, the convention didn't skimp out on the pastels and photo ops. Didn't get a chance to make it to the Big Apple this year? Here are the top six highlights from BeautyCon NYC.
1. Bethany Mota Playing Life Coach
Once simply known as MacBarbie07, but now teen style icon, designer, Dancing With The Stars alum, and millionaire at just 19, Bethany Mota is sort of famous. When I was 14, Mota was still throwing around the juvenile moniker and filming hauls in her bedroom. Nowadays? Mota is center stage. Yahoo! Style editor-in-chief, Joe Zee, interviewed her at BeautyCon.
The subject? Her success. At BeautyCon NYC, Mota parted her words of wisdom to young viewers hoping to kickstart their own online careers à la Bethany. The tips are drenched in positivity. As reported by MTV, Mota urges her fans to take action because dreaming isn't enough, stresses the importance of developing confidence and embracing the happiness that comes from within. Motavation has never looked better.
2. JoJo Giving Us Major Throwback Vibes
To say the inner sixth grader in me is "excited" when I saw this all over Instagram would be an understatement. That's right — JoJo, songstress behind the classic "Too Little Too Late," hit the stage at BeautyCon to perform her musical chops. Looks like Throwback Thursday came a little earlier this week.
3. While Frankie James Grande Rode A Unicorn
The only kind of wildlife appropiate for a beauty and fashion convention: unicorns. Frankie James Grande (also Ariana Grande's older half brother) posted a Instagram shot of him channeling his inner jockey.
4. Meet & Greets & Lots Of Them
Surf the #BeautyConNYC hashtag on Instagram and you'll find this year's celeb line-up: Jay Manuel, frequent America's Next Top Model collaborator and make-up artist (also, a moment of silence as the show is officially ending). Nikki Phillippi and Fleur De Force, fellow YouTube beauty guru comrades. Gabriella and Niki DeMartino, sisters with a following of over two million. And of course, you can't forget Instagram's resident bad grandma, Baddie Winkle.
5. It's Officially Swag Season
BeautyCon NYC arrived just in time to promote the new BeautyCon BFF Fan Club, a subscription box service that will deliver beauty products and accessories straight to your doorstep. All products are curated especially by the BeautyCon community, featuring a colorful mix of Puravida bracelets, Coachella-ready flower crowns, mascaras, and flash tattoos.
6. And Yes, There Was A Unicorn Photobooth
Because did you really go to BeautyCon NYC if you didn't snap photographic evidence of the unicorns and rainbows?
Am I jealous I wasn't there? Absolutely. But there's always next year.
