What’s your definition of influencer? Do you see yourself as an influencer?
An influencer is someone that has the ability to affect others. The more someone trust you, in your particular area of expertise, the stronger your persuasion over their thought processes or purchase decisions. I do see myself as an influencer in terms of beauty/fashion and travel. It was a conscientious commitment to share all of my life’s experiences on social media to give followers’ ideas and inspiration on clothing, make-up, hair and beautiful destinations to visit. But with that said, I could not proclaim myself ‘an influencer.’ That’s a title given to you by others, not a label that you can tag on yourself.
Did you always want to be the Mahlagha Jaberi you are, and how does it feel to be in front?
I had no plan or design on who Mahlagha Jaberi would become. The progression happened naturally as I developed over the years from all of my work experiences and of course, growing and maturing as a person. I have been blessed throughout my journey and will always be grateful for it.
Tell us about your huge social media success and what are you doing to keep it going and growing even more?
I am thankful for all of my loyal fans across the world. They have supported me from the beginning and have continued to support me. They are the reason for my social media success and they are the reason why I keep going. I am inspired to provide them with fresh and genuine narratives. I like to create content, while I am “in the moment and on the go.” It gives my fans an authentic view of my life and how I see the world.
What do you think is the secret to having a successful social media presence?
The secret is to be yourself. Be real, authentic and genuine. If you post your true self, then people can decide if they love it or not. Once you know yourself, have a consistent online presence, but don’t overwhelm your fans. Balance is key.
You are followed by so many people. How do you feel about that pressure of always doing the right thing and encouraging people to follow their dreams?
That’s a great question. I do not feel pressure, because I am being my genuine self. I do what I naturally want, feel and love. The pressure comes if you are pretending to be a certain person, and it won’t work or last, because it won’t feel right within you. I am a big advocate for people to follow their dreams. I followed mine and continue to follow mine. When you work hard and reach your goal(s), the exhilarating feelings are unexplainable. I want others to experience that, so I continuously encourage people to go after their dreams.
How do you use the power of social media to connect to different age groups with different cultural backgrounds?
I don’t have a specific plan or method that I use to connect. I simply put a genuine version of myself out there and if people feel a connection with me, they join. The other possible explanation is because I enjoy a variety of different things, whether it is food, people, or places. This might be another reason why people gravitate to me, because of my varied interests that aligns with theirs.
What would you say are the greatest lesson(s) you have learned so far?
I have learned to be more accepting of what happens in life, positive or negative. To stop questioning the things that don’t work and appreciate even the smallest things. The more accepting I am, the more open I become to allow positivity to flow.
I bet you get millions of it, but what are the best and worst Instagram DM pickup lines you received so far?
Hahaha, I don’t focus on the DM pickup lines, because I am responding to work requests. I am sure there are a lot of interesting things being said on there. Maybe some marriage proposals, too, lol.
What is next for Mahlagha Jaberi in 2023?
To launch my brand and dream product. A goal that I have initiated and I am very devoted to realizing.
Photo By Mahlagha Management
“The more someone trust you, in your particular area
of expertise, the stronger your persuasion over their thought
processes or purchase decisions.”
Rapid-Fire Questions
How would your best friend describe you? Genuine and funny.
How would you describe yourself in 5 words? Creative, goofy, calm, spiritual, and passionate.
What is your own definition of happiness? Happiness is seeing my mom smile. To give her everything is what makes me happy.
What makes you smile and what scares you the most? Finding true love with an emotional connection and seeing my family happy, makes me smile. The loss of loved ones, friends and family would scare me the most.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why? Elon Musk. He is making a difference by creating better and innovative technology.
Best advice ever given? To use adversity as an opportunity. Every loss leads to an opportunity, and every adversity leads to new possibilities and to trust your instincts. What good is intuition if you let second-guessing drown it out? The worst enemy of success is self-doubt.