Claire René Williams

Writer & Photographer / Johnette Cruz

The blogger and influencer world has completely changed the trajectory of how brands promote their businesses in today’s society and this girl is taking this industry by storm. Meet 22-year-old Claire René Williams. A Greenwood native who now resides in Center Grove. Claire did all of her schooling at Greenwood Christian Academy and, in 2015, went into her first semester at Indiana Wesleyan University on a music scholarship, but quickly decided college was not on the agenda for her. She immersed herself into her artistry as a makeup artist, got certified and now runs being an #MUA like a boss by doing weddings, special events, YouTube tutorials and social media influencer marketing. Claire loves to help and make people feel beautiful, and it shows. Read below on what makes her so driven.

You are a beauty blogger but also have other businesses, tell us about them.

“I have always loved makeup and this love of mine only grew over time, just as the Youtube makeup tutorial industry did and the constant influx of brand launches. I was hooked. I would spend my days after school watching tutorial after tutorial, taking in as much knowledge about the art as I could. It was a warm May day, and I liked my outfit, so I snapped a picture, posted in on Instagram and decided to write a little blurb about it on a free WordPress website I created. The rest is history.

From there I have grown my Instagram to more than 18,000 where I am a Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Content Creator. My YouTube has about 2,000 subscribers where I film makeup tutorials, product reviews, fashion lookbooks, vlogs and more. I have developed my blog: claireifyingbeauty.com, where I write about all of these things. Brands like JCPenney, Sephora, Target and more, now pay me to test out their products, write reviews, film videos, post makeup looks, outfit photos and more.

I met my now fiancé, Camden Johnson, in high school, and he was (and still is) a videographer and an editor for a video production house. Together we now own Sea Jay Films, a Wedding Filmmaking Business. We create cinematic-styled wedding films for free-spirited, adventurous couples.”

What is your greatest joy from owning your own businesses?

“I love being my own boss but also working with my fiancé. I love how freeing it is to be in control of what I do, what I create and who I work with. I have the ability to decide my workload, which is amazing.”

What has been challenging?

“The most challenging part is staying motivated when I don’t want to create or do anything. Also, not getting down on myself when I see other accounts with larger brands that I wish I could be working with.”

Do you give back to the community? If so how?

“I do! I pack boxes for Pack Away Hunger and sponsored a child of a family this year through Megan’s Fund with a few other Indy blogger gals. I also volunteer at my church. I am a singer, so I get to use the gifts God has blessed me with to bless others at Emmanuel Church as one of our Worship Leaders.”

Your family started an amazing ministry. Tell us about it.

“My dad Frank Williams is a missionary in Haiti, and he has been for 23 years. He began his own ministry Sundouloi Ministries, or SMI Haiti, after going on a trip to Haiti and falling in love with the country and the people.

I will never forget my very first trip. I remember the sadness I felt as we rode our bus along the dirt roads passing all the make-shift huts that were homes, seeing all the little children on the side of the road in hardly any clothing, and I remember thinking that there was literally nothing there. My heart broke for the people of Haiti.

I instantly fell in love with the Haitian people and made so many friendships that I still have to this day. We go every year and in January 2018, that’s where my now fiancé proposed. Haiti holds such a special place in mine and my family’s hearts, and I wanted my Haitian family to be there. My most recent trip in January was about my 13th trip to Haiti.”

Where do you get your inspiration from?

“My dad, my fiancé, other creatives and the people of Haiti inspire me.”

What would you tell your younger self today?

“To stop worrying, stop caring what others think about you, and don’t be afraid to be different and stand out.”

What Drives you? 

“Helping people! I love knowing that what I’m doing, what I’m creating, what I’m making, will hopefully positively impact just one person’s life in some way.”

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